71-518: The Walnut Grove Dam was built north of Wickenburg, Arizona , United States, along the Hassayampa River . Its failure in 1890 killed over 100 people. Its construction from 1886 to 1888 was chiefly on the impetus of the Bates family, whose mismanagement of the project was considerable. Intended to be used for gold mining, the dam failed before it could be put to use. Gold was discovered along
142-575: A dam it could not avoid bankruptcy. It owed $ 100,000 to the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company in a mortgage of the placer claims, which was foreclosed on in October 1891. With the loss of its gold mines, the company was effectively disestablished. Historian David B. Dill, Jr. notes "from its conception, the Walnut Grove dam had been a disaster in the making." He faults Blake for lacking experience,
213-400: A dam were secured, and it was determined a considerable amount of gold could be retrieved. Blake returned to New York, but was back on site by August 1886. He and two of his sons oversaw the digging of a quarry for dam fill, the construction of roads, a sawmill, an office, and quarters for workers, and the building of the initial part of the dam. Wells Bates, and Charles Henry Dillingham, visited
284-428: A half mile away from the dam itself. But Robinson's design also grew much higher, to 110 ft (34 m) tall, 35 ft (11 m) more than Blake's. Robinson seems to have been the most competent of the many engineers who were cycled through the project. But Robinson soon discovered that the Bates brothers were more interested in selling stock than building an actually sturdy dam. Despite Robinson's quality work, he
355-462: A household in the town was $ 31,716, and the median income for a family was $ 40,051. Males had a median income of $ 34,219 versus $ 25,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 19,772. About 6.9% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over. There are various properties in the town of Wickenburg which are considered historical and can be found in
426-415: A mining engineer. Following the resignation of Oakes Murphy as Governor of Arizona Territory, Brodie was nominated for the position and sworn into office on July 1, 1902. His first several months were spent appointing new officials and organizing his administration. An action of note prior to the convening of the 22nd Arizona Territorial Legislature was the pardon of Pearl Hart on moral grounds. At
497-467: A nominal engineer. The dam was finished at a price of $ 300,000 (equivalent to $ 9,286,329 in 2023). Considerable rains in 1889 revealed limits of the dam. The dam filled to within a foot of the top, and the spillway had to be cleared of a logjam by workers. The Army was concerned enough that the Signal Corps built a weather station at the dam. But the management was unperturbed, and did not order
568-493: A pair of orphaned girls, who sued for $ 50,000 for the death of both parents, and Henry Wickenburg who sued for $ 8,000 for the destruction of his ranch. The orphans' suit was dismissed on technical grounds. The haphazard construction process led to considerable finger pointing, and no individual or company was ever held liable. Though the Walnut Grove Water Storage Company avoided liability, without
639-467: A ranch), was caught and killed in the deluge just before he could reach the camp at the diversion dam to warn them. The water continued on to Wickenburg, washing away settlements on the way, killing others, and destroying the ranch of the eponymous Henry Wickenburg . The true death toll may never be known, and as many as 150 may have died. The dam workers who died are buried in Wagoner, Arizona . News of
710-474: A supply point for the mines and army posts in the interior of Arizona Territory. In those years, the rapidly growing town had even once been viewed as a possible candidate for territorial capital and lost the opportunity in 1866 by just two votes in the newly-established legislature. As the town grew, conflicts developed with the Yavapai people , who rejected a treaty signed by their chiefs, effectively breaking
781-436: A two-year study on possible joint statehood with New Mexico, finding the residents of Arizona strongly opposed such an action, and appealed to the legislature to oppose such a merger. After hearing the appeal the legislature memorandized the U.S. Congress expressing their opposition to joint statehood. Brodie's address to the session repeated his request to the previous session for tax reform. He also requested laws to deal with
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#1732775372093852-403: Is land and 0.005 square miles (0.01 km ), or 0.02%, is water. The Hassayampa River flows intermittently through the east side of the town. Wickenburg has a semi-arid, warm steppe ( Köppen BSh ) climate decidedly cooler and moister than Phoenix, although extreme summer heat is possible. As of the 2020 census , there were 7,474 people and 3,634 households, and 2,210 families residing in
