Litchfield Enquirer

A LIQUID AVALANCHE

The Hamilton (Madison Co.) Palladium of the 28th contains the following vivid account of the breaking away of a Canal Reservoir in that county on the 24th:

A Leaky Reservoir. The Lebanon Reservoir, one of the costly structures devised for the purpose of treasuring water in the vicinity of the summit level of the Chenango Canal, about four miles from this village broke down a portion of its bank, which was supposed to be as indestructible as the everlasting hills, on Monday last, and the havoc and destruction which the mighty torrent made in its all-conquering course, can only be imagined by those who have taken a view of the stupendous ruins. We have seldom if ever seen any thing that filled our mind with such magnificent conceptions of power. The torrent rushed with inconceivable impetuosity into the narrow and deep ravine, through which the stream passes, uprooting trees of all sizes up to two feet in diameter, and forcing them along with the current, gullifying the rugged banks of the ravine, and absolutely quarrying hundreds of solid perches of stone, and carrying them from half a mile to a mile, and depositing them upon the rich and fertile meadows below. Several acres of woodland were swept entirely clean, taking off not only the trees, but the entire surface down to the solid rock. Two or three saw mills were swept away so clean that not a vestige of any thing is left to mark the place where they stood. These trees and rubbish, together with the stones quarried out of the sides of the ravine, are deposited in immense masses and heaps upon the beautiful meadows bordering on the Chenango River, rendering desolate and dreary some 100 to 150 acres of the fairest portion of that delightful valley. There is one portion of from 5 to 6 acres of Kingsley's meadow that is perfectly covered, from one to four or five feet deep, with stones and gravel, and appears to us to be entirely ruined! while the balance of the meadow that received the deposits of gravel, trees and rubbish, is materially injured, besides the great labor of clearing it up.

To give some idea of the power of this avalanche of water, we would mention that we observed a boulder of granite, in the midst of the great field of stone upon the meadow, the weight of which is estimated at not less than ten tons. that could not have been picked up within half a mile of its present resting place. People residing in the neighborhood describe the trembling of the earth to have been like that produced by an earthquake. A large stone house, Mr. A Campbell's, standing at a considerable distance from the course of the enraged element. is said to have exhibited decided symptoms of ague. We cannot, perhaps, give a better idea of the grandeur and magnificence of the scene, than was given by a gentleman who resides in the neighborhood, and witnessed it. On being asked how it affected him. he answered, that it made him feel as though he was not more than six inches high and withal very lean.

The damage to individuals is very considerable - we presume not less than 4 or 5000—the greater portion of which, we believe, is sustained by the Kingsleys and Mr. A. Campbell. The damage to the State would be very great if this reservoir was needed : but we believe there is an abundant supply of water for the canal from the other reservoirs, and that this structure was a useless expenditure in the first place, and probably will not be repaired.