The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-27
PERIL OF THE ROCKAWAYS.
,pFY ARE THREA TENED WITH
UITER FAMINE

NE
for six week--Aa Inadequate supply for
the summer Popuiation-Fenrs OF Fire.
Tb, village Of Far Rockaway aud its sister
pockaway Beach are ON the verge Of n water
famine Beyond the shower that mostened
Them Yesterday afternoon they have had no
,ain for six weeks The streets are covered
18th carpet OF dust. and the air is filled with
Gying PARTICLES.
I'm Tuesday the Queens County Water Com
many, whose only rivals are tho backyard wells,
announced that. until further notice. the
streets must not be sprinkled. the grass must
not be wntered. the windows must not 10
washed. and the ravements must not be
scrubbcd with their water.
The streets OF Far Rockaway got dry In
very short time. and when they get dry they
Get very dusty. All day Tuesday and up to
noon Yesterday the dust floated about In
clouds. II worked through tho wire screens in
the drug store doors 1t covered the butchers
meat with fine brown coat 1t specklod the
ice cream and thickenel tho beer. 1t spread
aNImy carpet over the pavcments. and dark
encd the windows with gauzy blinds.
But tho inhabitants choked and bore It.
They philosophical that as long as they had
water TO drink. to wash with, and to cook with
they were all right. Late on Tuesday after
noon one OF tho clerks at the butcher House
and wanted to get some water. He turned on
a faucet and In place OF good. healthy
stream, tiny thread OF water trickled out.
The clerk tried the other faucets with the same
result On the third floor there was even no
thread to trickc. The faucets were dry. 1t
meant that occupants OF the second and thiid
floors would havc to get down to a level with
the earth to get water.
1t was the samo In the other hotels and
houses as at tho butcher. The second. third.
and fourth stories OF l,ockaway residences
werc practically dry. Tho wells in the back
yards were scant OF water. Tho people thought
OF whst would happen il there was n lire, and
naturally they turned to the water company to
see what was tine matter. lnIuirers at tho
water conn any's Offices yesterday, moi ming
were told that Superintendent Peck had gone
to Valley stream. to the new pumping station
and recent dug well. Persistent questioning
revealed the tactthat she snGine in the numn-
sss sS!ss 10 DO FS'''FS" 'e,0'0 f'""' at ''0
water from tho other stations. The water
company has four pumping stations ono at
one at valIsy Stream. They have 1S5 SUB.
scrbers. They do not carry a surplv in
Of bs Gq we asny u ne no w
does mit. Thief tlsrE brown Of the water
suming now about l.OOUOOo gallons of water
day. Tho Valley Stream engine broke down
take several days to tix it. Tie break was
Caused by bolt working loose and causing
IIr. Brown said the vol at Valley Stream.
which Is about six nile miles from Far Eock9way
water II gets its supply from two surface
streams. which are not strong now. The water
away until the engine in tho pumping station
is repaire'.
h sE e fss
along in the sky over tho village. The inhabi-
hs a A es ps
fell on the pavement in front of the Far Rock
watches and note tho time. Then they raised
their ummrellas and walked up and down the
hash of and rambe on hnse was
tans hnts said watcher in front of
Again the watches wero taken out and the
time OF tho fash OF lightning was noted. The
IiishtnirE dashed It TAX me thunder rum
TIC wind blew it, about in sheets some Of
tho residents closed their doors and windows,
tho rain. At Iii the rain sIackened until NTH
1l3:. when It resumed business with a larger
s stock i nn 1i not spsIrsna until 2 This
welcomed rain that over foil in Far lockaway.
Hardly had N fan ceased when the iphao-
That the We'll Of the vat or Company we're ike
their own. The parched ground had sucked
the water in and was looking for more At
Rob o'clock second shower came up. There
was more thunder and lightning but less rain
than in tho first. Ii lasted until 3:25. Shortly
after o'clock third shower appeared. 1t
had little thumb r and lightning and less rain.
Unless there is good. healthy fall Of water
within the next twenty-four hours. Far Eocka-
way and RocSaway Beach will be forced to get
water. Tho drought is felt all over Long
Island. where it seems the whole water
demand Many people in the Rockaways are |
inclined to blame the water. company for the
the water supply is entirely too small to meet
tie reuuirementS OF the 10000 odd people at |
fnr Rnekaway anil the 5000 odd freGucmtcrs
Of Rocknway Beach during the summer. They !
aege that tho water company. although 1t |
Knows this and is making plenty OF money. is |
taxing no sufficient steps 70 solve the pro blem.