The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-14
A SERIOUS PROBLEM
Committee on Water of the City
Council Anxious for the
City's Supply
AN ORDER FOR RELIEF
WILL BE PRESENTED
City Solicitor viii Draw Up the
Document to Cover
Every Emergency

The old-time Kansas rainmakers, If
find it easy to secure contract from
Mayor Dodge. If they were successful
in causing rain enough to fall to re-
plenish the streams and ponds that
supply Worcester's reservoirs, their
compensation would be of ample pro-
portions. Worcester needs water just
at this particular time, as water has
not been needed in a quarter of CEN
tury.
With a view to determining upon
some plan of action that would result
in meeting the present emergency, the
water committee was in session last
night at the city hall. In addition to
the members of the committee, there
were present Mayor Dodge, Water
Commissioner Brady and Water Reg
istrar Bachelor.
The city solicitor had already been
instructed to prepare an order for
presentation at the meeting Of the city
council, Monday night, but there was
no copy of this before the committee.
This order is to cover every phase OF
the present emergency and provide for
pumping, If necessary. The threatened
water famine was thoroughly discussed
and the mayor, commissioner, registrar
and committee, realize the danger that
menaces the city. Decisive action will
be taken at the meeting of the city
council, Monday.
In the meantime, the water commits
eli &c. 1ofV oil hh 70 lrAn
the supply from getting too low. Work
is being pushed on the connection to
be made from Goes pond to the mains
on Columbus park, and when complet-
ed, this VIII be Of great temporary
benefit
Water Commissioner Brady and the
| mayor had conference yesterday af-
ternoon in regard to the situation, and
later while discussing it with The Spy
reporter, the mayor said that he would
be willing to give good slice of his
big plurality in exchange for a little
rain.
Unless it rains again pretty soon and
there is a greater fall than there was
election day, there will be no alterna-
tive for the city, save pumping, some
thing that it has not been necessary to
do since the early 70s.
The great manufacturing establish
ments around the city are feeling the
effect of the low water supply, as we'll
as the people in the residential dis
tricts. Some folks, believing that the
water is loaded down with germs, pto-
maines and other fearful things they
read about in the scare columns of the
sensational press, have resorted to boil
ing the water before using it, even to
wash themselves. This it was said yes
terday at the office of the water de-
partment, is entirely unnecessary. Al
though low the quality of the water
IS unchanged, and is as pure as if it
was gushing from crystal springs.
Among the permits to dig granted
yesterday at the Office of the street
commissioner was one authorizing the
American Steel and Wire Company to
open a portion of Grove street for the
purpose of putting in a pipe through
which the waste water from the con-
densers can be pumped back into Sal
isbury pond. Water is so valuable just
now that not drop of it can be wasted.
1t was thought that the hydraulic
elevators throughout the city would
have to cease running because of the
scarcity Of water, but this, it is now
believed viii not be necessary.
The water committee last night, in
threatened water famine, considered
the petitions of J. J. Higgins of Cutler
street, W. B. Howe of Midland street
and j. Fl. Rowland of Elm avenue for
the laying of water pipe. The petit
tons were referred to the water COM
missioner for estimates.