The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-09-09
BURSTING OF A WATER PIPE
No Supply From the Borough Plant For
Several Hours.
PRESSURE. ON A WEAK POINT
The East Mahanoy Junction Land and I'M
provement Company to Establish a
Pipe 1ine-To Benefit Ashland,
Girardville and other Places.

A serious mishap occurred to one of the
mains of the public water works Saturday
afternoon and the supply of water was cut
off for several hours. The accident hap
pened at about 23O and the plant was out of
service until l o'clock yesterday morning.
1t was due to the lead of a joint at the cor
ner of Coal and limerick streets being forced
out by pressure of the water and it is the
same Joint that gave out few weeks ago
when the COuncilmen were experimenting
with the pumps at Bandonyile
The point is the most important and yet
the weakest of the whole pipe line system.
The main supplies all the pipes in the town
and at the corner stated it makes turn west
on to Coal street. 1t is just at the turn that
the troublesome joint is located. The full
pressure of the water strikes the bend and it
is quite likely that the construction at this
point will have to be remodelled. few
feet west of the bend is a T that sends a
branch supply south on limerick street. 1t
has been suggested that by placing the T at
the bend the trouble can be avertcd
When the break occurred Superintendent
Betteridge was at the Bmndonville station
and several members of the water committee
were out of town and nothing was done but
the shutting off of the water until about
eight O'Clock at night Meanwhile there was
much complaint in the town oven the cutting
off Of the water. Many people did not know
what had happened and they complained
bitterly because they had not received
notice Manager Hutchison, of the Fergu-
son House. was among the most bitter COM
plainants and claimed that four guests left
his hotel during the night because they
could get no water and went to Mahanoy
| City. His complaint was about the delay in
making the repairs.
At about eight o'clock in the evening
Councilmen Gable, Straughn, Kane, Reese
and Mcclure Superintendent Betterdge and
/ ex-Councilmen Gallagher and Lamb went to
the place in oyeralls and commenced work.
Two worllmen had been laboring, but the
force was too small to do any good and
several additional laborers were sent for. All
hands, including the borough fathers, worked
like beavers until one o'clock yesterday
morning jacling up and calking the pipe,
and removing a valve near the oil tanks
which was damaged by workmen iniudci
ousy applying power while turning off the
water. The stem of the valve was badly
twisted
After the repairs were completed the Coun
cilmen agreed that it would be advisable t,
put iron clamps to strengthen the joint anC
this morning workmen started to make tn,
improvement.
Another disadvantage at the point o
trouble is that three sewer pipes pass unde
the main, thereby weakening it, and tn
iarring caused by the railway trains passin
close by
AprOpOs the consideration of water work
there is well defined and, apparently, wei
authenticated report that the East Mahano.
Junction Land and Improvement Company i
making arrangements to relieve the peOpl
of GiTardville, Ashland and other places dow
the valley who are suffering through a lacl
of or impure supply of water. The compan!
! now figuring ON the cost of putting pumps
at the Lakeside dams and pumping water t
the towns mentioned, 1t will only be nee
essary to put the water half way throug
! the Mahanoy tunnel and from that poin
gravity will carry the supply to all the de
sired places.