Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-25

Heavy Losses and Very Serious
Inconvenience Caused by the Wa
ter Famine.
After being practically without
water for nearly three days, the sec
ond break near the pumping station
was repaired yesterday, the pumps
started in operation, and late in the
afternoon the water was again turned
into the pipes for use by consumers.
The situation during the past few days
has impressed itself upon the minds
of most people as being very serious,
but there is no question but that its
gravity would have been emphasized
in the event of fire. Many large
property owners will breath easier in
the knowledge that there is sufficient
quantity of water in the reservoir to
meet all ordinary demands, and that it
is being constantly pumped in from the
station. They have been very appre-
hensive for several days, and there
have been not few private inquiries
concerning the. supply in the reservoir.
If fire had occurred in the business
district it would have been remarkable
if the city had escaped a disastrous
confagration.
All through the night and yesterday
morning the force was engag-
al Il, ro,,,OuipU tho cor
ton of pipe from the ditch and re-
placing it with straight section.
When this was accomplished and the
joints were secured with lead shortly
before noon, the situation was virtu-
ally the same as upon Saturday after
noon when the work commenced, and
the necessity for making the connec-
ton between the new pump and the
force main still exists. 1t is not known
when this will be done, but it will
necessitate shutting off the water, and
it is very likely that the Board and
its engineer will profit by the mia
takes which they have made.
The actual money loss caused by the
situation at the pumping station would
be extremely difficult to calculate, but
it is very considerable. The amount
of inconvenience occasioned by the ac-
cidents was incalculable. Everybody
suffered more or less, but the feeling
of uneasiness which has existed has
Geen removed and there is a general
feeling of thankfulness that it was not
worse.
The auricular organs of the two
members of the Water Board and Sup
erintendent Oliver must have tingled
unpleasantly since Saturday. To name
the citizens who comment upon the
situation only to censure these gentle
men would mean the publication of a
good sized section of the city directory.
The particular things for which an
angry public criticizes the Board may
be summed UP briefly as follows:
Because the official head of one of
the most important departments of the
city, presumed to be an expert by rea-
son of his selection for such an i'm
portant place, did not forsee the effect
of the heavy pressure of water upon
the valve which gave way Sunday
night.
Because the same official head of the
department, with the knowledge of
force and resistance which he should
have, did not take measures to pre-
vent the Y section of pipe from CIV
ing away Monday,
Because the Superintendent, acting
under or without instructions from the
Board, took unnecessary chances in
the two instances mentioned.
Because the completion of connec-
tions from the valve On the Y with the
pipe connecting with the new pump;
and the building of the wall of ma
sonry to prevent the Y section of pipe
from giving way were not done before
instead of after the mishaps, it being
understood that the wall is to be built.
Because the superintendent did not
undertake to make the connections
when the force main was empty, in
stead of working against the heavy
pressure of water in the pipes.
These are criticisms applying direct
ly to the accidents which have sub
jected community of $4,000 to all the
trouble and inconvenience incident to
a water famine. There are other stric-
lures upon the Board, some of which
are given in the few interviews ap-
pended which are selected at random
from the comments of citizens.
Gen. Alfred Caldwell said:
ut is a shameful state of affairs to
exist in a community like Wheeling,
and both the Water Board and its su-
perintendent should be severely cen
sured. The two accidents which have
happened are barefaced confession Of
incompetency. The city doesn't want a
mere mechanic or machinist at the head
of such department The Board
ought to select a man who has some
knowledge of hydraulics, man who