The Indianapolis Journal Editorial June 8, 1889

AS TO THE RESPONSIBILITY.

Discussion as to the responsibility for the Johnstown disaster may be fascinating, but can lead to no practical results so far as the case in hand is concerned. The evidence is conflicting as to whether the dam at Conemaugh lake was weak or not. It could not have been plainly or notoriously weak, or its existence would not have been tolerated. Evidently there has been some distrust in the minds of some persons, a sort of vague apprehension of calamity, but it has not found positive expression. A few years ago a report that the dam was unsafe became so current that the Cambria Iron Company instructed its solicitor to institute proceedings in court to have the water released. The company's property lay in the path of destruction, and it had a large stake in the question of the safety of the dam. The solicitor informed the company that any legal action against the dam would have to be supported by evidence showing that it was unsafe, and in order to secure such evidence the company employed a number of engineers to examine and report upon the dam. "These engineers," says the Philadelphia Press, "were the best obtainable by that company, but after a thorough examination they reported that the dam, as originally constructed and as enlarged by the club, was perfectly safe. This indorsement of engineers employed by those who wished to condemn the dam settled the matter, as the Cambria Iron Company accepted their judgment that there was no danger to be apprehended, and the contemplated legal proceedings were abandoned." The dam has been subject to frequent examinations, and no fears have been expressed as to its safety other than the occasional vague fear that something might sometime cause it to give way. It was built originally by the State for public purposes, and was considered as safe as other structures of its class.

Mr. John G. Parke, a young Philadelphian, and a civil engineer, is the person who first realized the imminent danger, a few hours before the disaster. Early Friday morning Mr. Parke discovered that the fast increasing waters of the lake must either have an additional outlet immediately, or that the dam proper would give way and destroy the entire population of Johnstown and vicinity. Hastily securing a force of thirty Italians, he set to work to prepare another sluice. In half an hour his purpose had been accomplished, but still the water continued to rise. Something had to be done, and that quickly. Giving orders to his men to cut another outlet, Mr. Parke jumped into the saddle, and with his horse started at breakneck speed toward the village below, shouting the warning. He says, in a published interview:

No blame can be attached to any one. It was a calamity that could not be avoided. For several days prior to the breaking of the dam storm after storm swept over the mountains and flooded every creek and rivulet. The waters from these varied sources flowed into the lake, which finally was not able to stand the pressure forced upon it. Friday morning I realized the danger that was threatening, and although from that time until 8 o'clock every human effort was made to prevent a flood, they were of no avail. When I at last found that the dam was bound to go. I started out to tell the people. and by 12 o'clock everybody in the Conemaugh region did or should have known of their danger. Three hours later my gravest fears were more than realized.

From this it is evident it would be very difficult to fix any direct responsibility on the owners of the lake, if any exists. In the case of the Mill-river disaster in Massachusetts, in 1874, resulting in great loss of life, but not at all approaching this, a coroner's jury found that the engineering work on the dam was discreditable, and the State authorities were blamed for having authorized the construction of the reservoir without taking proper steps to insure its safety. But even such a finding fixes no pecuniary responsibility and furnishes no relief or remedy for the sufferers.

The only excuse for maintaining any reservoir or dam in a position of danger is public necessity or utility. In the case of Conemaugh lake it is easy to see now that when it ceased to be a work of public use it should have been drained. But this is one of the cases in which hindsight is better than foresight. The simple fact is that nobody really apprehended danger. But if there is another dam or reservoir in the United States, located in a dangerous position and maintained for pleasure, it should be destroyed at once.