The Washington critic., 1885-09-24
qHE scARCIrr or u.irER.
Expectations that the Break VIII be
soon Temporarily Repaired.

Expectations THAT the BrcHk VIII he
soon Temporarily Repaired.
The break in the 3G-inch Waterman, near
Green Springs, yesterday morning has
caufcd great inconvenience and the higher
Iortiors of the city will have no water for
day or two yet The present supply comes
through q 20 and l2-luch main. Captain
Symous of the Engineers Office states that
tlc entire supply Of water viii probably
have to tc cut OF from the city for n few
hours again when the broken main Is re-
paired. The hole In the pipe will hc tempo
iaiily repaired by piece Of iron curved
10 conform with the outside surface OF the
main. The hole is 90 10y 30 inches, and the
piece Of iron with which he intends 90 Sc
cure it will he four feet square. II will be
held IN place by strong iron bands The
plate and the band will have TO he made
urd they are not expected before tonight
or tomorrow. lie has also sent to New
York for "slccyc," which will not be
rcrdy fer about week. When this arrives,
IL section Of the pipe will he taken out and
The "slcCyc' put In its place. Until the
"slCCyc' is put In, the main can he only
PARTIALLY Hllcd With water.
II q broken valve In the 3G-inch main can
lc repaired to-day the water will not have
to lie cut of from the other mains. lie
said he could not tell how the accident oc-
cured, lut he supposed there must have
Teen flaw in the iron main. This sup
position was confirmed, to some extent,
when an iron wedge was found in the ditch,
which had probably been used by the
NOikmcn TO protect the unsafe part Ot the
main. In regard to the possibility OF Il
water famine, he said until the break Is re-
paired there will he little or no water In
The higher portions Of the city and on Cap
itol llill, rs well rs In all stories above the
iist, Of houses In the lower section, be-
cause about onc-half Of the supply is now
cut of.
Chief Cronin states that the Fire Depart
mCnt can cope with ordinary fires, but a
large fire would bc disastrous until the en-
| the supply Is again turned on. lie says
there nrc several resources from which he
| can get water In certain localities The
| Avenue can be protected by the supply from
the large sewer extending along B street
from Seventh street to the river The mains
IN the northwestern section are connect
I'd with the high-surfacc reservoir above
Georgetown, which are not affected by the
break. For Capitol Hill, he says the en-
giucs could get n four hours supply from
the reservoir on the east front of the Capt.
tol. Water could be carried from these
points for distance of one mile In the
hose.
Major Dye last evening ordered that all OF
the reserve Of police be kept in the station.
| house last night for immediate service at
| fires.
A CRIrIC reporter was informed at the
| Water Office this afternoon that the band.
| to hold the patch on had been received and
| they were waiting for the paich which
would be clampcd on the main at once, and
| the water would be turned on.
To-day there was a small supply OF water
! I'm tlp lower ~ Oripg of most of the lDttsps on
! Capitol lIl. Some complaint has beer
| made about fountains in the President.
grounds and elsewhere being allowed tC
| run.
Major Dye states that II the damaged
main is not repaired the police reserve vii
still he held at the station-houses to rcnde
any assistance they can In case of ire