The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-11
WATER MAIN BURST
MONTGOMERY WAS DRY FOR
 TWO HOURS.
Lawrence Street Was Flooded and Accident at Power House Was Narrowly Averted-Citizens
 Were Alarmed.

Montgomery was dry town last night between S:35 o'clock and Il o'clock. The water main on North Lawrence Street between Jefferson and Columbus Streets burst at S:35 o'clock and cut off hydrant water from the entire city and flooded three blocks of Lawrence Street to depth of several feet.
 When the main burst water gushed from the ground as if from some artesian spring and before the engines at the pumping citation on North Court Street could be stopped the street for three blocks was completely flooded.
 Engineer Cunningham. who was in charge of the station, was notified by the action of the engines that something was doing or rather was undoing. and he shut off the power just in time to pre- vent runaway of the engines which would probably have resulted in the de- molition of considerable machinery. Every engine. except the air pump which is entirely independent of the other four engines which force the water to all parts of the city, were stopped and the city was without water more than two hours. Had the rain continued to fall the in- habitants of Montgomery would perhaps not have been perturbed oyer the situa- ton but as it was it appeared alarming to the few who realized the gravity of the situation. Persons boarded cars on Dex- ter Avenue with pails and several dipped their buckets into the basin at Court Square. It was one of the times when water was dear at any price and many who would have summed something stronger" under other circumstances were compelled to indulge to appease thirst. s
 Residents of Lawrence Street. in the Columbus Street vicinity. were alarmed Some thought for g moment that the | ,..,.h oS anothar r.atatonia ar Johnstown flood had come upon them. Not only did the sweeping waters overflow the street, but the sidewalks looked like brooks
 The anxiety and distress of Lawrence Street inhabitants was relieved when waterworks officials appeared on the scene to stop the flow.
 McDuff Cain, Superintendent of the City Water Works. was immediately notified and with a force of laborers relieved the situation, the congestion of water on Lawrence Street, but he was unable to repair the old main or install new main during the night.
 The part of the city comprising the Lawrence Street blocks between Jeffer- son and Pollard Streets the water con- nection of which was necessarily anected by the burst main was disconnected and at Il o'clock the entire city with that exception was again given the want that had been denied.
 MT. Cain said last night to a represent ative of The Advertiser that he could as- sign no cause for the break. as no in vestigatioh could be made until today. He said that mains are often used sev- eral years and burst suddenly On account of inferiority or causes, differing accord ing to circumstances.
 thorough investigation will be made today, and 1t is probable that the defect will be entirely remedied before the day passes.
 At 12 o'clock last night Mfr. Cain said that all the engines at the pumping sta ton were running with fifty pounds pres sure and that after today everything will be running as usual.