The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-03
IT IS SIX INCHES LOWER
Water Enough in the Reservoir
for Several Days Now.
A THAW THE ONLY HOPE
It Is the N Thing Which Stands Be-
tween the People of Butte and
silver Bow Greek Water.
The Situation.

There was 10 feet Of water in the
water company's reservoir Friday, and
there was nine feet six inches yesterday.
Butte's hope of escaping Silver Bow
creek water lies in warm weather COM
ing at once. Yesterday was very pleas
ant up to the latter part Of the after
noon. when il grew colder and snow be-
gan to fall. The barometer fell two
points during the day. These things are
not very promising. although IL is not
thought that the furry of last evening
means a hard snow storm or one that
will last. But Butte must have weather
warm enough to cause the SHOWS on
the mountains to melt or will have to go
without water At for use.
In spite OF the threatening appear
ance of the weather superintendent Car
roll OF the water company wal dis
posed yesterday to regard the situation
as more favorable.
1T does not look so gloomy as IT did
yesterday at any rate" said Mr.. Carroll.
1T has begun to thaw a little up above
the reservoir and some water is coming
i'm. although not enough yet to stop the
lowering OF the supply. Thursday night
the reservoir fell 10 inches n last
night 1t fell only six inches. SO you see
there is some improvement. / esti-
mated yesterday that the supply would
be exhausted in two days. but with the
decreased fall Of only six inches instead
OF 10, we will probably be able to run
until Wednesday or Thursday. Then
IL before that time we nave two warm
days the SHOWS will melt in good
earnest.
Il had no thought but hat we would
surely have a thaw between the middle
of March and the first OF April or i
would have husbanded the water in
some directions. But 1t was stormy all
through March. There is plenty Of snow
in the mountains and as 500 as the
melting begins il will not take long to
fill the reservoir clear up to the brim.
More SNOW fell In March than in all the
rest of the winter. and just above the
reservoir the snow is up to you neck.
I'VE would have got through without
any water shortage but for the two big
fires. The Hale house fire took an
enormous quantity of water. For 36
hours the firemen played on the ruins.
Then came the Mullins fire, which was
another great drain on the reservoir.
Much more water has been con-
sumedt the past winter in Butte than in
any former year. We ave supplied
the Anaconda company all this winter
with water to put out the fire In the
Anaconda. This has been an unusual
drain on the reservoir. We have shut
off that water now. but we should. to
be on the safe side, a v shut of the
water for that purpose several weeks
before.
A to whether we can get along
without resorting to Silver Bow creek
depends entirely on the weather of the
next few days. We Ear get along until
Wednesday or Thursday n IL the
weather is warm the thaw which has
started will increase. But II there
should be a storm and more cold wealth
err we will not be able to furnish the
quantity of water needed"
The city is at present using about
1000, 900 gallons OF water daily. The
well on the fiat is furnishing 1,500, 900
gallons and shows no signs of playing
out.