Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-16

brought Monongahela water over to my
house in jugs, and not one OF my family
was sick for day.
1--WE are making greatimprovements in re-
gard to supply. The company voted Sloo,-
900 for that purpose. and we are spending
it. This is not because of any shortage, but
because we want to be prepared for any
emergency.
GETTING PREPARED.
"We are laying 30-inch rising main to
our reservoir to take the place OF
the present 20-inch main. The pres
ent 1O-inch main from the reservoir
to our tanks on the hill is being replaced
BY a 2o-inch main. The talk of shortage
is nonsensical. In short time we Will
have a supply of water greater than all the
fire engines in Pittsburg could use.
'There was shortage for about two days
some time ago on the hill. but that was be-
cause we did not have sufficient gas TO run
the engines. We are now putting In H.
O00, ,000- gallon pump and two new batteries
OF boilers so as to be prepared for any posi-
BILE emergency. There is no longer any
shortage on the hill. Yesterday I
sent a man through the Ihlrty-ntth
ward who gagged a number of hy-
pounds to the square inch and the largest
was so pounds. There is no cause for CON-
plant there, and when we went out to the
end of the influx pipe to-day we found from
II to IA feet of water, so there can be no
complaint about the quality"
A CITIZENS SCHEME.
Mr. Jacob Schneider, Carson street mer-
chant, has a proposition that, whether prac-
tical or not, seems worthy of consideration,
He has been considering the water question
for some time, and has an idea that the citi-
zens could furnish their own water at much
less cost than they pay now, and they would
always be sure of an abundant supply of
good water. His scheme is to have public
pumps, located at intervals of from one to
two squares apart, according 10 the popula-
ton around them.
Mr.. Schneider has a we'll on his own
property. 1t is ITO feet deep and he has it
cased so as to prevent impurities from get
ting into the water. and he states that the en-
tire neighborhood in which he lives is sup
piled with good water for drinking and
cooking purposes. He figures that the
average cost of each we'll would be about
81 so to 81. If every property holder on the
$3.50 we'll could be placed in every other
block on that side of the river that would
furnish permanent supply for the entire
population. The total cost would not e1-
ceed SO, 600.
Mr.. Schneider favors an appropriation by
the city of part of this amount and he is sat-
isfed the citizens would be willing to pay
the remainder themselves. In speaking OF
the matter yesterday Mr.. Schneider said:
NO DANGER IN IT.
liz
houses are supplied in this way, and thev
get good water. The only question that
would arise is one OF plenty; but there is no
danger if all the wells were drilled through
the first rock and then cased. I shall find
out what the business men think of the
scheme, ANYWAY have already prepared
q list, and if 1 can get 80 men to pay S.
apiece we will put down trial well along
Carson street."
A reporter called on several people in
various sections of the Southside yesterday
for the purpose of ascertaining in what con-
dition the supply OF water is at present Ex-
Councilman Nisbet, of Allentown, said
they have plenty OF water on the hill and it
is in fairly good condition at present. 1t
was muddy for quite a while, but Mr.. Ms
bet thinks that was on account of a new
main being put down.
Vs.
said: 1--WE don't use the hydrant water for
anything but washing, and it's scarcely fit
for that"
DR.. Arnholt said: 1--WE get plenty of
water, such as it is, but we use Cresson
water altogether. 1 think Mr.. Schneider's
scheme is a good one, and 1 believe it is prac-
teal.
A call was made at several private resi-
dences. The most universal answer was
that the water is not fit for use, and in many
cases it is not used for drinking or cooking
purposes.
CLEANING OF FIRE PLUGS.
Superintendent Brown, of the water
works, was seen in regard to the RESPONSE
bility of taking care OF the Southside fire
plugs. He said: "1t is our duty to look
out for the plugs in Pittsburg,
and we attend to those on the
Southside. The water is allowed to run
for short time regularly to clean out any
obstruction that may have lodged in the
pipes, and the fire plugs work all right, but
1 can't say anything about the water pres
sure. 1 understand that In cases of fire the
water company are expected to increase
their pressure"
Statements have been made that water
was scarce when the fire department used
the Southside plugs, and James Stewart,
of the Third district. said
last night: Localities between Seven
teenth and Twenty-frst streets, and the
neighborhood on the upper side of Sarah
street, below Seventeenth street, are very
short of water, and, in cases Of fire, the
pressure has been dangerously low."