Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-16
A PECULIAR FLOOD.
The Large Pond Out Center Avenue
Alarming the Residents.
A RELIC OF LAST FRIDAYS STORM.
Three Engines Can't Keep Down the Water
and Another Ordered.
PEOPLE BEGIN MOVING THEIR GOODS

The people living on Center avenue,
Reed, and Chauncey streets, in the vi
cinlty of the large pond, near the old
skating rink, are considerable alarmed over
the futile efforts of the Department of Pub
lie Works to thus far dislodge the obstruc-
tions in the large sewer drop, which formerly
carried off the water constantly flowing into
the pond. Unless the water is drawn from
the basin, some of the streets surrounding
the big hole will be flooded and the houses
inundated. Many of them are below the
level of Soho street, and as they are occupied
by poor people there will be considerable
loss and suffering.
On last Friday night, when the terrific storm
swept over the city, part of the old dumping
ground on the south side of the pond slid into
the water, carrying with it considerable debris
in the way of old boards. planks, etc.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
This mass of stuff was carried into and over
the manhole of the sewer leading to the cul-
vert under Soho street. The dirt, wood, etc.,
completely filed the drop, making it abso-
lutely water tight. The water pouring down
from the hill lodged in the basin,
and the natural drainage Of Cen
Ter avenue ClauCo1 oLIc6b, SOSOehOA
with the constant leakage running down from
Heron Hill reservoir, causes the water to rise
at the rate of two inches per hour. There were
q feet of water in the pond at midnight last
night. The embankment is 80 feet high.
The officers of the Department of Highways,
under the direction of Captain Paisley, have
been working since Monday trying to dislodge
the Instructions in the drop. Yesterday they
began the construction of a roadway down to
the waters edge, from the western end OF
Reed street. They have secured four nre
engines, which they will run down to the Pond
and try to pump the water out sufficiently TO
allow the men to work at the sewer drop. The
water from the various sources runs in faster
than one engine could pump out
A DIFFICULT TASK.
Tuesday they had q raft out over the
sewer hole, but could make no headway, on &C
count of the deep water. The men working at
the place, yesterday, said there was enough
water running into the pond from Center ave-
nue. and Clancy street natural Valleys TO NIL
an eight-inch pipe. To draw this vast amount
of, as soon as it flows in, would require the
services of two engines alone. With the aid OF
two more engines they expect to draw on about
four inches per hour.
The water last night was over the level of the
floor of the old rink, and the residents OF the
vicinity were beginning to move their effects
to the upper stories Of their houses. Center
avenue will probably be flooded, but not enough
to seriously impede travel. The sewer drop is
about eight feet square. and leads to culvert
under Soho street; If the earth in the drop is
looSened the people in the valley between Cen
ter and Fifth avenues may expect to see
large amount of water come down. Should
heavy storm happen to come up now Center
avenue. some distance above the head of the
pond, would probably be flooded.