Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-09
WATER ENOUGH.
Storms of This Week Has
 Helped Out Wonderfully.
HAIL, RAIN AND SNOW TO-DAY

The order to Shut Off the City Wa ter Has Caused a Whole Let of Talk-It Has Also Set the People to Thinking About an Increased Water Supply-Water at Branch Has Raised Five Feet in a Few Days
 The rain and hail storm of this morning amounted, to .73 of an inch ana as It is still raining there is every reason to believe that the water IaIhlne question is a thing of the past TOT the present season. The thunaer's loud peal and the lightning's bright glare together with the racket made upon tin roofs and against window glass by the hail scared many people. ana more than one person who had neglected to close the blinds on re- | tlflng got out of bed and pulled theIn | Ill rearing that. if left exposed the glass would yield to the fierce assaults 1 or the hail and thus give the wind an | opportunity to step in and hold high :. carnival through the kitchen. bed | rooms and parlor.
 | The storm knocked plans of the past few days askew. but if one could get at the facts he would see that even though considerable work has been uone III getting things in shape to save the water. those who did the most of llt are delighted to know that the oc- caslon will not call for the putting into actual use Of the several schemes they thought out as the most feasible way or getting along with as little water as possible. and at the same time not run any risk of hampering the fire depart Ment. in case an alarm should be rung during the night or deny people suf- nclent quantity for domestic purposes. Superintendent O'Brien was ready to turn off the supply last night at, 10 o'clock. as ordered hy the board of public works. when Mayor flilduff ap- peared on the scene and informed him that, judging by the rise in the reser- voir during the past twenty-four hours and the likelihood of a rainStorm last night and to-day, he did not. think the precaution necessary. so the water was not turned off last night either and in all probability that is the last the public will hear regarding the scarcity of waiter for another year. Between the rains of yesterday and to-day, Wig
 wam reservoir raised almost six feet. and the chances are that it will be rum ming over the spillway in day or two and then we'll have water to drink, 1 WaIeE to sell dHtl NtteE to Dd1H 4OiCt more. and this. with an assurance of full dinner pailS, ought to make us fhappy for the coming winter anyway Chief Snagg spent all day yesterday perfecting plans for handling fires in case any should occur during the shut off and was prepared to concentrate all his forces at any point of the city at short notice. He served written notice upon all the captains telling them what would be required of them under the new order and while he re-
 gretted the scarcity of water. still the chief realized that the situation was fast becoming desperate and was pre- pared to make the most of things un- der unfavorable conditions.
 Mayor Nilduff has not slept much the past week, the greater portion of his time being devoted to talking up the matter with the superintendent of the bureau of water. the city engineer. the engineer of the fire department and
 everybody else who was supposed to know anything about the question. Or course everybody was looking to the mayor to take such steps as were necessary to avert a water famlne- anu
 vet not do anything beyond what the ease called for. Some would say:
 What a howl therell be if we have q fire and there should be any delay
 in turning on the water! While others
 would exclaim: What are we going to do if the water gives out. Why jdon't they shut it off nights!' So that
 it was hard to know what to do. and the mayor had to rely almost entirely LOn his own judgment and it is great
 relief to him to have the thing settled for the present.
 We had rain. sleet. hail and snow
 today almost all kinds of weather.
 and by the time it ceases coming down
 the city will have water galore.
 Superintendent O'Brien is as happy
 as clam to-day. He says we have
 water enough now for the next two
 months. The Branch has risen five
 feet and three-auarters. he says. and
 is still rising: the East Mountain res
 ervoir has gained a foot: the Prospect
 reservoir went up thirteen inches and
 the distributing reservoir is full.