New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-07
RREAKJNG OF THE CR0T0N PIPES.
LOWER Reservoir DRAINED.
No Water Below F0urteentl.. Slree"
THE WHOLE CITY on SHORT ALLOWANCE.
OLD WELLS REOPENED.
Precautions Against Fire.
MANUFACTURES AND ENGINES STOPPED.
Police and Fire Department all on Duty.
THE WHOLE CITY on SHORT ALLOWANCE.
OLD WELLS REOPENED
Precautions Against Fire.
MANUFACTURES AND ENGINES STOPPED
Police and Fire Department all on Duty.
RESULT OF MAYOR WOODS MEDDLNG.

II is possible to do without rum, although from the
amount sold in this city stranger might think other
wise; but the cutting of of water is very different
matter There was some excitement at the reception
of the Prince much at the Presidential election, and
considerable since about secession but such tribes
are hardly drop in the bucket to that yesterday
morning when the city found itself without water
enough to wash its face. The Croton-the bright,
clear abundant, lfe-cheering, healtb-gving Croton
had suspended seeded, refused to liqudatei in fact
buIst up, literally, as hereby shown.
DISCOVERY OF THE BREAK.
At about 81 o'clock on Wednesday night, one Of the
policemen belonging the Central Park force observed
a stream Of water, which he described as about the
size Of barrel" suing from the bottom OF an en-
banbment near the Transverse Bridge in the Central
Park about 200 feet north Of the Old Arsenal and the
sane distance west Of Fifth avenue. The supposition
ia that the water came from leak in the Fifthayenue
MAINS and that the water issuing herefrom found ts
way Into an old corporation drain, and following the
c0urse Of the drain came 10 the outer world The
poicen an informed Mr.. Ellis the superintendent Of the
receiving reservoir at Eghysxh street of this fact,
who at once repaired to the spot but his attention was
eOon called 10 large stream that had burst up IN the
center Of the avenue, about 200 feet below, opposite
the Old Arepa and pouring over the essterly side
of the embankment some Is feet high, forming the
grade which has been constructed during the past
Sumner. BY the overflow, a lake of respectable d.
mensions WIS soon formed in the vacant lots between
Fifth avenue and the Harlem Railroad. He then went
to the air tap at Seventyrst street, to ascertain
which Ct the mains had burst.
SHUTTING OFF AT THE RESERVOIRS.
Finding that an accident had happened to both pipes,
he went to the upper reservoir and shut tho gates
through which they were supplied. The lower reser-
yor was next visited TO cOse the there to prevent
the water running back and discharging sef at the
break.
TIE DEPARTMENT AROUSED.
Ii was about midnight when MIR. Craven, Chief En-
gineer of the Croton Department was notified OF the
accde nj and in few minutes he upon the ground,
and put into operation measures to lind out and repair
tie damage. We are informed that long before day
light gang Of men were put at work, to clear away
the earth down TO the surface Of the pipes. Between
leo and 2G0 laborers thus engaged all day yes
terday and another gang were 10 take their place at
night After the subsistence Of the water conica hole
was left in the Of ten feet in diameter at the
top and occasionally throughout the day there would
be rpe of two or three feet when it would again sub
side IL has been stated tina; the filling in in large
proportion loose rock but in the excavation thus far
made the material used is remarkably free from stone.
HOW THE BREAK WAS CAUSED.
The disaster was probably caused by water from the
leakage above pccoating along the pipes and loosen
ng the foundation upon whchthey rested whchis alter
nate rock and swamp when Of course i'll consequence OF
he great pressure from above strong tension pro-
ductd that portion of the pipes crossing from the
ridge of one ledge to that Of another until finally they
gave way. Tie pipes when laid by the original Com
miseioners Of the Croon Department, twenty years
ago, were placed at depth of five six feet but by
the reject grading Of the street. they are now about
% feet leneatb the surface
WHEN THE REPAIRS WILL BE DONE.
II is uncertain how long it will take to put the mains
in operon again from the fact that it cannot be deter
mined with exacness where the breakage exists
Should it he found directly beneath where the excaya
on il row being made, repairs sufficient to allow the
passage of water through the pipes might be made in
the couse of few hours from tie time they reached
As the matter is Of great importance, it would
seem to be advisable to put additional abore at work
unearting the pipes above the point where the water
found egres for there appears to be little doubt that
leakage there was the indirect of the accident
The Croton Board believe it will require from three to
Fix DAYS TO rel air the break. 1t will be remembered
that similar accident happened 10 one OF the same
pires near Fifty ninth street last year. 1t took nearly
two DAYS to restore it, but in the meantime the city was
supplied by the other pipe, and tho calamity therefore
bad nothing Of the seious nature ofthe present one.
TIE GREAT SUPPLY MAINS.
The two 3GncI mains disabled for the prin-
cipa conduis BY which the city supplied with water
Two 3-nch pipes one in Third avenue, the other in
Eighth avenue now furnish the only sources left to
supply Croton and there s in consequence great in'
convenience experienced from the limited amount they
| are capable of delivering. These two mains connect
with the upper Reservoir, and after they arrive at
Fourteenth street they mngle with the general net
work Of ppes; still the small quantity they bring IL
likely to be intercepted before il reach the lower
| portion Of the city. The Thirdavenue main also de-
pended for portion of it's supply on the lower Reser-
| vor. TIE lower Wards and the middle portion of the
city viii thus be the principal sufferers by the disaster
Yesterday morning, there was no water in the lower
Reservoir while in the upper Reservoir there was be-
| tween nineteen and twenty feet-equal 1t Is said, 70
10000, 900 gallons.
| PLENTY OF wATFR-ABOyE THE BREAK.
TIE draft on tie upper reservoir has been more than
made up and Las been found necessary to open some
Of the waste gates at High Bridge to prevent AN over
flow.
Had the Chief Engineer shut on the water at the
Croon lake on Tuesday, as was contemplated, Tor the
uurnose Of making the annual inspection of the aque
duct. which would have occupied three days, the
calamity would have been sn greater than it is. Tha
cold weather however bad induced such waste O.
The Croton, that Mr.. Craven deemed it imprudent 10
reduce the supply, and postponed the examination
ORDERS PROM TfiE CRoTON BOARD.
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