923-607: Is now a golf resort, while the Remuda ranch has been converted into the nation's largest eating disorder treatment facility and is now Wickenburg's largest employer. The Hassayampa community became a vital contributor to the US effort during World War II when the Army trained thousands of men to fly gliders at a newly constructed airfield west of Wickenburg. Wickenburg is located in northwestern Maricopa County. The town limits extend north into
994-602: The Arizona Organic Act . The second unpopular stance was endorsing a bill supporting joint statehood with New Mexico . Between legislative sessions, Brodie was responsible for expanding the size of the Arizona Rangers from fourteen to twenty-six men. This was followed by him selecting the site for Roosevelt Dam . At the beginning of the 1905 legislative session, the Governor announced the results of
1065-710: The Indian Wars including repeating Indian raids, outlaws, mine closures , drought, and a disastrous flood in 1890 when the Walnut Creek Dam burst, killing nearly 70 residents. In spite of such challenging circumstances, the town continued to grow. Its prosperity was ensured with the coming of the railroad in 1895. The historic train depot today houses the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. As of 2007, however, only freight trains pass through Wickenburg; passenger trains ended their runs in
1136-528: The National Register of Historic Places The city is served by Wickenburg Municipal Airport , a general aviation airport without commercial airlines service. Alexander Oswald Brodie Alexander Oswald Brodie (November 13, 1849 – May 10, 1918) was an American military officer and engineer. Earning his initial reputation during the Indian wars , he came to prominence for his service with
1207-721: The Rough Riders during the Spanish–American War . His friendship with Theodore Roosevelt then led to Brodie being appointed Governor of Arizona Territory from 1902 to 1905. Alexander O. Brodie was a lineal descendant of Robert III, King of Scotland . His family originated in Northern Scotland and his branch of the Clan Brodie is known as Brodie of Caithness . Brodie was born to Joseph and Margaret (Brown) Brodie near Edwards, New York , in late 1849,
1278-769: The Southwest , became part of the United States by the 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican–American War . The first extensive survey was conducted by Gila Rangers who were pursuing Natives who had raided the Butterfield Overland Mail route and attacked miners at Gila City . In 1862, a gold strike on the Colorado River near present-day Yuma brought American prospectors, who searched for minerals throughout central Arizona. Many of
1349-682: The Superstition Mountains decisively routed the Yavapai, and within a year most Yavapai resistance was crushed. Having broken their treaty with America several times, with most of the friendly and allied chiefs killed by insurgent Yavapais, who also killed Americans, Crook was authorized to enter into new negotiations with the aim of reducing the size of the Yavapai reservation and removing it to an area more readily cordoned off from American communities and their communication lines. The surviving Yavapai warrior leaders grudgingly accepted
1420-545: The "growing evil of wife desertion" and for creation of a sanatorium to treat the growing numbers of people suffering from tuberculosis migrating to the territory. Brodie announced his resignation as governor on February 14, 1905. As a token of their esteem the Democratically controlled legislature presented the Republican governor a ceremonial saber. Following his resignation as governor, Brodie returned to
1491-520: The 1960s. Along the town's main historic district, early businesses built many structures that still form Wickenburg's downtown area. Tourism led to the development of guest ranches , with as many as 14 operating in the 1950s and 1960s, when Wickenburg billed itself as the "Dude Ranch Capital of the World", with development spurred by the construction of U.S. Route 60 . As of 2007, some of these ranches still offer their hospitality. Rancho de los Caballeros
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#17327753720931562-484: The 400 sq mi (1,000 km) watershed behind the Hassayampa. The surface area of the reservoir was 1,120 acres (4.5 km). A period of heavy rain began on February 16, 1890. Some 7 in (180 mm) of rain fell not only at Walnut Grove, but also upstream at Fort Whipple . The event was estimated as a 25-year flood (a flood having a 4% chance of occurring in any given year). Emergency work to widen
1633-615: The Hassayampa. Just a mile from Rich Hill, Arizona (the site of the Weaver/Walker gold rush), the Bates brothers purchased the Marcus mine, hoping to strike it rich. They intended to follow the example of the California gold rush, and use hydraulic mining . But the ephemeral nature of the Hassayampa made such operations difficult year round. To solve this, the brothers resolved to build a dam. Efforts to procure land and capital for
1704-478: The New York Times. The week after, John Wesley Powell gave a brusque and damning account of the collapse to Congress, noting "an ignorant engineer believes the dam is safe ... for he has never seen it at flood time." Powell said that a hydrologic survey is a must for dam building, and that engineers need to plan for every contingency. Immediately, victims began suing the dam company. Chief among them were
