Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-01
TREMENDOUS RAINFALL.

J Unprecedented in New Aaven's SiEnal Service Record-A Magnificent Proof erthe Value of our Sewage system A Rainfall or 8.l5 Inchesin Twenty. Four Hours, ana of 15.OS Inches In July-A Fine sight at Whitneyvile Dam. Extraordinary has been the amount of rain fall of late, as everybody must be aware, but the full extent of the fact is not realized. The following figures from the signal office tell the story:
 FALL OF RAIN
 During the month of July to date of Wed- nesday, July 31st, at 1885 p. m., precipita~ ton 17.0s inches.
 TOTAL DOWNFALL oF RAIN
 From Tuesday, July 30, at 1885 p. m. to Wednesday, July S1st, at 1;S5 p. m. 8.16 inches.
 Never before in the history of our local signal office was there anything like the above.
 In the month of July 17.07 inches of rain fell, and in the space of twenty.four hours 6.15 inches fell.
 And yet the oity was not flooded. The sewers carried of this immense body of wa- ter.
 In some instances cellars were flooded, but this was generally because of the set back owing to the high tide, and in the remainder of instances the trouble was due to defective plumbing.
 What grand testimony to the wisdom and foresight through which our city was pro- vided with SO excellent a sewage system. But how easy 1t is to look back and recollect how violent and determined was the opposi- tion to the adoption of e general sewage system in New Haven. The times have of opposition to sewerage protection are gone by. In this connection how naturally arises recollection of the big work done by ex- Mayor Henry G. Lewis in behalf of a sew age system in our city; and how bravely and energetically he and other public spirited men oontended against opposition for this result. Honor to whom honor is due. in town by the big down pour of rain, chief. ly in the outskirts of the city. Without sewers in the city, however, 1t is not wide of the mark to say that this powerful dsluge of rain would have caused at the least $10G, 1000 damage.
 The signal office records, as stated, show that never before did New Haven have such heavy down-pour since the service was started here; and 1t may be added that the only near approach to the fall of the twenty four hours above mentioned was one day some years ago, when two and half inches fell in twenty. four hours, but that was in September, when heavy rains are expected, and not in the month of July.
 3.16 INCHES IN 36 HOURS. The rainfall at Trinity college, Hartford, for thirty-six hours ending at o'clock yes- terday morning amounted to 316 inches. From 6:30 to 9 o'clock Monday evening the fall was SO; from 1:15 to 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon it was .66; and from 4:30 p. m. Tuesday to 5 6. m. Wednesday 1t was 1.90 inches. When 1t is remembered that the average annual rainfall for that section is but about A inches, 1t will be seen what a large proportion this result of thirty-six hours bears to the whole.
 THE RAINFALL FOR JULY In Hartford and vicinity has been about ten inches as measured at the Hartford reservoirs, which is the largest monthly fall for the past eighteen years, with two exceptions, namely, September, 1882, of 10.ss, and August, 1885, of 10.27. Two hundred and fourteen out of the last 216 months produced less rainfall than this one month of July, 1889. And if tho records were examined sttill further back the showing might perhaps be still more striking.
 
 coNNEcTtoUT's SHOWERS AS A WHOLE.
 The annual rainfall in Hartford averages about A inches, not over 45 at the outside. The month of July, ordinarily not specially wet month like August, has this year brought for Connecticut as whole evidently not less than II inches. One-quarter of the whole year's precipitation in one monthl New Ha- ven's weather observatory reports more rain | bov rkf ovI tho tion of the State generally.
 A SPLENDID SIGHT AT LAHE WHITNEY.
 Not few people rode out to Lake Whit ney yesterday to see the almost unprecedent- cd flow of water over the dam. One gentle- man, who walked three miles just to see the sight, having heard about 1t from Whit neville neighbor intimated that there was not less than three feet of water pouring over the dam. Others thought the amount was not ss much, estimating it at two and a half feet. It was fine sight to see the big sheet of water pouring over and falling with big roar on the rocks below.