The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-14

Factories CLOSED, Looms husnc"' nm"
thousands or Operatives ldie.
AN UNPRECEDENTED DRouonT-InE RIVER
TURNED INTO RACEwAYs AND BALI Inn on
eurFERrXG-HOPING FOR A kAiN'siVhh'
ru.. xor, Herald, yesterday.l

from drought, and tomorrow u seApecteo
that the rest OF the industries VIII De STOP.
ned and the city will be totally without
water. The only thing to prevent tnis IS
good ra;n.storm to-day. This serious situa-
fion IL generally attributed to the action
of the Society for the Promotion OF
TIsefuI Manufactures. When Alexander
Hamilton viewed the Falls OF the Passalc
his business proclivities oyercame Dis aami-
ration for the beauty OF nature ana ne
Thought that a large amount oil motive-
power was going to waste when coniu De
ntiJized. He accordingly secured the pass
ace OF a charter giving to the Society Tor
line Promotion of Useful Manufactures, oil
! which he himself was president, the exeln-
sive pse OF the Passaic river above the falls,
to he used as the Society might decide. Inc
charter was perpetual. and the Society to
this day virtually owns the Passaic river.
By means OF raccways the bulk OF the wa
Ter IL diverted from the river channel
short distance above the falls and used
to furnish motiye-power to num-
her OF mills before it returns TO
the river, some hundred feet lower tDan
where 1t left the rivers channel. III was
soon discovered that IN dry seasons the
water would not give steady supply OF
power, and accordingly dam was bullt'
so that at all times there might be millions
Of gallons OF water at the disposal OF the
Society. And thus have things existed
since Hamilton made them so. When Pa
terson grew TO he a city and to count its
inhabitants by the thousands, thinks to
its cheap motive-power, the Passac
Water Company was Organized. JeaI'
Gus rs ever Of its vast privileges, the
Society prevented the water company
from locating above its dam. Between TINS
dam and the falls there was only space OF
| 900 feet, and so the Water Company saw
itself compelled to locate there in order TO
secure enough pressure TO distribute It's
water in the pipes in the city below. For
several wears the Water Company were kept
| in full supply OF water by full river; but
n dry ,season came, and the company saw
itself compelled to erect dam on the very
verge OF the falls, and to put IN steam
pumps. The idea of a water.famine bad,
however, frightened the citizens OF Pater-
son, and a proposition was several times
made to erect water.works belonging
| 10 the city; but as soon as 1t came 10
an election, such was the number OF
taxpayers who did not want to increase the
city's debt, that upon counting the ballots
the "noes had IL" every time. Last year
the river again proved unreliable, and as
some of the mills were compelled to deslst
from work for many hours each week in
consequence steam was resorted to, and in
many cases the mill owners were rendered
independent OF the river. The Water Com
pany succeeded in keeping the city sup
plied with water by dint OF busy pumping
at night and on Sundays when the water
flowed over the Soclety's dam. This year
racnrtpn
| long time with success.
THE WATER CoMPANY's DIFFICULTIES.
Though tue employees Of the Water Com
pany bad strained every nerve 1t became
evident on Monday morning that the supply
was getting short. The water was stored
| in two reservorS-the upper, which IN Re-
evolutionary times had been used as a fort by
| General Washington, and the lower, more
recently constructed. 1t was resolved on
Monday morning to cut off all the mains
connected with the upper reservoir and 10
keen enough water IN it TO turn on in case
of a fire. The interested parties in the city
were accordingly notified that on Monday
night the water would be cut off until rain
storm should raise the river, with just
bare possibility of being supplied with water
for one hour on Wednesday morning.
Tubs, pals, batb.tubs, and all receptacles
which would hold water were soon filled,
and on Monday night the turning OF the
hydrant-cock was not followed by the usual
fzZ. The mills along the race had for
weeks been running only part OF the
time, with the exception OF one paper-mill,
which is situated nearest the river, and has
accordingly the control OF the water. The
Wafer Company hoped that the Society
would prove merciful, but the Society con-
6rmed the saying that corporations are soul
less. Ii was | O'Clock yesterday morning
before the water flowed over the S0ciety's
dam toward the dam OF the Water Company
only to be drawn off at once into the
resel voirs. The supply was even then so
small that il was hardly worth the trouble,
but every gallon was precious in the emer-
gency. Before morning it became apparent
that the supply in the lower reservoir
would soon be exhausted, and that the Wa
ter Company was powerless to avert the
watel-iamine. IL was consequently at once
announced that unless heavy rainst0rm
should relieve the condition OF affairs within
twenty-four hours the whole city would
be deprived totally OF its supply Of water.
The news spread like wild6re, and conster-
nation was TO be seen depicted on many
countenances in Paterson, for want OF wa
Il
INDUSTRIES SUSPENDED.
The Passaic X 1lling-Mill, where water Is
used i'm large quantities. and where an at
tempt to drill an artesian well has resulted
in hole in the earth $3.50 feet deep with
out securing water, was compelled to close
IN in the morning. An attempt TO keep
the Bridge Works connected with it, and
where thousands OF dollars worth OF orders
are awaiting futilment, IN running order,
proved unsuccessful, and before noon the
noise of the hammer had ceased entirely and
the fires OF the FORCES bad been eXtln-
euished. At the Paterson Iron Works, an
other large establishment, matters had
come TO a similar crisis. AT Weidman's Dye
Works the water was so scarce that three
fourtbs OF the employees were sent home,
and the balance will hardly begin work
This morning. Barbour's Flax Mills, in adj
dilion to being supplied with water from
the Water Company, have water-works OF
their own. The latter, not having been en-
tirelv completed, proved as unreliable as
the Water Company, and the hundreds OF
looms were as idle as II there was a circus
in town. These are the most prominent
establishments that suffered most severely.
In addition to these, numbers OF smaller
mills were closed, and the words "Closed
for want of water" were to be found on
many milLdoors. IL is estimated that at
least 5000 operatives are out of employ
ment, and that hundreds OF orders will not
be filled In the specified time.
Many thousand eyes looked longingly yes
terday at the black clouds on the ornament,
and many thousand hearts felt sad when
the wind dispersed them and the sun
seemed to proclaim the embargo on all OF