Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-29

During the past few days wild rumors
have been afloat which have naturally
become wilder and given more cause for
alarm as they have spread, concerning
the possible danger that the city may be
In for water famine as a result of the
almost unprecedented low stage of water
the Mississippi has reached this season.
The rumors, which. though not without
some foundation, in feet, need not have
had the tone of seriousness that was
gwen them, had their origin in the
scarcity of water that was experienced all
over the city two weeks ago last
Monday. Investigation as to the
cause of the difficulty then experienced
In obtaining water from pipes through
out the city. revealed the fact that II was
caused by the extremely low water and
the elogging of ice about the inlet pipe
in the main channel of the river Then
there was only nine inches of water over
the inlet pipe. Anchor ice formed on
the rapids. broke and the suong wind
from the west drove the broken ice into
ihe mouth of the pipe and it was drawn
In by the suction. The consequence was
that even with the ordinary pressure the
inflow of water was blocked and had
there been an unusual demand for water
at that time, such AS fire would have
necessitated, the results woul have been
disastrous. for greater suction force
would have drawn more ice into the pipe
and made the obtaining of more water
the next thing to impossible.
At that time Supt. Stafford sent men
out in sklff and cleared the ice away as
much rs possible and drew the remainder
through the pipe By vacuum force for the
works. This operation however, Is
very destructive to the machinery. The
immediate danger of repetition OF the
| trouble of two weeks ago, has since been
removed by gratifying rise of the water
and at present there are eighteen inches
of water over the inlet pipe.
There is no imminent danger now, "
said SuDt. Staff this morning. THE
water has advanced considerably since
our trouble of nearly three weeks ago
and We anticipate no further ANNOYANCE
or danger unless it should drop much
lower than it has ever been-it must fall
six inches below the low water mark at
least. The actual trouble lies in the fact
but the wster is and has been so us>
usually low, aud the pine lies so close to
the surface, the mouth being right in the
edge OF the current, that the anchor ice
which forms on the rapids and breaks,
gets into the eddy and drops around the
pipe and the suction draws it 10"
What would be your remedys'
The city has been confronted with
these facts time and again and apprised Of
the real danger of the situation. | have
alluded to it in my annual reports since
| have been superintendent, and sug-
gested and recommended remedy.
The emily way to obviste the difficulty is
to extend the inlet pipe further out into
the current aud sink il deeper. Then
I .A--~ ill DO psastbis daaare. .el-s
further than tnis 1t would insure purer
water, though on this latter subject we
have had no cause for complaint"
How much further do you think th e
pipe ought 10 be extended"
"On'y about twenty four feet and |
have the pipe on hand now ready to Put
it in as soon as have orders to do SO
and can get at the work"
Thus it will be seen that the city is not
in peril at present, though it is not pos
sible TO predict what might come should
the city continue to neglect this very i'm
portant and necessary precautiou of ex-
tending the inlet pipe.