The evening world., 1891-11-18
Two WEEKS SUPPLY
Net Result of the Rain in the
Croton Watershed.
Halt an Inch Of Rainfall on 1872
Square Miles.
Certain Uses OF Water Prohibited
Until the Drought Is Over.

Commissioner OF Public Works Gilroy ana
Chief Engineer Birdsall, OF the Croton
Aqueduct, to-day derived some encourage
ment from the rainfall In this city and its
vicinity during the past forty y-eight hours.
Both oiricials express the belief that though
the rainfall was only half an inch 1t has aided
tho water supply very materially and will
stave or the adoption OF more stringent
measures to save the water for two weeks to
come.
To IN EVENING WORLD reporter Commits
sioner GilrOy said that he had not yet OBJ
tained from Chief Engineer Blrdsall n state
ment OF the exact result OF the rain In the
CrotOn watershed. Mr. Birdsall had tele-
graphed from Ammawalk last night that the
supply was safe for two weeks.
Since 4 O'Clock yesterday morning up to the
same hour this morning, the large reservoir
In Central Parl; had been lowered to 30l6
feet, loss In depth OF half an inch. The
water in the old reservoir Ind lowered one
foot, while In tho Forty-sccond street re-
ccptncle no difference was noted.
The reason given for the loss In the old lake
In the Park and the maintenance Of the level
OF the Forty second street reservoir Is said to
be that, on account of the fire on the east side,
the full pressure was put on In the latter.
said the Commissioner:
While the slight rainfall has afforded us
some encouragement, we cannot say that the
outlook is very bright. The fine weather to-
day may last for some time, though / am in
no position to predict weather changes.
lit is my beler that this rainfall In the
Croton watershed will amount TO about sev-
u.t,t,
Is small
"Thc Croton watershed covers about 3s2
square miles, and II a full inch OF rain over
spread that area II would only give 3s2
inches OF water in a reservoir one mile square.
Meantime the restrictive measures
adopted by this Department will continue 10
be enforced"
The effect OF a reduction IN the pressure of
the wal er Is pretty generally felt oil over the
tiuns the flow has been noticeably weak.
The Department OF Public Works is using
all means 10 economizc the present supply,
and TO that end has prohibited the use or
Croton water for baths, club-houses, washing
vehicles or street ears, for running water
motors and for wetting building material
weather Prophet Dunn said this morning
that he could offer no encouragement IN the
shape of prospective rain, which, Judging
from the present outlook, would not fall again
for several days.
At 10 O'Clock this morning there was no re-
port OF rain In any part OF the United States,
and Mr.. Dunn did not believe our water sup
ply could DO increased earlier than next
Monday.
Tho prevalent clear, crisp and cold weather,
he said, would last until Saturday, growing
gradually colder; then the temperature
would rise few points.
New Workers have come In for their share
OF the cold wave that started out OF the
Northwest yesterday afternoon. The blast
has caused n good deal OF chilliness In the
Southern states, and In Pensacola and Jack.
sOnville there arc killing frusts.
Throughout New York and New England II
Is warmer than In mississippi, Georgia and
Florida. MOOrehead, MIMI, Is the coolest
point In the United states to-day, the ther-
mometer at o'clock this morning register
Ing 10 degrees below zero.
The temperature at the same hour at At
lanta, Ga, was lS degrees: Philadelphia, "a |;
Washington, ~ Cincinnati, 10; Boston, ~ /;
Pittsburg, 'S: Chicago, 10; st. Louis, 10
The temperature In this city at y O'clock this
morning was 20 degrees.
Chief Engineer Birdsall WAS seen at his
ofIice at noon by the reporter He said that
the rainfall at CrotOn Dam measured 80
100 OF an inch, and at Boyds Corners
lao Of an inch.
" This rainfall" he said, "has relieved the
danger OF q water famine Tor two weeks, and
means an Increased daily supply OF fifty mill
ion gallons. The city, however, will labor
under reduced supply, though, until we
secure cur necessary storage"