Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-23
A WATER FAMINE IMMINENT,
One OF the Big Mains BrOken-The Ex.
tent OF the Damage Not Yet known
Instructions to the Fire Department.

Some time between and 5 o'clock this
morning the 36-inch water main on the high
hill between the distributing reservoir and
Green Spring, above Georgetown, which is
under ground at that point, burst. In conse-
quence of this the water throughout the CITY on
high ground has run out of the supply mains
The water has been cut off above the break, but
1t will be some hours before the water in the
broken main will discharge itself at the break
The flood has already done considerable dam
age on the conduit road and the canal road and
Is running into the ravine at Green Spring. AS
soon as the water department on Al street
was made aware OF the state of things
Lieut.. Townshend was dispatched at once
to learn the extent Of the damage. Upon his re-
turn he reported the damage very great, and
states that it is unaccountable what caused the
break, and that the mains are likely to be
broken in other places No one he says, can
tell what the extent OF 1t is, nor how long time
1t Will take for repairs, SO that the water can be
made and the extent Of the break discovered.
Capitol Hill and all the high points of the city
are already without water, and it will be but a
be without a supply.
NOTICE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
At 1890 o'clock this morning the fire depart
ment was notified that the water supply from
this city had been shut of, but that i'm case of
fire in the northwestern section of the city
water could be obtained from the high-Service
reservoir in that section, north of n and west of
18th street, by notifying the pump house. Ar
engagements have been made between Chief
Cronln and his assistants that in place OF three
engines responding to alarms five will respond,
SO that where 1t is necessary to carry water at
long distances 1t NAV be carried through the
nose OF the several engines. Further precau-
lions have been made to double the watch at
the engine houses. A fire broke out at $50
O'clock 3 In the upper story Of the warehouse of
John A. Davis Co., street, between 9th and
iOth streets The fire was extinguished
before o'clock. There was no lack of water at
that point at that time, as the pressure had not
then affected the low grounds of the city.
Later.
THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE ASCERTAINED-
1T wILLTAKE TWO OR THREE DAYS TO MAKE
REPAIRS.
When the water had discharged itself at the
break and the fracture been uncovered, it was
found that piece of pipe about two and a-half
feet long by two feet wide, had blown out of the
side OF the 36-inch main. The length of pipe
where this break is will have to be replaced,
which will, maybe, take two or three days.
Lieut. Townsend says that alongside of this
80 inch main lays a 80 inch main close to it,
and that there is no way OF cutting out the frac-
tured portion OF the pipe except by filing it out.
This will have to be done by hand, and it may
take until tomorrow evening before it can be
done and the connection made AS soon as
the location and extent of the fracture
was s ascertained, telegraph message
of sleeve to match a So main. and it is probably
on Its way now to this city. This size, and all
Other s1ZeSof iron sleeves, are kept on hand at
the iron works where the mains are cast
NO WATER IN THE LOWER SECTIONS OF THE
CITY.
There is no water in South Washington at
p. m. 1t commenced getting low about II
o'clock, and at o'clock had nearly ceased flow
ing at the spiggOts.
WARNING TO PERSONS WHO OWN RANGES.
1t has been suggested to the Commissioners
that persons who have ranges in their kitchens
abandon the of them a
to prevent accidents.
The Commissioners have given instructions
to the fire department to have plenty OF hose
prepared and In readiness, SO that where water
Is required to be carried long distances in cases
OF fire. that wagons and horses may be procured
when necessary to transport it where wanted.
There are about 46O pumps in the city said to
be in working order.
The amount to be asked for by the Commits
sioners for the repair of pumps the ensuing
year is 5000.
Lieut.. TOwhshend states that he had 10 cut
OF the water at many points to-day in order to
keep the water in the tanks and reservoirs to
protect the city from fire in case it occurs.