1775-704: The U.S. Army at the rank of major. After serving briefly in the War Department 's record and pension office, he was assigned to the Philippines serving on a board overseeing the Friar lands dispute. In 1907 he was made adjutant general of the Department of the Dakotas and in 1911 was transferred to the Department of California to perform the same job. Bordie was promoted to colonel in 1912 and retired from
1846-736: The US Army and later Arizona Territorial officers. After only two years on the Rio Verde Reservation, however, local officials grew concerned about the Yavapais' continued hostility, success, and self-sufficiency, so they persuaded the federal government to close their reservation and move all the Yavapai to the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation . The infant town of Wickenburg went through many trials and tribulations in its first decades, surviving
1917-644: The United States appearing likely, Brodie sent telegraphs to President William McKinley and Governor Myron H. McCord seeking permission to raise a volunteer regiment of cavalry. With the start of the Spanish–American War the Rough Riders were formed and Arizona Territory allocated a quota of 170 men. Brodie was appointed as senior regimental officer at the rank of major on April 25, 1898. Following training in San Antonio , Texas, Brodie's unit
1988-457: The Yavapai, with the aim of forcing the insurgent Yavapai warrior bands into a decisive battle and the removal of Yavapai settlers from American territory. After several months of forced marches, feints, and pitched skirmishes by combined Arizona territorial militia and US Army Cavalry, Crook forced the Yavapai bands into a single decisive battle. In December 1872, the Battle of Salt River Canyon in
2059-447: The afternoon Brown gave him the camp's best horse and told him to rush to warn those downriver that the dam would soon fail. But despite Brown's humanitarian instincts, he made a "fatal mistake too: he paid Burke ahead of the task." Rather than riding downriver, Burke stopped in a nearby bar for a drink, using the money he had just been paid. Burke got drunk, and never warned anyone of the imminent failure. At 9 that night, water overtopped
2130-422: The chief. After seeing this exchange the rest of the band returned peacefully to the reservation. In August 1874, he was assigned to Fort Walla Walla , Washington where he participated in the campaign against Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Perce . Following this, Brodie served at Benicia Arsenal , California and Fort Colville , Washington before being promoted to first lieutenant on May 25, 1876. Around
2201-508: The company for not following Robinson's plans, Nagle & Leonard for shoddy construction, and management for failing to warn those downriver. He notes that the disaster was little considered in Arizona, emblematic of a lack of corporate conscience and a popular admiration of the wealthy. At any rate, the failure of the dam served as a lesson to southwestern dam builders, whose future projects were far more meticulous than Walnut Grove. The dam
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2272-493: The course of an eight-hour fight, and returned safely to camp after nightfall. As result of his efforts that day, Brodie received a personal commendation from the Secretary of War . During another incident he and one other soldier pursued and captured a band of Apache that had escaped from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation . After finding the group, the band's leader threatened to kill Brodie. Brodie responding by shooting
2343-514: The dam in Christmas 1886. Christmas was described as pleasant by all involved, including Blake who noted they had had a "fatted turkey". But it seems Dillingham was annoyed by a conversation he had witnessed the day before between Blake and another local prospector. So Dillingham returned on January 15, 1887, and fired Blake. Blake was very bitter, feeling that he had done the most difficult work for very little pay, but acquiesced on January 30. Blake
2414-418: The dam was to be dispensed using a flume system, to feed the hydraulic works and various ranches. But this plan was scrapped in favor of creating a small diversion dam some 14 mi (23 km) downriver, which would be fed by discharging the dam back into the river. Work went very slowly in 1888 due to poor management. Dillingham Bates was also replaced as president of the Walnut Grove Water Storage Company by
2485-450: The dam were in earnest by 1883. Wells Bates spent a portion of 1883 in the area, making legal arrangements related to building a dam, including claiming all the water in the Hassayampa. The brothers established the Walnut Grove Water Storage Company for the purpose of creating a dam. A site some 20 mi (32 km) north of Wickenburg was chosen for the dam, mostly for gold mining, but also for general purpose irrigation. William P. Blake
