Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-12
A Council Committee Listens to the
Complaints of Residents of
the Southside Hilltops.
VERY FILTHY AND LITTLE OF 1T.
The konOngahela Company officials Say
They Are Working Hard to
Provide Remedy.
TALK OF FORMING A BUCKET BRIGADE
Whit Of Inspection to be Paid to the sOuthsde
Water Works

The Monongabela Wster Company's
capacity for supplying the Southside With
enough water which shall not contain the
germs OF typhoid fever or other diseases, is
10 be investigated by special committee OF
Councils on Friday afternoon.
The committee held meeting in Select
Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, at
which Hon. A. C. Robertson presided. The
dissatisfied citizens of the Southside had
been requested to attend, as were the officials
OF the water company. There were not
many Of the former present, and those who
were there came from the Thirty-ffth ward.
Mr.. 6. L. Holiday, President of Com
mon Council, opened the proceedings by
stating that the citizens of the Thirty-ffth
ward had held two meetings, and had ap-
pointed committee of six gentlemen to
state their grievances to this committee
Mr.. Reitz presented the statements of %
Southside residents and patrons of the
Monougahela Water Company living in
different portions of the hill district Mr.
Robertson read the statements, which dis
closed terrible state of affairs. The more
striking complaints, with the name of the
complainaDts, are as follows:
SERIOUS COMPLAINTS.
Mr. McGeary-I built a bathroom recently.
but have little use for it, as we have SO little
water. 1 have been carrying water up from
Carson street for months past. The Virginia
avenue main helped matters a little, but if any
thing happens at the works they shut off this
line without notice. The Southside has out
grown the Monongahela Water Company's
plant and the quality of the water furnished is
very bad. The city should supply the South
side with water. The pumping station on the
hill has not sufficient capacity and is in filthy
condition. 1t has sewers all around it.
MIR. Kessner-I have been out of water for
SO hours at a time. A few days ago had to
build fire in the yard for fear of blowing up
my range. When we had hydrant water it was
SO bad we could not use it,
Mr.. MOran-We have to keep a supply of
water in bath and wash tubs 1t is a common
thing to find worms in the pipes. The run
from which the water is pumped is full of bItn.
We pay for sprinkling hose, but haven't water
enough to use it.
Mr.. John Goehriug-We have not had water
on Saturdays for four or five months. went
to the companys office and told them 1 had
been out of water half the time They told
me ought to be satisfied if 1 got any water,
and that the people on the hill used to be
glad to get water one month in the year 1
think this outrage should not be tolerated
Mr.. Frank-We have poor supply of water
and the quality is very bad 1t is not fit to
use. When 1 went to the Office and asked for a
reduction on my bill was told to go to the
devil paid my bi' and wen: away
PRETTY SOLID WATER.
Mr.. McIntosh-I have been without water
three days in week. The water is very bad
Last week could have brought it over in a
piece of paper. 1t was so hard you could cut it
with knife.
Mr.. Schutte-Four or five days at a time we
can get but a few drops of water. i have seen
the infuent pipe full of offaL
Mr. Turner-l am out of water two-thirds of
the time. Every morning take two buckets to
the foot of the incline, and when go home in
the evening take the buckets up full of water.
Mr.. Cooper have been thinking seriously of
organizing bucket brigade. 1t is necessity
for the hill district.
after reading this statement of griev-
ances, Chairman Robertson called upon the
Monongahela Water Company officials for
their side of the story.
President Watson arose and said that the
books of the company were open Tor in
spection at any time. The company has re-
Gently spent S410, 900 in laying larger pipe
and putting in new pumping engines. A
new 20-inch rising main is now being laid to
relieve the people of the Thirty-ffth ward.
The trouble complained of has been caused
bv the grading of Grandview avenue. A
4-inch pipe was laid there years ago, and the
street contractors broke it. The company
is now putting in an 8-Inch line. and when
it is completed there will be plenty of water
on the hill. with the new system now
being built" said President Watson, "and
a new 10, 900, 600 gallon pump, 1 see no rea-
son why the supply should not be all right"
BLAMED ON THE GAS.
In reply to questions Mr.. Watson said
that the pumping engines had to shut down
for few hours few days ago because the
natural gas supply failed and th= furnaces
had to be changed b burn coal The dirt
in thew is caused by the freshets, which
force coal dust and dirt into the basin. It
is the duty of the city to open the fire plugs
occasionally to allow the dirty water to run
eff Mr.. Watson lived in Allegheny, and
the water there was often SO dirty that he
hated to bathe in it. 1t cooked like soup.
The Monongahela Water Company was
prepared to spend money 10 remedy any
reasonable grievance.
Chairman Robertson called the attention
OF the officials to the complaints OF discour-
teous treatment received by patrons of the
company. He also thought it was the duty
OF the company to notify consumers when
the water was about to be shut off,
Right here Mr.. Ferguson moved that
when the committee adjourned it should re-
convene at 1:30 P. NJ. Friday for the pur-'
pose of visiting the Monongahela Water
Company's plant and determining whether
or NOT it had sufficient capacity.
MT. Shannon thought enough grievances
had not yet been presented upon which the
committee could act. He offered an amend
ment to the effect that the meeting on Fri
day be held to give the Southsiders another
chance to present their grievances.
WANTED EXPERTS.
Mr.. John Geary thought that couple of
experts should be engaged TO 60 with the
committee. He did not think the gentle
men OF the committee knew much about
water works. and their opinion would not
be OF greater value than that of so many
street car drivers
Mr.. Robertson informed the gentleman
that the committee had no power to employ
experts, but If the citizens wanted them
they could have them if they paid for them.
Mr.. McCord thought the committee had
wandered away from the main question.
which was the quality of the water. He
had been informed by an official of the conn
pany that they could not remedy this. IF |
this was the case the Southside citizens |
should seek elsewhere for relief No fact is
better established than that impure water
distributes the germs of typhoid fever. The |
company says it will give as more water. |
but If it is of the same quality it will NOT |
help Us much.
President Watson said analyses of the |
water had shown it to be good, and that the |
Monongahels river furnishes the best water /
OF any river in the world. When typhoid |
fever was raging in Allegheny Mr.. Watson |