Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-09
GOOD WORK GOING ON.
Excellent Results From Lowering
Davis Island Dam.
CLEAN WATER IN THE RIVERS NOW.
Immense Quantities of Disinfectants Being
Used Daily.
HEAVY DEATH RATE SHOWN LAST WEEK


the scheme to lower the wickets at Davis
Island and allow the stagnant, filthy water
in the rivers to pass down the valley. The
steamboats, employed by the city, the fire.
men flushing the sewers and the opening of
Lock No. by the Monongahela Navigation
Company. contributed largely to the success
of the scheme. The ''bear trap" gate at
Davis Island dam was lowered at 9 o'clock,
as per programme, but the effect was not
observable at the Monongahela wharf until
nearly 10 o'clock.
In the meantime the river steamers were
busily engaged dredging the sewer mouths
along the river front, scraping the river bot
tom near the shores and stirring up the
black filth until the water resembled ink.
At 10 o'clock the effect of opening the Davis
Island dam was first noticed at Lock No. L
Work was commenced at once in letting out
some of the spare water in the No. pool to
create current below.
Carrying Away the Fifth.
A considerable surplus from Pool No. 2
had been run into No. during the pre-
vious night. When this volume of water
was liberated by the opening of the lower
'lock yesterday 1t created good current
below, which carried off the filth washed
from the sewers and the river bottom,
taking 1t down the river. One foot of water
passed from the pool above Lock No. by
o'clock yesterday afternoon, when the lock
was closed. AS the pool is 10 miles long
with an average width of 75O feet, the
amount of fresh water drawn from it in
four hours time was SO, 600,0 900 cubic feet,
equal to 165, 900 per minute, or somewhat
more than four times the natural flow at its
present stage.
A noticeable increase in the current at
Wood street was observed during the dis
charge of the surplus from the Monongahela
pool. A current of 33 feet per minute or
more than one-third of mile an hour was
developed, the normal current at this
season being only about one-ninth this
speed, according to the calculations of
Colonel I. P. Roberts When the water
from above the lock passed the Upper
Southside the current was much swifter and
rapidly washed away an immense accumula-
tion of inky black matter emitting putrid
smell from the sewer mouths near the lock.
Freshening the Dirty River.
The Navigation Company employed 15
men for several hours assisting in the
cleansing process, and their contribution of
fully 300, 600, 900 gallons of fresh water is
thought to have materially assisted in wash
ing down the river the matter stirred up by
the dredge boats. The water around the
city is to-day cleaner and purer than it has
been for more than two months.
Down at Davis Island Dam the effect of
opening the wickets was particularly
noticeable. After the current began the
water which passed over the dam was per-
Of tha ruha
was green. This condition lasted for four
hours and during that time the employees
were kept busy cleaning away the decaying
vegetable and animal matter which lodged
against the wickets. During the six hours
the beartrap was open the smell from the
stuff passing through was something fear
full. showing the necessity for passing off
the water that had been detained above.
No meeting of the Emergency Council
was held yesterday morning, the Mayor,
Chief Brown and other officials devoting
the time to witnessing the cleaning process
along the wharves.
The Railroads Will Help,
Immigrant Inspector Layton will make
his report at the meeting this morning. He
says the officials of all the railroads CENTER
ing in the city have signifed their willing
ness to carry out any instructions the city
officers may ISSUE Superintendent Pitcairn
of the Pennsylvania Railroad suggested
that quarantine station could be located
on that line near Conemaugh, where immi-
grants could be inspected. they and their
baggage fumigated, and any among them
suffering from sickness detained. Hospital
tents, with physicians and all convenlences
for treating the sick, could be provided
there, and the danger of introducing cholera
into the city reduced to minimum if the
other lines followed the same system.
All the railroads are sending in
structions to employees along their lines
to use disinfectants and clean with partic-
ular care all cars and stations in their care.
The Baltimore and Ohio Company is Civ
ing the big depot in this city thorough |
cleaning and fumigation and men are en-
gagged in whitewashing the cellars Only
,wo immigrants arrived from Baltimore
yesterday. They were Italians and the
men eyed their baggage suspiciously and
got rid OF it as soon as possible.
immigration Rapidly Failing OF.
The immigration business has fallen off |
greatly since the cholera scare A piece of |
luggage marked "quarantined" almost |
treated panic among the Lake Erie baggage |
mashers yesterday. 1t belonged to for |
,igner who had passed inspection.
The Public Works inspectors found |
number of persons in the East End yester-
lay who have failed to clean up as ordered,
md suits will probably be entered to-day.
Similar action will be taken in every case i
Until every plague spot is removed. The
Bureau of Health is receiving many conf
,laints from all over the city, principally
rom persons who call attention to the !
neglect of their neighbors to make proper
disposition of garbage or other matters.
AL such cases are promptly investigated
Thus far ten tons of copperas, ten barrels