The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-27

gen section of the city off from its sup
ply altogether. Bergen derived ITS supply
from q. main connection with ghe Teuuan- aa-a
mock pipe at kearny and Belleville ave
nues. Not a gallon of water was noWins
through the pipes.
Mr.. Fowler was alarmed. His hrsl
move was to summon the gatemen, VINO
are still retained at Belleville. He in.
structed them to open the flood gates OF
the Belleville reservoir, which fortunate
ly has been kept well filled ever since
the temporary supply was turned on.
Then it was discovered in a short time
that the water was flowing back into the
Pequannock pipes. The flood gates OF the
East Jersey pipe had to be closed next.
into the Bergen mains 1t was con-
siderable time after this that the pumps
Were started, as told above.
The consumption of water for the last
week has been up to %, and one day %
million gallons. OF that quantity the East
Jersey Company since the break has FUR
remainder has been pumped from the
Passaic at the old intake at Bellevlile
This will explain the fact that the water
is today muddy and bad smelling. While
the Hill was without water the lower sec
ton of the city had its normal supply. II
is explained this way: The lower SECTION is
supplied by direct pipe from = Belevlile-
Bergen is supplied by an independent
main, but the break cut off its supply
High Service was deprived OF its accus-
portion of the Beleville reservoir supply
was turned into the Bergen main.
Outside Of the Inconvenience suffered
from the loss of water hundreds of peo-
pie had the pipes of their ranges burned
out, hot water boilers were injured and
altogether thousands of dollars worth of
property was destroyed. Plumbers, of
course, We're happy. They rsaped har-
vest. Prices for work, supplies and re-
pairs went up by the minute.
The Street and Water Commissioners
were besieged with inquiries this morning
as to when the water supply will be O. X
again. People were pleased apparently
when told they would have the usual sup
ply this evening.
The City Hospital suffered sadly on
Saturday morning. The night nurse,
after midnight to get pitcher of water
for some patients. He found that he
could get none from the faucet. He tried
the faucet in the women's ward with as
little success. Then he went to the Mont
gomery street station and complained
that the water supply was cut off. The
sergeant in charge promised to notify
ter Investigated. Jones returned and
waited two hours to hear from the police.
In the meantime many of the patients
were asking for water. At four O'Clock
Jones noticed that the temperature of the
wards was lower than it should be. He
investigated and found that there was no
water in the boiler and consequently the
steam heating apparatus was rendered
useless. The place was growing colder
every minute and the patients were in
danger because of the frigid temperature.
At five o'clock Jones wakened Warden
Osborne and explained the situation to
him. The Warden acted at once. He
first called up Police Headquarters and
learned that the trouble had not yet been
located He then went to the home of
Engineer Fowler, on Clifton place. and
told him what had occurred. Mr.. Fowler
was indignant that he had not been noti-
fled as soon as the flow of water stopped
He started at once to locate the trouble
Warden Osborne's chief concern was the
heating of the hospital. Hitching his
horse TO his business wagon he borrowed
several milk cans from the New York
Condensed Milk Company and driving to
the well of Garrett Van Reipen, at Ton
nele avenue and Academy street, he filled
the cans with well water. He returned
to the hospital and removing the cap of
boiler he poured several cans full of water
through funnel into the valve and so
filled the boiler. By eight o'clock he had
all the steam that was necessary.
Supervising Engineer w. H. Hooker
is at Little Falls-where he is of no pos
sible use and has no business-and will
remain there until the break rs repaired.
their meeting today, proposed making re-
ductions in the working forces at Belle
vile and High Service. The unlocked for
accident has knocked that scheme on the
head and the Commissioners now very
much question the advisability of max
ing any further reductions until the city
has acquired an Independent supply. They
will order rigid investigation, however,
as to the cause of the inefhciency of the
plant. The Commissioners may meet
this week and fix a time for the recep-
ton of bids for the new supply.