Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-04-14
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL
cHAsM ON CANAL STREET.
Part Of Highway Carried Away by Break
in e-lneh Water Main Monday Night
Reservoir Reduced Feet.

heSeFNOW HeQNEtu
Canal street was found to be inter-
sected with a chasm Tuesday morning
nearly opposite Charles Cleayeland's house
a section 20 feet long, several feet wide
and four to 10 feet deep having been cut
from the centre OF the highway to the
foundation wall under the sidewalk on
the northern side. The sidewalk remained
intact although undermined and it is
safe for pedestrians to cross upon it,
although teams are forced to turn to the
south side Of the street and upon the car
tracks in order to travel or the street
The break was caused by the bursting Of
6-inch water main during Monday
night The pipe, which ran close to the
car track. was frozen during the winter
and when the thaw came It burst. 1t is
thought that the break took place about
IL O'Clock. as residents Of Canal street
noticed at that hour that the water drawn
from the faucets was muddy and at 2
O'Clock there was no pressure on one side
Of the break. c. B. Crowen superinten-
dent Of the water works, knew OF no
trouble until about s In the morning
when Charles Cleayeland telephoned to
him. As soon as possible the water was
turned of. and the people Of Canal, Clark
and Brook street who depended upon the
Chestnut Hin system for their water sup
ply were without aqua pura for domestic
or other purposes. The water in the
reservoir was reduced FIVE or more feet
during the night and Mr.. Crowell makes
a rough estimate that 100000 gallons
Of water ran To waste. The escaping
waters cut deepest directly under the
sidewalk. Many Of the stones in the
wall were carried away. some Of which
weighed 100 and 200 pounds being be-
tween the wall and the canal. y deep
gully was washed out all the way into
the canal, where the waters from the
break found an outlet. Il will be difficult
to determine the amount Of the damage
until the wall is closely inspected. II il
is Necessary to remove part Of the wall
and dig down for a new foundation the
cost might be several hundred dollars
7. 5. Eames, the road commissioner. hopes
to BE- able 10 place supports under the
wall and to put in foundation stones be-
meath the supported section. About $50
loads 81 dirt viii BE- used in filling the
big hole.
I.ater-A derrick was erected Wednes-
day and the work 81 relayinE the wall
and repairing the break is now in pro-
gress. Road Commissioner Eames finds
that the wall will have to be removed
over space 90 feet wide at the top but
narrower at the foundation. He expects
to have the work completed within a few
days. 1t Is estimated that the total eN-
pense ~ making the repairs will be 500
To S5aO-proba close TO the latter
figure. Mr.. Crowen. owner Of the water
works has been notified by the selectmen
that he viii De- held responsible for the
amount 81 the expense incurred in max
ing the repsirs
When the earth had been removed and
the broken pipe exposed. il was found
that the main on the western side Of the
break was still frozen. and it was neces-
sary TO thaw II out for distance Of l20
feet. before the break could be repaired
and the water turned on.