Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-12
SHORT WATER SUPPLY
ACCIDENT CAUSES DEPRIVATION
ON CAPITOL HILL.
Other Sections Involved-Mains Out Of
Business for About
Twelve Hours.

A large part of the city was very dry to-
day. Capitol Hill and LIE Droit Park and
vicinity were practically without water up
to noon, shortly before which time water
flowed freely in LIE Droit Park, and three
hours later the residents of Capitol Hill be-
gan getting water on the first floors of
their houses. BY 4 o'clock it is expected
the service on Capitol Hill will be fully
re-established.
An accident that could not have been
foreseen caused all this trouble. 1t was
connected with the work being carried on
on r street near 4th street. where the lay
ing Of new water main to supply Capitol
Hill made necessary an especially difficult
task OF providing a cut on. This necessi-
tated the shutting off of the water at the
corner of 4th and r streets northwest, so
that the pipe at that point might be en-
tirely drained to permit the making of lead
joints.
1t was planned to cut the water off at 12
o'clock last night, to have the men work
all night, so that by o'clock this morning
everything would be in readiness to provide
the people with their usual supply of water.
AS planned, 1t was thought to be only nee
essary to deprive LIE Droit Park and vicin-
ity of water during these six hours of the
night and warning was accordingly given
cf the conditions that would prevail there.
Overflow Threatened.
The engineers proceeded to cut off the
water, and the gauge of the cutoff indicat-
ed that the flow had entirely ceased. Then
the work of opening the pipes to make the
new joints and to put in place a new cut
off was commenced. 1t was at once devel-
oped that the indicator had told a false
story. The water had not been fully cut
off. 1t was flowing SO rapidly that it re-
quired five pumps working at full speed to
prevent an overflow But the water was
controlled in that respect. 1t became nee
essary to control the water further by clos
ing off the flow at New Jersey avenue and
L street.
That was slow process owing to the
cramped position of the cutoff. 1t was
along into the morning when the cut OF
could be effected, and then the work on r
street was pushed as rapidly as possible for
such a task under unfavorable conditions.
The whole trouble was the result Of the
imperfect working Of an old piece of ma
chinery put in place many years ago.
There was no way to foresee such a mis-
hap, and the water department was we'll
pleased that no serious trouble had oc-
Cured by the water being turned off for
so long time.
Fortunately There Were No Fires.
Whenever the water service fails to sup
ply every part Of the city regularly there is
a feeling Of the greatest uneasiness, espe-
cially on the part of the fire department.
Fortunately today there was no out
break of fire during this period OF a failing
water supply, although in other respects
there was no small amount OF deprivation.
The populace in East Washington began
as early as o'clock draft upon the wells
and, by o'clock every such source of sup
ply was exhausted. The deep artesan well
at Lincoln Park was yielding but small
portions at that hour, and the fluid was
of the color Of clay.
Mr.: Mcfarland, in charge of the water
supply and under whom the work of ex-
tending the water service Is being carried
on, gave his personal attention to these
matters today. He was on hand last even
ing and this morning to do everything pos
sible to advance the work retarded by the
accident.