Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-11
OUR MAIL POUCH.
The Southside Water Supply.

To the Editor of The Dispatch:
We observe in this mornings edition of your
paper an editorial in regard to the Southsde
water supply. This article seems to have
been called out by the fire which occurred yes
terday evening at the Clinton furnace on West
Carson street.
After reading your editorial the writer Wis
tied the three fire engine companies that were
present at this fire for the purpose of obtaining
the facts in the case.
From these he learned that there was no
scarcity OF water at the fire at ALL and that any
scarcity that existed anywhere must have been
in the imagination of your reporter. Engine
Company No. 2. which was first at the nre,
threw fine stream of water 80 feet higher
than the cupola. which is 80 feet high. The
volume and force OF the stream were main
tanned till the fire was extipguished.
The captain Of this company informed the
writer that the furnace company suggested i'm
against the iron work supporting their large
water tank located lower down on the side of
the furnace. The purpose IN SO doing being to
prevent the melting of the iron supports hold
ing up their tank, and thereby keep the water
contained therein from chilling the molten
metal in the furnace.
In this connection it might be proper to state
the Monongahela Water Company do not own
the fire plugs on the Southsde; they did not
put them in; they do not take care Of them
now, and in no way are responsible for their
c0n01tlOn. line nreplugS are all owned ana
taken care of by the city. At this particular
section of West Carson street there are three
main water pipes on the street, an S-inch
and 12-inch owned by the Monongahela
Water Company, and 16inch owned by
the city. The S-inch and l2-inch are connected
at intervals. The freplugs are attached to the
S-inch main. AS matter of prudence and
greater safety, we requested the city authori-
ties good while ago to have the tireplugs con-
nected with the Pinch pipe This has not
been done yet. In all cases the ireplugs should
be connected with the largest main on the
streetin order to get the best possible results
in time of fire.
The reservoirs were full at the time of the
Clinton furnace fire, with the valves leading to
the distributing mains wide open, as they are
at all times
In regard TO the quality of water furnished
to the Southside, we would refer you to the
analyses made by Hunt GIapp, of this city,
and Prof. Phillips, of the Western University,
OF Allegheny City Both these reports show the
water to be of excellent quality" We would
also respectfully refer you to statistics in the
Board Of Health Office which show that the
Southside is the healthiest district in the city.
Ii the water we're impure and of bad quality.
as you intimate in your editorial. 1t certainly
munity. Officers OF the Board of Health have
frequent stated to the writer that the South
side has the reputation, in their office, of being
the healthiest portion OF the entire city.
We do not think that a newspaper Of such
high standing as The DISPATCH would know
ingly misrepresent the facts in any matter. but
you certainly are away OF in your editorial OF
this morning
The writer will gladly accompany repre.
sentative Of your paper in making such investi-
CATION as will prove the truthfulness of the
statements made in this communication. In
the meantime we think that it would be better
every way for paper to base its editorial com
ments on facts and not on idle rumors chrystal
lized by No. Faber in the hands of an over
xealous reporter.
Trusting you will find room for this commu
nieation in your paper we remain,
Yours truly
MONoNGAHELA WATER COMPANY
MARTIN PREMIER, Manager.
| lib CARSON STREET, PIrTsBURG, November
To- 1890