The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
THREAT OF WATER FAMINE
BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD
When Fall Creek Levee Broke the
Water Company'S Upper Sta
ton Was Made Useless.
TASK OF LOWER STATION
1t Must Furnish the City's Supply
Which Will Tax Pumps to
Utmost Capacity.
TASK OF LOWER STATION

y llllOSl AdpdNIlS.
AS a result of the breaking of the south
levee of Fall creek at three points between
Fourteenth street and Indiana avenue
shortly after / o'clock yesterday afternoon
the upper and main station of the Indian
apolis Water Company was completely
flooded. it's machinery choked and the city
threatened for while with a water
famine. Within few hours after the levee
broke the upper station was abandoned and
the gigantic task OF supplying the city with
water was thrown upon the lower station at
West Washington street, where the water
was several feet below the danger point
The city was quick to feel the effects of
the breakdown of the upper water station.
The supply of water was low in all the
hotels and business houses, while in the
outlying residence districts it was impos-
sble to get water at all. Although the
lower station worked its pumps TO their
greatest capacity, they were not able 10
maintain the supply necessary to the city
on Saturday night, when ali the large stores
were open.
General alarm in all parts of the city
followed the curtailment of the water pres
water entirely were subjected to great in
convenience and some were forced 10 carry
water from neighboring pumps.
WILL HAVE FEEBLE SUPPLY.
Although the pumps at the lower station
were kept working fast the engi-
neers dared the supply of water last night
was still lower. However, as long as the
lower station is kept intact the city will
West Washington street, it is thought,
will not be affected unless the river
rises several feet during the night.
still within a foot of the danger point at
the lower station, and John Rail. the chief
engineer. said that he did not think the
machinery was in danger. There is, how
ever, another danger TO the lower station
aside from the high water. The pumps are
being worked to their full capacity and
should an accident occur TO the machinery
ii would mean water famine for the city.
The lower station of the Indianapolis
Water Company, it is thought, will be able
to furnish the city with sufficient water by
have not been used since the new station
was built. The average amount of water
supplied the city is about 100000 gallons
daily. Officers of the company declare that
by starting their old pumps the lower sta
ton will be able TO supply a daily volume
of 100000 gallons. The old pumps were
station indicated that they were working
satisfactorily.
The probable length of the critical situa-
ton depends entirely upon the condition of
White river. Should the river recede to-
day the company thinks that it could have
the north station repaired and working by
dent of the Indianapolis Water Company,
said last night: Until the water in the
river goes down the upper station will be
useless. Water is standing in the furnaces
N1rna at and m hD RI Hnaf IN
of four and five feet We thing that it will
probably be thirty-six hours before we can
start the pumps there again. OF course ii
may be longer or II the river falls rapidly
we might i'm a pinch start the machinery
by noon Sunday. Our men are waiting to
go back to their posts just as soon as the
flood subsidies and no time will be lost in
starting the pumps. We regret very much
the breakdown of the upper station, but ii
was due to the levees giving way. We have
felt all along that these levees were entire
ly too light and have feared such an acct
dent
FIRES EXTINGUISHED
After the levee broke yesterday the water
poured into the low land occupied by the
north station and extingushed the fires in
the furnaces and drove the workmen from
the plant, which was shut down shortly
after o'clock The first break in the
levee was at a point about one thousand
a waterway was formed through the levee
a complete washout followed, and the wa
ter poured over in volumes, flooding the
entire neighborhood up as far as Hawatha
street.
John Rail, chief engineer, was in the
upper station at the time the levee gave
way. He said il was impossible to keep
the engines going, as the water rushed in
and put out the fires. He said he and his
men had barely time TO escape before be-
ing surrounded by water.
In case a large fire should occur. with
the water company badly crippled, the
situation would be portentous. With the
pressure of the lower station alone ii would
be well-nigh impossible for the fire de-
partment to fight successfully a large fire
AT 10 o'clock last night the water at the
lower station was sixteen feet and seven
inches above low water mark, having risen
seven inches since Z o'clock. The limit to
which the water can rise before affecting
the station is seventeen and one-quarter
feet. Men at the station last night said that
the river was not rising as fast as during
the afternoon and they did not expect it to
go more than few inches higher.