, 1879-01-19
OUT OF WATER.
The Hyde Park Works Obstructed
by Ice.

Manufacturing Establishments Inter.
tered With-The Superintend-
ent's Plan.
Yesterday morning the citizens OF Hyde Park
and Lake were much disturbed by the refusal OF
their taps to give any water, aud with views OF
Z frozen water-pipe bursting on their hands. and
huge plumber, with soldertng-iron in one hand
and large bill in the other, they sailed out to
get or bprroW water from the ncighborhood
faucets. Their neighbors were also frozen up,
and then came conclusion that there had been
m a"tullY cold snap, and the heads Of the
houses took pans Of snow to melt to get
water to make their coffee. Sadly
they waited for it to melt, and
the ra'n-Water Was not a. good as
what they had been drinking. It was not
generally known around town antil late in tha
morning that the ice had gotten In the Crib and
frozen of their supply. Then the insurance.
companies got nervous and were afraid Of fire,
and all Hyde Parkers and Lakeitcs or any one
who had any business III the domains tresnbtea
a TRIBUNE reporter was sent to get the news.
and after getting his reportorial nose almost
frozen wandering around Hyde Park, nnaliy
found
COL. FOSTER, SUPERINTENDENT OF TIE WATER
WORKS,
at the hose-house in Englewood. In the room
were also Mr.. h1urhead, Water Commissioner,
and Mr.. Sayles, the Assistant Engineer Of the
works. These gentlemen were aI1 interviewed
at once. But first let it be said that the Water
Works supply two townships, which toceth-
er are as large IS Chicago, and in this territory
are over l., 600 people, the large packing-nousea
OF the Stock-fards, aud number Ut manufac-
turing establishments, both at Lake aud Grand
Crossing,
Col. Foster said he was Superintendent Of the
works, aud Mr.. Muirhead was Water Commis-
sioper
s'1Vhen the works we're first established, in
October, 1874. the crib was in the same location
as it is now. The first winter there was trouble,
and the crib was blocked with anchor Ice, but It
wus at pirht and it was thought best to Keep
the matter Quiet, though VIC were greatly afraid
there would be trouble always The second
winter it was about the same, and we were
blocked one night. Well, since that we have
had bard work every winter to keep the crib
IFce from Ice, anu IN the summer 1rom sang.
LAST Wlnler was tue "oEst TIME VIC nau untA
last nlghts "hen
THE sLusH nLocKED THE PORTFOLIOS
at the entrance of the crib Us usual. But this
Al half-past TIC water suddenly stopued. and
was called by telegraph, which I have ia nv
room at nv home. Calling Afr. Mnirhead. va
got to the Water-Works Us lively as Wa knew
which is equivalent to 10 water at Lake. There
had been q southwest wind. and the slush rot
into the port-bolcs and worked down. forming a
solid mass OF mortar-like ice, and, stranger stlll,
the water in the we'll did what it had never done
before,--frozc,- sixteen inches at that.
s.Ihc first thing uoue was 20 nump all the
water M we could. and then. oDcninr :he valves
Of tile pumps, let the water dow back. which
amounts to ouite a pressure. This vas reneatcd
again and again. and nj mon today fSatur,Iavl
We u1anar.I to break il. had rome fo the rity
for the tuc o. Il. Grcrn and tWo divers ann.
getting out III the early mart Of the t}ny. hau
tuc;n 7nt tle ice arointl lie crih. This tha
fliyrrs viii In Sunday os - nr,.vrnt;ve The
water was eottcn into inc nincs anain Mt
O'Clock, and The people surplicu. and two aud q
half million gallons are being pumped per day.
There is record OF the temperature OF the
water IN tue lake ut all times, and to-day 1t IS
a. ueg. aoofe zero, auu tlle Water III tae 1aAe Is
colder than ut any previous time"
THE DAMAGE.
What the damage would be to these towns If
they we're without water long is hard to est!-
mate iu dollars and cents. but The towns in
manufacturing alcnc rank among the chief
nuints in the West The iarrc packiur-houscs
ia Lake and the nachinc- Shops in Grand
day xh:. Wilson Scwing-Machine Factory, with
others, yas Obliged to shut down, while a uum-
ber of packing -houscs-as least ten-elosed for
half day. The real property In the towns is
yall1a lie, and the insurancc would quickly be
rut Of If the towns remained long without
water, But the same thing has occurred before,
and will again under similar circumstances, and
II q shaft should break it would take ten
times as long to repair damages. To encourage
the good people, Col. Foster says that Feb. ~
the new machinery will bc in operation, aud the
danger over to a great extent in that direction.
The Water-Works originally cost $4,000, and it
Is estimated that sl0,0oo has been spent in re-
pairing the works and the CRIB, which has been
continually getting out Of repair.
Mr.. Muirheau aud Col. Foster, after giving
this much information, put their heads together,
aud In a low voice discussed for a while whether
they had better tell the reporter Of their new
pIap. They finally decided they would, aud saiu
they had struck hord-pan, and that their
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