Up Mad River Valley

Damage Done by High Water In that Fertile Spot – The Loss Will Reach Thousands of Dollars . . .

A representative of the WATCHMAN drove through the Mad River valley last week to look over the devastation wrought in that fertile section by the recent floods, and to see the havoc and ruin left in the track of the landslide from Fayston mountain.

Bad as was the flood of the last week (July 14) in the Mad river valley this was not the first time that section has been visited-by high water. The worst flood in the history of the valley was in July, 1830, when the high water carried out the darn at Waitsfield and a large portion of the land lying in the valley between Waitsfield. and Moretown was under several feet of water. Again in July, 1850, and in October 1869, disastrous floods swept through the valley ruining crops, carrying away bridges, and badly damaging highways.

The farmers between Middlesex and Moretown suffered very little damage by the high water of a week ago but soon after leaving Moretown the effects of the flood are still plainly visible. In the lower part of the valley but little hay had, been cut and a careful and conservative estimate shows that at least three hundred acres of heavy grass, corn, oats and potatoes were practically ruined.

The muddy water deposited a sediment in the hay which renders it unfit for feed and worthless except for bedding. On the fertile farm of Judge C. E: Jones fully fifty tons of first-class hay were ruined, and the judge would be glad to give it to any one who would cut it and haul it away. Where the current was not swift the potatoes were not. so badly damaged, but the corn is flat and under the most favorable circumstances from now until harvest time, will be poor and stunted. The highways between Moretown and Waitsfield – were but little damaged and a comparatively small sum will put them in good shape again.

(The Great Landslide of 1827 continues and compared to the Fayston landslide of 1897)

The Fayston landslide of 1897 will pass, into history as one of the most important events in the history of Vermont during the closing years of the nineteenth century.

––THE WATCHMAN reporter is indebted to Judge C. E, Jones for courtesies extended. He was driven to the scene of the avalanche by the hospitable judge, introduced to the people of that locality, and by him his attention was called to many facts of interest that might otherwise have escaped his observation.