The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-24
THE WATER FAMINE ENDED.
WATER TURNED ON AND RUNNING
MERRILY PAST THE BIG BREAK.

MERRILY PAST THE BIG BREAK
All the Pumps Mt Ridgewood Hoistisg II
Into Two Big Reservoirs. whence II -
Flowing into Brooklyn Houses-Thers
VIII He Enough for Domestic Uses To.
day and for Factories. Too. n They Uss
It SParinely- Description Of Broohlyn's
One Day OF Water Famine.
The big break in tho conduit at Hidgewood
was cleared Of everything earth last evening.
and soon after 8 o'clock water began 10
flow again toward Brooklyn. Tho sides
OF the conduit had not been so much
injured but that It was deemed safe to allow
moderate depth Of water to how through u.
and before IL o'clock oil the pumps at the
stations were at work and the two city reser-
voirs we're being filled.
This ends oil fears OF real water famine.
although Brooklyn is likely to be pinched for
water for many uses for day or two.
The situation at midnight was that in .
conduit o feet wide and 10 feet high. and said
to be square-cornered at the bottom. although
arched Oh top az feet Of water was flowing
at tne TuC6 OF IA miles an nOur.
By this noon. it is expected. there will b.
four feet OF water flowing. Brooklyn readers
can figure for themselves how much days
supply will be at that rate. allowing * gallons
to the cubic foot.
It is fortunate that there was no further
delay in renewing the water supply. as cold
weather is predicted and the lack OF water
would prevent tho use Of any building where
steam heat Is used.
TWAS some time after midnight when the
water reached Brooklyn houses. and then only
in the lower parts Of the city.
Last night. by direction OF Commissioner
Adams. the police notified the factories that
they might resume the use OF water to-day. and
also notified householders that they could use
the water. Both were requested to be sparing
OF 1t In the morning. By noon It is believed an
abundant supply will be on hand.
The water famine came yesterday afternoon
and paralyzed Brooklyn as completely as did
the big blizzard. The ninety million gallons
Of water that was stored in the Ridgewood
reservoir when the bank caved In on Saturday
and broke the only conduit that supplies the
city with water was exhausted shortly after
hoou. Oho vi luo bhdIcT cukku0o Al tl0
Ridgewood pumping station was kept busy all
day forcing into the reservoir the water that
was obtained from 125 driven wells. These
wells ut their best can supply only 100000
gallons day. This was supplemented BY the
Long Island Water Supply Company's surpluss
that was about 100000 gallons more This
supply was little moro than a drop in
the bucket for Brooklyn. which needs 56.OOU,
600 gallons a day. From the time that the
supply In tho reservoir at Rtdgswood gave out
the city was practically without water. When
the accident occurred on Saturday the on
gineers predicted that the break would be
repaired before Sunday morning. They made
more predictions on Sunday. and. not dis
couraged by the fact that every ono Of these
predictions failed. they again assorted yester.
day morning that the water could be turned
on in the conduit before night Consequently
there were many people in Brooklyn who re-
ceived an unpleasant surprise when they tried
to draw water yesterday and got nothing but
wind. The wide-reaching effects of tho water
famine had not been appreciated. and before
9 o'clock last night the city was almost help.
less. Commissioner Adams's orders closed up
all OF the largo factories whose boilers are
supplied from the city's water works
Not only was business suspended in nearly
all Of the $500 or more factories in tho city In
which engines are used. but the dearth Of
water was brought homo with painful reality
to the occupants OF the big hotels and apart.
ment houses and office, buildings. as well -
erations Of the elevated railroads were badly
paralyZed. and the bridge cable ceased to
ana tRs Ss. only aSsGs s
dS Mt Sssia
policemen in house-to house visits all over tho
city ordered Cd all tho fires In IN, ranges to be put
street station thus S described the Situation
ments along the Sater front IN Ills prssiasf
are shut down. There are probably 10000
@ OF the water famine and the loss per
DAY e the maanaaSturers will not think b
A similar story was told by Capt Martin Of
whose territory extends along the river 'front.'
Some Of the manufacturers hurried to Polics
Headquarters carly in the day to consult WITH
they miaht not safely Ei run the Hy engines With
water , drawn from the FLYER, but IN each case
boilers; nj. Powers sr "a to = reportsr: 49,,
down. and as there arc > So6 places s on my my
books in which are %sed XHu can Judge
have wells. and they haye not been Obliged 70
situation was emphasized In the afternoon
when eachpoiceman. on leaving for his post,
to Ridgewood at SO per day. The heavy rain
storm In the afternoon caused joy In many
sils were put outside doors to receive the well
Up in the Eighteenth and Twenty,nth
tenslty. the greater part Of these big wardR
there was not a drop Of water to be had after
streets women and Children could 30 seen
standing with dishpans washbasins, and othee
utensils catching the rain water as 1t drippsd
down from the awnings. A Gates avenue
saloon keeper who CAPTURED biz supply e
during the day at five cents canfuL