The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-15
A CROTON WATER PANIC.
rHE DISTRICT below HOUSTON STREET fHREAT
ENED WITH A WATER FAMINE.

THE DISTRICT below HOUSTON STREET fHRRAT
ENED WITH WATER FAMINE.
very disagreeable surprise, and one resulting
ia a vast amount OF inconvenience and no litts
danger. was in store yesterday FOR the residents
OF this city below Houston street. AT an EARL
hour In the morninR the water supply suddenly DO
came slow and insufficient, and In many houses sit
uated on rather high ground In the above named
district IL failed entirely. waen IL ID remembered
that the majority OF factories ana other great es.
adjustments using steam engines, such as news.
papers, &C., are situated below Houston street
tae an xlety and alarm caused by the sudden
water famine can easily be imagined. NOBODY
knew at the 1rst moment how long it was gone
TO last; whether the breaEage or accident that
was supposed TO have caused the interrup
ton was OF a temporary nature or wM
likely to continue People fastened 20 the ono,
OF the engineer OF the Water Works IL the Ctti
BAN, ana, strange to say, the oniclals there wer,
In complete ignorance as to the cessation OF tnt
water supply They we're unable 10 give any ia
formation regarding its cause. Although the nrs
complaints we're made as early as ten O'Clock 4
was almost one O'Clock in the afternoon before IN,
assistant engineer in charge, Mr.. John g. Camp
bell, sent his men to Investigate the cause Of tn'
dlniculty.
The result or this investigation showed that
comparatively trivial mishap had resulted In ~
this serious alarm and discomfort Il appear
that one sprots, VINO Il foreman Of repairs for ths
lower district, ana has only been month in the
employ or the CITY, had shut on the valve OF tas
stopcock OF the thirty.inch main at the junction
or Broadway and Houston street and was IN
able 10 open u again. thus destroying
toe connection between II and tue
thirty-sx-incn main wnicn leeds y rom
rms reservoir az Forty second street THIS
thirfV-lnch main runs from Broadway aud noustoE
street down Broadway 10 Pearl street, and WITH
two twelvc-nch mans aud numerous branch
mines connecting with them IN Oil directions, sup.
plies the lower district Whatever water was
ain procurable came from these two twelve-inch
mains. Tne engineers OF the Uroton WORKS do not
Know when Sprott smut on tue wave, but theS
tnnags was NOT not,ced uutl Monday morning
because the consumption on sunday Is so shRat
that the smaller mains were sufficient.
CALAMITY AyERfED.
Had vast connggratlon visited the lower part
or the city the consequences OF his neglect might
have cost the city millions OF dollars aud untold
disaster but fortunately lts effects we're confined
10 great personal lnconvenience anu loss 81 time
II was found upon 10 vestteafion that the repairs
in the stopcocK at Houston street and
Broadway would have to DC connected. and
open the valve. Mr.. Campbell. VINO, In the
absence OF Mr.. Tracy, the engineer-In CHIEF
was responsible for the workings OF tue bureau
despatched men to the Forty-second street reser.
voir with orders 20 turn on the new thlrtysiN
Inca main wnich runs down Third avenue aud
was laid about year ago 10 meet just such occa
sona exigencies rs OCCURRED yesterday. The en-
gnoers say that the supply RON THIS main Will 90
sufficient to SATISFY all demands until the stop
cock At Houston street aud Broadway shau have
| been repaired. Tnis viii be done on sunday next
/ the sabbath being the most tayorable day FOR 70
/ pairs to water pipes. The additional supply, nov
ever was not Afforded until ABOUT hal past three
O'Clock, when III came, greatly 70 the reuei Of hun
dreds OK households aud thousands wnose push
| ness pursuits hlu been interrupted hy the $40
page. Commissioner Porter was absent iOh
| ONCE yesterday morning attending iu1f
| and was much surprised Wnen no heaIl
4 accident ana Ii Is 10 he hoped fha, ~ WI
a strict investigation into al the cirta"
Of the case.