The daily gazette., 1880-08-26
THIRD EDITION
water Famine In Reading.
READING, Pa, August 25, 1880.

READING, Pa, August 10, 1880.
This city and surroundig territory has
been suffering for quite length of time
from severe drouth, which has finally
ended in q regular water famine, the
first serious effect being to-day, whensths
water supply ceased entirely to fow
through the hydrants OF the whole upper
section Of the city east of Sixth street. A
visit to the two largest reservoirs, locat-
ed at the head Of Penn street, from
which the city is supplied with water,
disclosed the fact that one was entirely
empty, while the second contained about
thirteen feet of water. This latter Is
called the fire reservoir and the water
contained therein is drawn out only in
case OF fire. This now constitutes the
entire supply of water In the reservoirs,
and II is that fact that causes such dis
may among the people. A certain portion
of the city receives its supply of water
through twenty-four inch main, direct
from Berhart's Dam, and through this
pipe to-day stream Of about five inches
is flowing, which goes towards supplying
the lower sections Of the city also most
OF the manufacturing establishments
along the Schuylkill River front. The
only benefit the community in the up
per section of the city can derive from
this is by cutting it offfrom the factories
and mills and thus forcing the water
back. This if done, would compel all
the works to shut down at once.
The Water Commissioners to-day no
Tined all manufacturers to use extra pre-
cautions so as to prevent damage that
might occur from the scarcity of water !;
the same notice was also gwen to the
community in general. Prompt action
will be taken by the Water Commits
sioners to devise some way by which the
present difficulty may be overcome. The
great need is good soaking rain which
would fill the streams supplying the res
ervoirs. There is much feeling express
ed in The city against the Water Com
missioners, who are blamed for the pres
ent condition of affairs and for not pro
viding means before this to increase the
water supply. A great number of mills,
factories and other workshops in the city
are compelled to suspend operations to-
day ON account of the scarcity of water,
thus throwing of employment hundreds
OF men. Families residing in that part
OF the town affected by the famine OBJ
tain their supply from pumps and springs.
During the entire day thousands of cit
lEens visited the large spring in the yard
OF the Spring Garden Brewery with all
manner OF utensils for the purpose of
carrying water. The scene at the reser-
voir, where small stream of water CON
tlnues to run through a pipe to the
drinking fountain, was quite animated.
Hundreds of men, women and children
stood in line with buckets waiting their
turn TO obtain enough water for cooking
purposes. Many private residences and
hotels were compelled to draw the fires
IN ranges to prevent explosions. How
long the famine will continue is at pres
ent difficult to surmise; but unless some
thing is done in the way of obtaining a
supply of water great distress will surely
follow. The News, an evening paper,
was compelled to have water carried
Tor the boiler in order to get out the edi-
tlon. There are abou. fifteen thousand
people without water tonight.