The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-24
A Blue Monday in Brooklyn.

| A Blue Monday in Brooklyn.
Yesterday was blue Monday for Brook
| Ign, and the rain which was 30 welcome on
this side of the East River was mere irony
| to the Brooklynites. besides embarrassing
the work of repairing the break in the con-
duit through which the city's main sup
| ply Of water comes. BY noon 1t became
unnecessary to issue admonitlons against
wasting the water, for there was practically
none left to waste. A city whose daily ra-
| ton of water is about 60 900 900 gallons was
reduced to such a beggar.y supply as could
be furnished by q private company and by
few wells. The serious danger which
had been foreseen on Saturday was
happily escaped by the construction
Of temporary siuiceway last night.
but there was much discomfort and
Interruption to business. The order OF
the Commissioner OF Public Works on Sun
day night had prepared the housewives for
a postpbnement OF the customary wash
day. and all day it was difficult to prac-
tise tho virtue which is next to godli-
ness. Brooklyn was not only bathless.
but it is to he feared that in n good many
instances she was positively grimy. Tecto-
talism became difficult or impracticable.
One cannot afford to waste water at such
time: it may be needed to boil eggs. But
tho domestic annoyances OF waterlcss
Brooklyn were nothing compared with
those which met the citizen going to
his business. II he was employed
in n factory which had not a
water storage Of its own. there was no
drink for the boilers. and no lost days
wages. II he had an Office in one OF the tall
buildings. no had to climb up the stairs.
for the police had stopped the travels Of tho
elevator. The great crowds that come to
this city every morning by tho ferries or
the bridge were greatly incommoded. The
RidgewOod division OF the Brooklyn ele
waited railroad could not be operated. and
the people who are accustomed to use tho
Myrtle avenue and Broadway roads were
forced to take the surface cars or walk to
some other branch Of the elevated. The en-
gincs that work the cable on the Brooklyn
Bridge had to be stopped for lack OF water.
and the bridge cars were drawn by locomO-
tivcs. The reduction Of the number of
trains drove great crowds to walking
across in the rain. 1t is a meteorological
fact which will be generally attested. that
it usually does rain when the world has to
walk.
The rain lessened in some degree the
chance OF fire, the gravest danger to be ap-
pretended. But the dread of 1t was enough.
without the many minor discomforts and
privations which the scarcity of water
caused. to make the day one to be marked
with black stone. Twenty-four hours
more without water would have caused an
almost total cessation Of manufacturing.
and might have brought actual suffering to
man and beast. Forty-eight hours more
would have made Brooklyn look back to the
great blizzard OF 1888 as to q comfortable
and enjoyable period. Brooklyn faced the
situation with the utmost good humor. but
with a full appreciation Of its seriousness.
The Department Of City Works seems to
have shown all the skill. industry. and
. readiness that could be desired In the work
OF repair. Many OF the Italians employed
by the contractors were either afraid of
the rain or scared by the accident
OF Saturday and it was difficult to
get the right sort Of labor. 1t is
proper to recall the fact that. as result
OF the work taken in hand under Mayor
CHAPIN's administration. Brooklyn will
before long have a double water system.
and the chance OF recurrence OF
water famine" he practically reduced
to zero. The duplicate distributing res
ervoir was completed some time ago.
and the duplicate conduit Is now
in course OF construction. The respon-
sibility for the accident OF Saturday has
yet to be fixed, If fixed it can be: but in no
case can it be laid upon the municipal ad-
ministration. which. however. is entitled to
the credit OF having provided the city with
second system Of water works. q neces-
sity which previous administrations have
vainly striven to secure.
We congratulate our friends over the
river that their furnace fires are lighted
again. their faces cleaning with joy and
soap. their washing on the line. their ele-
vators and elevateds making the usual
trips. and tho kettle on and boiling. Brook
Ign had plenty OF water and had to go
thirsty. This town has not plenty OF water.
and will have to go thirsty il it wastes what