Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-29
THE BIG MAIN BURSTS AGAIN.
An Exciting Time mt the Foundry
Branch this Morning.


NEARLY TIE WHOLE CITY DEPRIVED OF WHARF.-THE
SCENE OF THE BREAK-How THE ACCIDENT oc-
cURRED-cAPT. LUsk HOPES 10 HAVE TIE REPAIRS
COMPLETED BY MORNING.
The bit OF lead pencil attached to the arm OF the
self-recording gauge In the Washington Aqueduct
ofice made an eccentric movement this morning
about 2:30 O'Clock and drew q right angle on the
ribbon OF paper beneath It. This was the record
made of what happened at the Foundry Branch
culvert on the Canal road at the time mentioned.
Nobody saw Il when II occurred. Wm. Burroughs,
VINO occupies house back from the road on the
and the crash OF falling masonry. IL was dark
ana stormy outside and he could see nothing. He
concluded that the culvert had fallen and that
the little valley would soon be flooded, the dam
made by the fallen structure would hold back
the waters OF the creek. lie reused his
family family and told them to make ready 70 go
Then, taking a lantern, he ventured forth.
alarmed the neighbors and soon discovered the
main had burst, on the east side OF the branch,
ana the huge volume OF water had torn q great
chasm In the road and carried away the thick
stone wall on the side toward the branch. The
water was rushing out In a mighty torrent, max
Ing adeafening sound.
SHUTTING THE GATES
Jas. Ricks who lives on the Canal road within q
few yards Of the culvert, was aroused and he sent
two OF his sons on a run TO the reservoir, a mile
away. On the way the boys got reiniorcements,
and there were half dozen In the party when
they reached the reservoir and gave the alarm TO
the superintendent, Mr.. Harrington. With
their help Mr.. Harrington turned the great
gate which shut on the water from the 36-inch
The watchman at the aqueduct office received the
alarm through the silent record made by the
gauge. The officials were quickly notified and by
3 O'Clock men were on the ground ready 10 begin
repairs.
THE srrpLY OF WATER CUT OFF.
When people rose this morning, in nearly every
part OF the city, they found that they had TO be-
gin the day without water. The broken main
Capitol HILL As OF course there was no notice
given OF the intention OF the main 10
Slsn agnnst had
where there are pumps were fortunate.
The pumps were surrounded by water-carTiers all
the day. Later In the morning connections were
made between the 36-inch MAN ana other mains
In the city, SO that some sections that
would otherwise have been dry were sup
not sufficient TO supply the higher levels.
In the Capitol building this morning a supply OF
the reserve tanks at the top OF the building. At
O'Clock there was only a depth OF - inches OF
water In the tanks-not sufcient to last more than
through the day.
THE SCENE OF THE BREAK.
The break occurred about thousand feet from
the point in the hill where the same main burst
september %, 1885 From that point the main
goes down the hill TO the foundry branch, passing
underneath the branch and rising on the east side,
TO the level on which IL is brought into the city be-
meath the canal The length that broke is few
yards from the branch, where the main Is
rising. The broken length is therefore IN
clined at an angle or about twenty degrees.
The culvert or bridge over which the canal road
passes the foundry branch Is a heavy struct-
ure OF masonry. From the east side or the cul-
vert the masonry was continued for some dis
tance in wall or wing going north, protecting the
bank and the roadway along the branch. The
main broke just inside that wall. The force OF the
water, however. broke the wall down, and IL fell
In toward the branch. Gangs OF men, under Su-
perintendent Smead. Of the aqueduct office, and
Superintendent Hayden OF the District water Of
hce, were at work before daylight, and soon had
the main uncovered
rHs BROKEN SECTION,
One OF the sections OF the huge pipe was found
broken from end to end. The section or length, is
twelve feet long, and great fragment was broken
from the under side, comprising nearly a third OF
the whole surface or the section. Major Lydecker,
in charge OF the aqueduct and Capt. Lusk who
has charge OF the District water service. were on
the ground during the day experimenting the
work Their Investigators showed that the
broken main had been supported on wooden
trestles. The wood had rotted leaving part OF the
main unsupported and bringing a strain on IL,
which had, In the opinion OF the engineers, re-
suited In the break. This main was laid IN 1872,
under the direction or Gen. Babcock. capt.
Symons, who visited the scene about noon, said
that IL was laid by contract. In his opinion no
water main Should be laid by contract. The con-
dition OF affairs was similar to that found on L
street, when the main broke there last year.
In eNcavating This morning around the broken
main the 20-inch main Laid by Gen. Meigs, and
which is a FEW feet away, was partly uncovered.
Fortunately ledge OF rock so protected this main
that 1t was not undermined by the now or water
from the other.
TIE REPAIRS.
The workmen were to-day in the muddy bottom
OF a deep gully, preparing TO substitute a new
length OF pipe for the broken one. The new length
was delivered on the ground abou: noon, together
with a number OF plates or sleeves to be used ia
patching II necessary. Capt. LuSk, who was sup
erintendng the work, told a STAR reporter this ar
ternoon that he hoped to have the repairs fin
ished during the night, so the water could be
turned on tomorrow morning