The New York herald., 1876-12-26
WATER FAMINE IN MASSACHUSETTS,


GREAT DISTRESS AMONG THE FARMERS AND
MANUFACTURERS LARGE NuMBtR OF op-
EnATIvEs THROWN OUT or EMpLoYMEAr--
NO PROSPECT OF IMMEDIATE EFLIRF-wILL
THE WINTER DROUGHT DE FOLLOWED By DIS
AsTRoUs SPRING FLOODS ?-THE HEgALDs
WARNING.
SPRiSorIELD Mass, Dec 25 1870.
The snowy mantle OF winter which has settled down
in such oountiful abundance the Con pneccut Housa-
tonic and Hoosac valleys has brought degree OF IN
convenience and suffering which bu, the afflicted
communities can fully realize The entire summer as
well as the last months OF autumn favored with
but few rains anu when winter came IL found nearly
all the streams and wells In the western part Of Massa-
chusetts either very dried up altogether and
hence the dilemma which the people now ind them
selves very serious one. Manufacturing is ro-
iarded or wholly suspended IN many sections and Is
only with great difficulty neghborhoods can
obtain the aqueous u.d suci abundance for or
dnary domestic purposes
TnE THE FARMERS.
In the mountain towns where the unicd springs
have given out the farmers have been Obliged to mott
snow to obtain water tor household purposes and they
have also found II necessary 10 drive their cattle and
ether stock long distances 10 enable them TO qucnch
their thirst AS The nelcs and roads heavily
drilicd this time The is quite aevcrc one and
there is likely 10 be before there is any
rain the prospect OF rcei IN the immediate future is
not very aastering The country grst mills, which tho
farming community rely largely upop are also Grip
Piled wholly suspended OF water power, and
the people find themselves obliged buy large quaint,
ties Of meal and produce, which is usually supplied
from their resources.
GENERAL SUSPENSION or MASuFAcruglSG.
The manufacturing interests are also suffering ter
ribly from the unprecedented water famine, and
thousands OF operatives threatened with idlencss
and desttution. Tho Dwight Manufacturing Com
pany, oil Chicopce, has just bcen compelled 10 shut
down OF It's largest mills, and over 800 persons
have been thrown OF employment in consequence.
AS fully one-haf OF these operatives have been
LIVING yRoA HAND TO MOUTH
such VIII be Obliged TO ask help from The town II the
mills remain closed for moro than month. The mat
ter has already been made tho subject OF SPECIAL
town meeting at which $40 900 was appropriated for
pauper purposes $1,000 OF which Is 70 be used Tor I'M
mediate relief Tho very low Chicopce
Falls, yet the Ch copee Manufacturing Com
pany have thus tar been able TO keep about
half their machinery running The Beleher
mills have been forced to stop altogether, and tho
others in the town have been obliged TO put in steam
power. From Berkshire county Iherc come the same
doleul reports, and the towns OF Hinsdae Pittsneld
Adams and Great harrington are nlied with idle opera
tivcs, praying tor rain or thaw. II IS only lew
months since the mills had orders sufficient To warrant
them In starting and It seems all the unior
thar they obliged To for want OF water
the plunkett Woolen Company in HinsGae.
THE PAPER MAKERS TROUBLED.
The manufacturers OF line papor in Dalton and Leo
are also suffering heavily from the famine From the
latter town learn that the streams almost abso-
iutey ury. and that winter has set in with between
two aud three feet of tho ground.
Tnc paper makers look blue, as within the
past week or two orders have been rushing
ia from different directions and Tor the rst time in
many months business had begun 10 look prosperous
ln most cases the man nufacturcrs can do nothing or
oi water 10 start their mills II Is rotated OF one
tlxutI nf
house or two that few days they received
their first and an extensive order, but the drought
leaves them powerless All the mills the Housatonic
River are practically shut down. as each one by pond
ing tho water, can run only tew hours at time.
PfTTsrIELD's PERIL.
The town OF Pittsueld, tho largest IN Berkshire
county, and OF the most charming and enterpris-
ing IN the State, was Tor few days almost literally
without drop OF water, and II confagration had on
sued millions of property would have been swept
away Ashley Pond, on Washington Mountain, 10
where supply has been from. and this CIV
ing out the temporarily IN u very bad situa-
ti0n. Indeed, for whole week some sections Of tho
village did not receive drop OF water from the ord
nary source. Finally steam pumps wero set to work
on Washington Mountain, md Lake Ashley WAS thus
filled from another lake somo five miles distant Tho
water pumped IRON the latter lake, thence forced
through about 500 feet OF hose the bed OF q small
stream hen dry) after which 1t inund its way to Lake
Ashley through our miles OF snow and ice, and then
the pipes TO the ANXIOUS and thirsty Inhabitants OF
FEARS or DISASTROUS SPRING rREsnETs
There fears (wel ounded) that IN the spring. II
there sudden thaw and heavy rains, there may be
series OF disastrous ireshets with, perhaps, consc
Quenccs not unlike those attending the Mil River
calamity There IL heavy body of snow on the
ground, and these country towns, or many Of thcm
are covered by dams and (and, per-
haps, insecuro the one at Williamsburg During
the excitement OF the Mil River disaster there was
good deal OF talk about making those sale
by legislation but since that sad event there have been
two similar deluges the State One at Middle
field, IN Hampshire county, and the other near Wor
ccster Fortunately there WAS no loss OF lo In either
case, but millions Of property was destroyed. II, by
tho neglect OF the Massachusetts authorities therc is
another Mil River slaughter, 1t will not be because
they were not timely warned by tho NEw York
uru