Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-16
4 VERY DAD BREAK
IN THE TWENTY-INoH WATER
MAIN, ON MAIN STREET, LAST
NIGHT.

MAIN, ON MAIN STREET, LAST
NIGHT.
The "Hflr Was Flooded From
Eleventh Street to Twelfth, and
Twelfth From Main to the River.
The Street at the Point of Frac-
turc Badly Torn Up, and CobbIc
Stones, Sand and Mud Marked the
Passage of the Torrent for Two
Blocks-The Break Occurred Mt
$3.50. and the Water was Conn
pieteiy Shut OF About Zen.
"A very ugly break occurred in the 90
inch water main, on Main street hill.
last evening, at 1920 O'Clock, the imme
diate result being the upheaval of the
cosble paving on the east side, between
the street car track and the curb, and
subsequently there was a deluge of
water that swept the street from curb
70 curb, from the north side of the P.
Welty & Sons building, where the frac-
ture occurred, to the south side of
Twelfth street, and from Main and
Twelfth down to and over the wharf.
This main was laid in 1866, and was
then the largest water pipe in the city.
Just north of where the break occurred
the first pipe laid to the Island joins it,
running down Eleventh street to the
wharf, and thence across the bed of the
river. A day or two ago the pressure
of water In the upper portion of the city
was increased some thirty-five or forty
pounds, to meet the requirements of
certain consumers, who complained of
lack of pressure, and this additional
strain possibly running around through
the cross street pipes, on the
old pipe developed weak point,
and from indications last night
a section on the east side of the pipe,
which lies directly under the middle of
the street car track, let go, throwing
the water toward the east curb. AS
saesult the sandy soil gave way in a
moment, and geyser spurted into the
air, throwing paving stones and sand
with it, and making noise which at
kracted the attention Of pedestrians a
considerable distance away. Once the
water had forced an outlet, it covered
the surface of the street, and tore down
the steep grade with great force. car
rying with it large quantities of sand
CD nd q CT
Goatable object it found in the way. At
Twelfth street the current was DETECTED
to the west, toward the river, and con-
siderable deposits were left on that
street between Main and Water.
The police were early on the scene,
and word was at once sent to the Wat
err Board authorities, Superintendent
Mckinney, Foreman John Farley and
the repair gang responding, but before
they could get the water shut off it had
run for three-quarters Of an hour, boil
ing up foot above the level of the
street and tearing out a hole large
enough to bury two-horse wagon. By
a little after ten the valves had been
shut down, and preparations for re-
pairs were Immediately set on foot
This will be a good deal Of job, how
ever, and very large excavation will
have to be made to get at the broken
pipe, and it will be some time tonight
before the work is completed. Some
of the Main street stores will probably
be without an elevator service to-day,
but otherwise there will be no incon-
yenience.
Street car travel was only slightly
interrupted last evening, the cars run
ming cautiously over the point Of frac-
ture.
Several hundred people were attract
ed to the scene of the accident imme-
diately after the break occurred, and
many of them fingered there for some
time, watching the water and the opera
lions of the Water Board men.
About eleven o'clock the big pump
of the water department arrived on the
scene, and the hole was drained of wa
ter in very short time. 1t was found
that the excavation extended clear
Down to the pipe, and an examina-
ton OF it showed that the break was
about four feet long and from six to
eight inches wide, on the east side.
The street car track was completely un-
dermined. but the rails and ties form
ed a perfect bridge although there was
q good deal of vacant space beneath
the track.
why the break occurred was a good
deal Of mystery to Superintendent
Mckinney. The 20-inch main, laid in
1866. was then connected directly with
the old reservoir. When the new reser-
voir was put in service the direct con-
nection from the north was broken,