2556-407: The dam, carelessly blasting dynamite next to the dam, and reducing the spillway size to 20 ft (6.1 m) wide and 5 ft (1.5 m) deep. Further, the spillway was to be put next to the dam, instead of half a mile away. Despite these changes, the dam was to remain taller than originally planned. But Nagle remained as chief contractor, working a crew of 200 men in shifts 24 hours a day. Nagle
2627-559: The dam. The strain on the dam snapped solid steel cables holding the intake tower together. Shortly after midnight on February 22, the Walnut Grove Dam gave way. Four billion gallons (15 billion liters) of water rushed down the canyon. A 50 ft (15 m) tall wall of water reached the diversion dam at 2 in the morning. The flood washed away the worker's camp and company headquarters, killing some 50 workers. A second messenger, William Akard (who had earlier found Burke drunk at
2698-415: The disaster reached Prescott (the county seat ) at 8 that evening, and Sheriff Buckey O'Neill assembled a rescue party. O'Neill rode downriver, burying bodies and rendering aid. The Johnstown Flood , a dam collapse which killed over 2,200 people, had occurred the previous year, and the impacts of that flood made the collapse of the Walnut Grove Dam much more significant. The story made the front page of
2769-504: The end of the war, the Union troops and local volunteers forced the Yavapai onto a reservation, where they remain to this day. However, Yavapai recalcitrants remained for years, and raids on stage-coaches, isolated farm houses, and periodic raids on villages kept the area in a constant state of tension. Finally, following several murders of Yavapai chiefs allied with America by insurgent Yavapai warriors, hostile warrior tribal leaders mobilized
2840-527: The entire Yavapai warrior band into a massive assault on the primary American settlement of Wickenburg and massacred or drove out much of the American populace. In 1872, in response to the assassination of friendly Yavapai chiefs, the take-over of the entire Yavapai nation and its reservation by hostile elements, and with most of the American area under continual penetrating raids by Yavapai warrior bands, General George Crook began an all-out campaign against
2911-655: The fertile plain of the Hassayampa River . Together with the miners, they founded the town of Wickenburg in 1863. Wickenburg was also the home of Jack Swilling , who prospected in the Salt River Valley in 1867. Swilling conducted irrigation efforts in that area and helped found the city of Phoenix . Wickenburg was supplied from the Colorado River, by steamboat , then over the La Paz–Wikenburg Road by wagons and pack mules. Wickenburg in turn became
Walnut Grove Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue
2982-558: The geographic landmarks now bear the names of these pioneers, including the Weaver Mountains , named after mountain man Pauline Weaver , and Peeples Valley , named after a settler. A German named Henry Wickenburg was one of the first prospectors. His efforts were rewarded with the discovery of the Vulture Mine , from which more than $ 30 million worth of gold has been dug. Ranchers and farmers soon built homes along
3053-457: The legislative appropriation which created the fund illegal as it had no oversight provisions to prevent misuse. With the start of the 22nd Legislature in January 1903, Brodie requested several changes to the territorial tax code . The first change he asked for was increasing the tax rates for mining operations which the Governor felt were not paying a fair share in comparison to other parts of
3124-435: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 2,341 households, out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
3195-411: The practice of paying miners in company scrip redeemable only at the company store . Brodie also requested the pay for the governor's secretary be increased from US$ 125 to US$ 150/year. Other legislation coming from the session were laws requiring the licensing of dentists and physicians, requiring schools to fly the United States flag during hours the school was in session, expanding the facilities of
3266-477: The reservoir and the boating it offered. Van Beuren also tried to speed the project along. Van Beuren oversaw the delivery of the hydraulic equipment to begin gold mining, and was away in Phoenix for that purpose when the dam burst. Mining had been set to begin about a month after the dam burst. The final dam was 110 ft (34 m) tall, 400 ft (120 m) long at the top, 10 ft (3.0 m) wide at
3337-626: The second of four children. At the outbreak of the Civil War , Brodie was 11 years old and asked his father to allow him to enlist. Brodie's father promised him that he would be sent to West Point when he was old enough. By age 13 he was a student in a boarding school in Canton, New York operated by St. Lawrence University . Brodie received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in 1866 and upon graduation
3408-630: The southwestern part of Yavapai County. Via U.S. Route 60 , Phoenix is 53 miles (85 km) to the southeast, and Blythe, California , on the Colorado River , is 114 miles (183 km) to the west-southwest. U.S. Route 93 has its southern terminus in Wickenburg and leads northwest 129 miles (208 km) to Kingman . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 26.52 square miles (68.69 km ), of which, 26.51 square miles (68.66 km )
