Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-13
WATER SHOT HIGH IN THE AIR.
Sent Small Rivers Raging Down East
And South Temple Streets at Early
Hour This Morning.
LOSS APPROPRIATED At $4,000.
Asphalt Paving aud Stone Flageing
Lifted From Their MOerings by
The CeySer's Strength.

A l6-inch water main at the inter-
section OF East and South Temple
streets, blew out early this morning,
and by the time the water had broken
through above the street surface at
$40 o'clock, all OF the subsol had been
soaked and the pavement undermined
so that the entire street Intersection
viii have to be repaved. Had the
break occurred In the night when at
tention to II could not have been so
prompt, It is believed that the pioneer
monument would have been under
mined. As Il is. the monument founda-
tion may have to be repaired. Roughly
estimated, Supt Hines OF the dty
Watcrworks thought the loss would
amount to $1,000.
NETWORK oFMAINS.
There is veritable network OF water
mains at this street intersection. There
is an 1S-inch main on the east side
of north East Temple street, which IL
reduced 20 l2-inch main south Of the
intersection, On the west side of East
Temple street there il l2-inch main,
and piain on the same side runs west
on South Temple street, from the in
terseotion. while a l6-inch main runs
east to Eagle Gate. Then there is
} branch l6-inch main, connecting the
IL and 1S-inch mains north OF the street
intersection, and parallel with the l2-
inch main. This makes six water main
connections at this street intersection.
When the water finally broke through
the pavement, 1t shot up into the air
like geyser. four or FIVE feet, and
the great volume under So pounds pres
sure poured out in all directions.
THE WATERS COURSE.
Gravity sent the flow south and west,
bust mostly south, and Q, regular flood
went sweeping down East Temple
street carrying gravel, rocks and sand
with It, The force OF the current may
be gagged from the fact that this food
stuff was carried clear to First South
street The street ear men had to stop
their cars 10 clear the tracks OF rocks
SO that they could proceed. Forum
ately the street was so wide that the
waters did not wash over into cellars.
end the flood swept on down TO Sec
ond South street, and thence on down.
lcssenlng IN force aud finally reached
the Ninth South street canal
THE WESTWARD RUSH.
The waters rushing west on South
Temple street. however, found en-
trance into the open manhoe OF the
Bell Telephone company opposite the
Deseret News Annex building. and
fllling that up, ran through the News
cable conduit into the cellar OF the
Annex, 1t flooded part Of the great
basement damaging considerably
quantity Of book paper stock stored
there
OFFICIALS ON THE SCENE.
supt. Hines and Chief Engineer By
water Of the fire department were at
once notified. and shortly after o'clock
the water WAS shut off from the street
Intersection through nine valves. The
force Of the discharge was such that
great masses OF asphalt pavement were
lifted up bodily several feet I'm tho
air and actually nouted bobbln, >
and down Ike q cork ON the surface
OF wave, The street car track north
east OF the monument was left hang
ing In the air with an enormous hole
over feet deep beneath filled with
water,
FIRE STEAMER AT WORK.
Supt. Hines had force Of mon on
the spot as soon as possible, and sent
for one of the fire steamers which
pumped the hole out so that the men
could cXcavate for repairs,
CAUSE or ACCIDENT
Mr. Hines was uncertain at first
wht,her 1t was Il broken pipe or one
OF the fittings broken loose, But by
II o'clock tho workmen had uncovered
the spot where the break had occurred.
and II was discovered that a short
piece Of l2-Iuch pipe, Ss feet long
and Is OF an inch thick, had given way
because Of law In the pipe. II was
q reducer from the lS-inch TO the vest
bound l9-inch pipe and after having
been In the ground 10 years, the naW
had given way under the pressure.
There WIS also much corroslon noted
due TO the action Of lime salts in the
water The cement conduit Of the old
telephone company leading north from
the street intersection runs through
The hole cNcayatod by the rushing
waters ana though partly In the air
stood the test and was apparently UNI
Injured.
Tho track at the northeast Of the
street Intersection. was the only track
Damaged and as the west side track
can be utilized Tor tho north and south
traffic. the service viii not be- material.
~ lntcrfered WITH The movements
Of the workmen furnished entertain
ment during the day to crowds Of sight
NOoYQ