New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-16
WATER SCARCER TO-DAY.
MONDAY BRINGS AN INCREASED DEMAND.
MANY PEOPLE DRAWING OFF A SUPPLY IN CASE
OF NECESSITY.


OF NECESSITY.
II will be new experience for most people
in this city to be without water, but there Is
almost a certainty that in all houses situated on
high ground there will be a lack of water this
morning. One of the reasons why there Will be
little water this morning is that IN factories
and all other places where there are engines and
boilers the fires will be newly built and the
boilers reflled about the same hour in the morn
ing. This will be an immense drain on the re-
duced supply, and the consequence Will he that
the pressure in the mains will be so much smaller
than usual that only in the lower portions OF the
city will water be found after "a. m. Another
for this condition OF affairs is that to-day Is
wash-day," and thousands of taps vii be turned
early in the morning.
The visible supply of water for use to-day will
be no more than on Saturday, yet it is safe to
say that the consumption would be double II
there were enough water to meet all demands.
The average consumption Of water in this city
during days Of plenty is about 65000,000 gal
Ions, and on Mondays this amount has always
been exceeded. To-day the amount on hand
which can be used is less than 100, 100000 gal
Ions, unless the water in the Central Park and
Forty-second-st. reservoirs, which is now being
doled out economically, is used all at once.
This reserve supply is being boarded by Chief En-
gineer Birdsall of the Department of Public
Works. and Commissioner Gilroy, for emergen-
cies such as big fire; for although the water in
these reservoirs is being drawn upon, it is only
to the amount Of about 6O,O00,O0O gallons day.
An inspection of the new Central Park reser.
vor yesterday showed gain of about three inches,
due to accumulation during the night and the
comparatively small amount of water used yes
L,.k a. 4. ln
hausted by the washcrwomen and laun.
dries to-day One house holder living
on the west side near Eighty-third
st. said last night that he had taken precautions
to have water enough to get through the day
with, as he han seen that all the washtubs in his
house were filled early in the day, and supply
laid in sufficient for household use. There is no
doubt that in hundreds, if not thousands Of houses
this plan has been followed.
1t is expected that early to-day requests
will be made at, the Offices of the
Department of Public Works for an increased
pressure to Ike turned on in the mains by draw
ing an the reserve supply. But all such re-
quests will be refused, as Mr. Birdsall said on
Friday that there would be no additional pressure
in the mains on Monday. This may affect "A num-
Der OF factories where two or boilers are
used. and where it will be impossible to repenish
them. In this case the engines would be forced
to stop and an indefinite number of workmen
forced to remain idle.
\ great many barrOoms may be hard pressed
for water, and the great waste which is continu-
ally going on in these places Will be stopped for
awhile. Some Of these ginmills have often as
many as two or three faucets open and the water
running continually, and in hardly any business
is there. such a wantOn waste.
Commissioner Cilroy has called meeting, to
be held this morning in his office. of all his
subordinates who have in any way anything to
do with the water, and he will give them special
instructions to enforce economy OF the water and
to all lawful means 70 curtall its eXtravagant
use.
The local weather forecast business has been
such dry one lately that it WIS with look Of
Equitable Building last night announced rain was
in sight at last He said that, unfortunately, he
did not think there would be much Of it, but then
it won't do to look in gift rain clouds mouth,
and even Scotch mist may be considered favor
by city with its water supply running short.
The officials said that the storm which The Trib-
une announced yesterday as being in formation
in the Southwest now central over Lake llu-
ron. and that heavy rainfall, amounting TO over an
inch in some places. was being experienced in
Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and as far south rs
probably be felt here this afternoon or evening
an: the official said he could promise little rain
almost positively, though heavy rainfall nat
looked for
The clouds which had been gathering all day
showed no signs of breaking away in the evening,
and late last night the entire sky was heavily
overcast.