3479-424: The spillway was ordered by dam superintendent Thomas H. Brown. But by the 21st the spillway was being scoured by so much water that its bank closest to the dam broke. Water was now scouring the dam, and Brown was certain the dam would fail. Brown asked for a man who knew the territory so as to go warn of the impending disaster. He found Dan Burke, a blacksmith and habitual drunk. Burke knew the territory, and at 2:30 in
3550-409: The territorial insane asylum , and authorizing school districts with 1,000 or more residents to hire music and art instructors. Brodie also took unpopular stances on two of the session's bills . The first stance was opposition to a bill granting women the right to vote. Brodie, who personally supported women's suffrage , opposed this bill on the basis that it was not permitted under the limitations of
3621-421: The territorial economy. He also proposed an exemption from taxation of 10 years for new railroads and 9 years for hydroelectric dams to encourage additional transportation and electrical generation capabilities within the territory. Other changes to mining operations were the establishment of an eight-hour day for mine workers, with railroad workers receiving a limit of 16 consecutive hours of work, and outlawing
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#17327753720933692-648: The time of his promotion, Brodie married Kate Reynolds of Walla Walla, Washington . His wife and newborn daughter died during childbirth in August or September 1877, and Brodie resigned his commission on September 30, 1877. After leaving the military, Brodie worked as a cattleman in Kansas and miner in Dakota Territory before enlisting in the U.S. Cavalry at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri in August 1883. His enlistment returned him to Arizona Territory, where he
3763-525: The time, the outlaw was the only female at the Yuma Territorial Prison and her presence was causing disruptions as guards and other prisoners vied for her attentions. The December 1902 pardon was made on the condition that Hart leave the territory, a condition she quickly fulfilled. Another display of the new Governor's ethical stance was his refusal to use a US$ 750 discretionary fund which was available for his personal use. Brodie considered
3834-420: The top, 150 ft (46 m) long at the base, and 138 ft (42 m) wide at the base. Its construction was rock fill, made of locally blasted granite. The spillway's final size after expansion work is uncertain, but was estimated as having a capacity of 2,200 cubic feet per second. Such a spillway could only handle at most a five year flood (a flood having a 20% chance of occurring in any given year) given
3905-532: The town. There were 4,499 housing units. As of the 2000 census , there were 5,082 people, 2,341 households, and 1,432 families residing in the town. The population density was 441.7 inhabitants per square mile (170.5/km ). There were 2,691 housing units at an average density of 233.9 per square mile (90.3/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 91.8% White , 0.3% Black or African American , 1.2% Native American , 0.4% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 4.5% from other races , and 1.8% from two or more races. 11.0% of
3976-519: The treaty which left the nation in far worse conditions than previously. They were compelled to surrender their firearms, move to the Fort Verde Reservation , accept a permanent Army garrison on their territory, accept direct administration by American Bureau of Indian Affairs agents and commissioners, have trade firmly emplaced in the hands of American government agents, and be regulated by an Indian Police force picked and trained by
4047-589: The treaty. When the American Civil War began in 1861, the Federal troops were all withdrawn and the settlements were left unprotected. The Yavapai promptly began a series of attacks on the white townsmen. A company of Confederate cavalry brought temporary relief, but it fell back before the advance of Union troops from California. By 1869, an estimated 1,000 Yavapai and 400 settlers had been killed, with many on both sides fleeing to safer areas. With
4118-565: The tributaries of the Hassayampa River in 1863 by Pauline Weaver and Joseph R. Walker , prompting an Arizona gold rush. The river is subject to considerable seasonal change, including vast flash floods. In the words of one prospector, the river was a place "where at times an ocean steamer might be floated, and where at other seasons ... the fish must carry canteens." Into this environment came two brothers, Wells & DeWitt Bates, who filed 63 placer gold mining claims in 1881 along
4189-439: The wealthy Henry Spingler Van Beuren. That the project was supervised from distant New York further degraded its construction quality. Van Beuren appointed a new Chief Engineer: Alexander Oswald Brodie , who would go on to become Territorial Governor of Arizona. The dam was nominally completed in 1888. Projects to improve the dam, and to prepare downstream areas for mining, continued until its collapse, and were overseen by Brodie as
