The Passaic Flood of 1903 | Page 6

Paper
No. 88. Recorded gage heights show that over the main dam there was
a maximum depth of 11.12 feet, which continued from 2 to 8 p. m., on
October 10, representing a maximum flow of 31,675 cubic feet per
second. (See Pl. I, A.) In the following table is set forth the flow of the
river over Beattie's dam during the flood, and for purposes of
comparison, the figures for the flood period of March, 1902. It should
be borne in mind in consulting this table, that in the case of the flood of
1903 exact dates and hours are given, while the figures for the 1902
flood represent flow determinations at six-hour intervals, beginning
with the initial rise of that flood.
* * * * *
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 92
PL. I
[Illustration: A. BEATTIE'S DAM, LITTLE FALLS, N. J., IN
FLOOD.]
[Illustration: B. FLOOD-WATER LINES IN RESIDENCE DISTRICT,
PATERSON, N. J.]

* * * * *
Flood flow over Beattie's dam during floods of 1902 and 1903.
-----------------+------------+------------+ Date and hour. | 1903. | 1902.[A]
| -----------------+------------+------------+ | Sec.-feet. | Sec.-feet. | Oct. 8.
12 p.m | 1,645 | 490 | 9. 6 a.m. | 4,235 | 700 | 12 m. | 8,560 | 1,350 | 6
p.m. | 15,755 | 2,120 | 12 p.m. | 23,927 | 3,540 | 10. 6 a.m. | 28,370 |
4,250 | 12 m. | 31,305 | 4,600 | 6 p.m. | 31,675 | 5,000 | 12 p.m. | 30,770
| 6,500 | 11. 6 a.m. | 29,840 | 7,600 | 12 m. | 28,950 | 8,250 | 6 p.m. |
26,960 | 9,000 | 12 p.m. | 25,530 | 10,200 | 12. 6 a.m. | 24,435 | 11,450 |
12 m. | 22,625 | 14,700 | 6 p.m. | 20,810 | 18,150 | 12 p.m. | 18,655 |
20,650 | 13. 6 a.m. | 17,930 | 22,200 | 12 m. | 16,190 | 22,700 | 6 p.m. |
14,900 | 23,400 | 12 p.m. | 13,615 | 23,300 | 14. 6 a.m. | 12,340 | 22,950
| 12 m. | 11,740 | 22,650 | 6 p.m. | 10,975 | 22,350 | 12 p.m. | 9,820 |
22,100 | 15. 6 a.m. | 9,180 | 21,150 | 12 m. | 8,330 | 19,900 | 6 p.m. |
7,700 | 18,900 | 12 p.m. | 7,005 | 17,350 | 16. 6 a.m. | 6,695 | 15,750 | 12
m. | 5,920 | 13,900 | 6 p.m. | 5,620 | 13,300 | 12 p.m. | 5,360 | 11,800 |
17. 6 a.m. | 4,855 | 10,650 | Below full bank | 8,900 | Do. | 8,500 | Do. |
8,100 | Do. | 8,200 | Do. | 7,000 | Do. | 6,250 | Do. | 5,900 | Do. | 5,300 |
Do. | 5,200 | Do. | 4,900 | -----------------+------------+------------+
[Footnote A: At six-hour intervals.]
FLOOD FLOW OVER DUNDEE DAM.
The flood, as indicated by gage heights at Dundee dam, lasted from
about 6.30 p. m. October 8 to about midnight October 18. Although the
maximum recorded gage height was 19 inches higher than during the
flood of 1902, the actual time during which the river was out of its
banks was forty-five hours less than at the earlier flood. Examination of
fig. 1 shows that the flood of 1903 was decidedly more intense than
that of 1902, the maximum height being reached in 1903 in about sixty
hours, while in 1902 the maximum was not reached until the expiration
of about one hundred and twenty hours.
At Dundee dam the familiar break in the progress of the flood took
place about thirty-five hours after the initial rise. It occurred before the
time of the maximum gage height at the mouth of Pompton River, and

there is nothing to indicate that it was caused, as has been claimed, by
slack water from the Pompton flood being forced back into Great Piece
Meadows. There is no doubt that a part of the Pompton flood was so
diverted, but there was maintained throughout at Little Falls a steady
pressure, which constantly increased to maximum. This flood check, at
Dundee dam was observed in 1902, but it could not be shown to arise
from the frequently mentioned phenomena at the mouth of Pompton
River. It is important to prove or disprove this hypothesis. If it were
found to be true, it could be advantageously taken into consideration in
connection with measures for the prevention of flood damages. As the
Pompton had no such effect upon the flood flow at Dundee dam in two
consecutive historic floods, the writer is inclined to believe that the idea
is entirely erroneous.
[Illustration: FIG. 1.--Comparative flood run-off at Dundee dam, March,
1902, and October, 1903.]
Since the flow