Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-16
A DANGEROUS DITCH.
Titusville Doesn't Know What to Do
With the Private Mill Race.
1T NAY BE CASED In IRON TUBES.
Owing to the Oil on Its Banks 1t Is Menace
at Any Stage of Water.
NAY BE CASED In IRON TUBES.
RELIEF WORK AND WHERE IT'S NEEDED

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE p1sPArcH.l
TITUsvILLE, June 15-The matter OF
allowing the refneries above the city re-
Gently burned to rebuild on their former
sites and again endanger all the habitations
below them is being agitated. These oil
works were all located along the borders of
the mill race, three big barrel houses being
built directly over this old artificial ditch.
1t is conceded BY all that had it not been
for the burning oil and benzine distributed
on the water from the tanks of these refn-
cries there would have been no loss of life
There is plenty of room on the broad flats
below town for the location of these works.
and this is thought by many to be the
proper time to have them change their base.
The theory regarding the mill race being
instrumental in causing the recent terrible
inundation is fallacy. The flood would
have been the same had the race not been
in existence.
The Race Only a Drop in the Bucket.
The great body of water suddenly pre-
cipitated in this devoted valley through
the giving way of the monster dam at
Spartansburg, supplemented only a few
Canadohta, completely obliterated in
twinkling | traces of the race making it
only diminutive part of the great whole
The principal danger to the city from this
race is the close proximity to it of the re-
fineries mentioned. In case of a fire at
those places the burning oil is liable to be
carried right down into the heart of the
city. This is as liable to happen at low as
at high water.
A committee from the City Councils has
been appointed to examine into this matter
and report as to the best plan for the aboli-
tlon of this ditch as it now stands. That
the present owners, John Eason and S. S.
Fertig, have right to maintain it, there is
not the least doubt. The water coming
through is used to furnish power for the
City Flouring Mills
Proposal to Make 1t a Sewer,
The race, in its course through the city,
crosses Pine, Monroe, Perry, Washington,
Franklin, Martin, Drake, Brown and sew
eral other prominent streets, all thicklv
populated. A novel suggestion as to good |
way out of the present difficulty is to con-
struct an iron sewer, place it in the bed of |
the race and cover it over, leaving tops for |
hydrants at each street crossing The |
length of the race from the dam to the |
mill is nearly one-half mile, the fall in
that distance being a trif1e over "a feet
BY closing this iron sewer at the mill, a
good pressure would be secured at the
hydrants for fire purposes; the ditch would
be completely. obliterated and in the
opinion Of many all would be well. This
would stop oil from running down from
the retineries in case of fire. Cellars along
the line would not be filed and there
would never be the least chance of an over
flow, while the water power would still be
retained.
Hon. w. II. Andrews, ex-senator John
Eng, John l. Mckinney and Colonel John
j. Carter were to-day added to the commit
tee appointed to wait on the Governor and
Legislature to solicit aid in changing the
course of Oil Creek back to its original
channel
Relief Coming, and Where 1t Is Needed.
Subscriptions came in better to-day,
S11, 161 Is being added to the fund OF
this Sc, 800 was from the Pittsburg relief
fund; 81, 900 from Beebe & Sons, Boston:
S917 % from jamestown, n. Y r. E
Hopkins, of New York, sent $500, while
John L. Mckinney raised the amount al
ready given by him $500. The total now
is s5S, $50 50.
The list of sufferers so far cared for now
foots to 1,2s2 The number increases daily.
Children's clothing, mems working clothes
and footwear are badly needed, as well as
women's underwear. The stock of food
supplies is also rapidly diminishing
THE DISPATCH correspondent was to-day
shown copy of the subscription list of
money sent from this city to Chicago 81
years ago at the time of the big fire. 1t
foots up trife over $4,000 W. H. Alb
bott heads the list with 81, OO0 Mr. Alb
bott is to-day canvassing agent in this
city for books. Notwithstanding his re-
verses OF fortune he is still loved and
honored as one of our best citizens.
Dr. Varien, Chairman of the Health
Board, reports splendid progress in the way
of clearing up the ruins. The numerous
oil wells located on the fiat below the CITY
on the same level with the old Drake are
reported as completely ruined. They all
used gas pumps, and when the tubing con-
nectious were severed the water rushed
into the vacuas then formed. No hope is
of their ever producing oil
again.