Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-26
The Water Famine Reaches
Philadelphia and Green's
burg, and Ruins
BOILERS IN MKEESPORT.
Cincinnati Must Shiver Because the
Coal Barges Can't Float.
THE SCHUYLKILL Is A RIvULEI
Whose scant Waters Have Brought Indus
try to standstiil..
D0LED OUT IN LITTLE BUCKETFULs

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArCH.l
GREENsBURG, Oct. 21-The drouth and
its consequences, heretofore commented on
as rather . ludicrous than serious ex-
perience, has at last assumed an alarming
phase here. During this week, unless rain
falls before the day when the thing will
have to be done, the city water supply is to
be cut off and the people will have to de-
pend upon their own resources 1t is
officially stated to-day that what little
water IL still available will be cut off to-
morrow or the next day, in order that the
city may not be entirely without means to
fight fire.
A Baltimore and Ohio Railroad official is
authority for the statement thst more than
half the engines using the water from the
Youghiogheny river are unfit to run, and
the destruction of locomotive stock Rom
this source alone during the past summer
and fall has been tremendously expensive
to the Baltimore and Ohio Company. Engi-
neers allege that the foulness of the river
water was the direct cause of the recent ex-
plosion at the McKeesport water works
Causing Coal Famine in Cincinnati.
The coal famine in Cincinnati is rapidly
becoming most embarrassing. Indeed a
famine is not far distant under present con-
ditions Both the retailer and wholesaler
realize this, and are seeking to profit bv it,
but on different lines. Mine owners are also
interested in advancing the price, and the
fact is that the supply is running alarming
ly short. The exact amount on hand in the
yards ana elevators and on barges cannot be
accurately stated, as wholesaler and retailer
desire to keep each other ignorant of their
store; but it is confidently asserted that
unless sudden and continued rise comes in
the river coal will retail in this market at
S. per ton. 1t will be s. so by the end of
the week, and very soon thereafter Cincin-
natl dealers will be compelled to push the
railroad facilities for all they can stand.
To-day q severe cold wave struck the
city, and fires are necessity to secure COM
fort This caused demand that taxed
every dealer in the city, aud cut painfully
into the already limited supply on hand.
Manufacturers are, already economizing to
the greatest possible extent, and placing
hurry orders with railroads.
Philadelphia Getting Scared.
The water in the SchuylkiIl river, from
which stream the Philadelphia Water sup
ply is obtained, is SO low that the Director
of the Department of Public Works is
seriously considering the advisability of is |
suing q circular cautioning housekeepers |
and others to be economical in their use OF |
the precious fluid. Unless some such |
action is taken there is great danger of a
water famine.
The Schuylkill coal region, in the vicinity |
of Pottsville, is threatened with a complete
of work at its industrial establish |
ments and distress generally among its in |
habitants, resulting from the small water |
supply. In SchuylkilI county MinersvilIe |
is the only town that has its regular normal |
supply. In Pottsville the utmost economy |
is exercised, and though the citizens are
getting q full days service the same as
usual, the Water Superintendent stated to-
day that this service can hardly be kept up
q week longer. The largest stream flowing
into the only reservoir in use would not fill |
, two-inch pipe. Pottsvllle is dependent
solely on this since the bursting of the main
Managers of the many indus
rial establishments are already arranging
TO haul water from mountain ponds and |
streams wherever available.
Doling Out Water by the Bucket.
OF the Mahoney Valley towns, Mahoney
City, Shenandoah, Girardville and Ashland
ply daily, while at some OF the smaller
owns and mining patches water is doled
,ut by the bucketful only once in two or
hree days
The electric light plants and other steam
lsing establishments throughout the region
,ave been compelled to either shut down
altogether or manage to get along at great
The Reading Railroad Com
,any has not been inconvenienced much
Until within the last few days Last even
ng the big Mahoney planes were compelled
o shut down for want of water. A number
# the smaller collieries have been rendered
die, while the larger operations are kept
,oing with water hauled by railroad from q
mountain stream near Shamokin, 20 miles
niles away. If it were not for this supply,
nd the fact that some of the collieries' acid
nine water is used after chemical refining,
he collieries of this region would be en-
irely idle.
The drouth itself is not so keenly felt at
resent as is the existence in all parts of the
egion of large number of cases of diph-
heria, scarlet fever and typhoid fever,
rought on by poor drainage and impure
rinking water
Fire broke out on the mountains between
unbury and Shamokin last night. To-
light it is raging fercely, and timber
alued at thousands of dollars is being
estroyed Owing to the great scarcity Of
ater the owners are unable to get the
ames under control, although several
undred men are at work.
Miners Obliged to Suspend.
A dispatch from Hazleton says: The pro-
,nged dry spell is causing much distress in
lis region, and unless there is bounteous
ownpour of rain soon, thousands of men
Ill be out of employment u Already a
umber of mines have suspeded Operators
the Hazleton mines have annouced their
lteneion Of suspending rather than haul
ater by rail, and will probably shut down
'-morrow.
Residents of the elevated part of the city
ave been on limited allowance of water
II several days, and to-day the effects of
le drouth were felt in the center of the
ty. Many colleries are being operated |
ith water delivered by rail, but this is ex-
snsive and BY some operators declared
npracticable. The earth is parched and
vervthinp dried mn Maintain fras ora |