4260-490: The workers camp, just below the diversion dam, to be moved. Still, the company realized the spillway needed improvement. Wells Bates ordered an expansion of the spillway, enlisting Benjamin S. Church, dean of the American Hydraulic Engineers. Church confirmed that the spillway was inadequate, and work on it continued. Van Beuren and some of his family visited the dam in the winter of 1889/1890, enjoying
4331-453: Was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.72. In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males. The pregnancy rate is 95% higher than surrounding townships. The median income for
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#17327753720934402-640: Was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry Regiment (United States) on June 15, 1870. As a newly commissioned officer, Brodie was assigned to Camp Apache , where he participated in General George Crook 's campaign in Arizona Territory. During this assignment there were several events of note. On June 21, 1871, Brodie and a group of five troopers were ambushed by a numerically superior band of Apache fighters. The young lieutenant managed his group's ammunition supply over
4473-607: Was deployed to Cuba . On June 24, 1898, during the Battle of Las Guasimas , he was wounded by a bullet in his right wrist. Initially refusing to leave the battle, Major Brodie was eventually forced from the field by pain and blood loss. He was evacuated from Cuba and treated in the hospital at Fort Wadsworth , New York. After recovering from his wound, Brodie returned to the Rough Riders on August 11, 1898, and, being promoted to lieutenant colonel , succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as unit commander. Brodie himself mustered out on September 15, 1898, and returned to Arizona Territory to work as
4544-665: Was discharged in February 1884. Remaining in the territory, Brodie established a permanent residence in Prescott while working around the territory as a civil and mining engineer . From 1887 till 1890 he worked as superintendent and chief engineer of the Walnut Grove Dam on the Hassayampa River north of Wickenburg . As the dam was nearing completion, in February 1890, a flood caused the dam to collapse, causing 70 deaths and millions of dollars in damage. Brodie himself
4615-503: Was entirely unsupervised by an engineer for about a month. A new chief engineer, Luther Wagoner, began work on August 10, 1887. Wagoner noted that the spillway plan was inadequate, but his objections seem to have gone largely unheeded. The spillway was built starting in December 1887, and came out to a dimension of 26 ft (7.9 m) wide and 7 ft (2.1 m) deep. At this point, a last minute design change occurred. Previously,
4686-404: Was fired for unknown reasons just four months after being hired. The final design was done by Walter Gillette Bates, a Bates brothers' nephew. Walter had no experience, having previously been a professor. Robinson's equally competent assistant, John M. Currier, resigned shortly thereafter, noting that the firm of Nagle and Leonard was doing very shoddy work. Failures under Nagle included a bulge in
4757-536: Was held innocent of wrongdoing in the failure as he had publicly called for higher construction standards on the project. In 1891, Brodie was appointed commander of the Arizona Territorial National Guard by Governor John N. Irwin , a position he held till May 1892. On December 15, 1892, Brodie married Mary Louise Hanlon. The second Mrs. Brodie was a survivor of the Walnut Grove Dam failure. A distant uncle, Henry Spingler van Beuren
4828-491: Was never rebuilt. All that remains of the dam is a diversion tunnel, construction roads, and some chunks of the spillway. The river below the dam remains a popular spot for gold hunters. Wickenburg, Arizona Wickenburg is a town in Maricopa and Yavapai counties, Arizona , United States. The population was 7,474 at the 2020 census , and was estimated to be 7,920 in 2022. The Wickenburg area, along with much of
4899-414: Was replaced by the firm of Nagle and Leonard, of San Francisco. The position of Chief Engineer, formerly Blake's, went to N.E. Robinson. Robinson proved a more able engineer than Blake. He revamped the dam's design, rebuilt the leaky core of the dam, and called for a large spillway 55 ft (17 m) wide by 12 ft (3.7 m) deep. Crucially, Robinson's design for the spillway put the outflow about
4970-426: Was the initial designer, but was fired shortly after beginning work in 1886. Blake (a prominent geologist and grand-nephew of Eli Whitney ) seems to have been on the project only so that his reputation might attract investors. While he had considerable mining experience, Blake lacked civil engineering or dam building experience. Blake accompanied Wells Bates to the dam site in February 1886, where further rights to build
5041-461: Was the president of the company that built the dam. The couple had two sons, with the first dying in 1896 and the second being born in 1898. Politically, Brodie served as Yavapai County recorder from 1893 till 1895. and was the Republican nominee for Territorial delegate in 1898, when he returned to the territory as a war hero. On March 3, 1898, with the outbreak of war between Spain and
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