Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-08
CITY IN DARKNESS
naly WatsrbuIy Industries Taking |
 Ro,t el Account of Accident

ing of the dam of the canal which car ries the water to the New Milford Power company plant, in Merwinyille,' Waterbury, and surrounding towns, were completely tied up in the cleo tricity line; is far more reaching in its results than was first realized. In this city today there are numerous factories which were compelled to lay off some its force, while two or three of the smaller plants were compelled to shut down entirely. Several hundred men are thrown out of employment temporarily. The To- cal service with the exception of the Cheshire line which is running on an hour schedule Is not affected The street lights will be out again to- night, and will not show any bright ness until the break is repaired. Still at the office of the Connecticut Rail- way and Lighting company today, it was stated that the merchants need , not worry as the local plant will car " along the load on Wednesday and Saturday nights, which the plant at Milford was accustomed to shoulder. A force of fifty men with couple of expert engineers are at the scene of the break, but even though night and day shifts are used, the break cannot be repaired in less than week.
 It was just about 10 o'clock yester- day morning when the dam caved In. The water went rushing down the valleys of the Housatonic river. Pow CT was shut off in plainville, South ington, New Britain, Cheshire and in this city. But the company's power house, on Bank street in this city has been running much of late. because of the scarcity of water, which affected the Milford power house, consequent ly 1t did not take long to get the Bank street plant in full working order. Although the local service was not 7 badly affected, 1t was somewhat llampered and cars ascended hills at n snail-like pace. There was nothing doing on the Cheshire line for more than an hour, and for the remainder of the day, they ran only at sixty minute interval The first car did not get through to Mt Carmel until after 5 o'clock. People also had much diff!- culty getting to the football game. In the evening the company had men sta tioned at Mt Carmel notifying the people of the accident and advising them to return to Waterbury via New Haven.
 Last night the city was in darkness and will be until the break Is repaired which will be a week or ten days. At 2 the office of the c. R. x l.. combany this morning, 1t was given out that the store lights would be in operation on Wednesday evening. The merchants have been telephonng and coming to us asking what about their lights. They need not worry as the alternat- ing and direct currents will be both run from our plant on Bank street Of course the street lights will be out until the break has been fixed and what is known as our power currents, which are in some factories VIII be al- so of no use until the dam Is again working order. The Cheshire trolley lhe will be run only on an hour scl edule as we are compelled to fur nisloithe power as far as 9Akt EArNel- MIHAxfe and New Britamrare .onay taking care of their own lines, was the statement given out to-day.
 The plant at Bulls bridge consists of five dynamos. good for about 12OOO horse power, which supply the car It. self of Southington, Che shire, MIL dale Naugatuck, New Britain and Waterbury and also the street lights of some of the towns mentioned.
 The dam Is said to have been con- structed of earth and in places ma sorry, and at the point where the break occurred in about 15-five feet above the Housatonic river. The canal is a mile long, consequently the break heinz large, more than 100 feet, even though the gates at the inlet were shut on immediately after the acci- dent. the water rushed along over the meadows, and nothing stopped until 1t reached the river. What was the cause of the break Is not known. At the office of the c. R. & l.. today It was stated that rats had gnawed away the dam, was not taken serious ly. but no other explanation was giv- en. The Waterbury Paper Box fac tory is not moving wheel, and will not until the dam Is fixed np. One ffundred and fifty employees are out Of work. Waterbury Brass company had to send two hundred men home today but. the officials say that these men will resume work tomorrow as the concern has facilities for generat- lag It's own electricity and will get 1t working today. N
 The plant of the Platt Button com many in this city Is completely tied up hut the factory at Platts Mills Is in opefation. The number of employees in the local shop Is 26O. 2cO of them being women.
 One hundred of the American Pin company help received a vacation be- cause of the accident. while not a wheel turned at the Waterbury Cru cihle plant.
 Benedict & Burnham's was not af- fected to, any extent. fifty-seven be- ing the number that were left out in inc cold this morning. An extra en- zine will be started to-day and the fuI1 force will he laboring tomorrow. At the American Ring Co.'S thirty men gre idle.
 The machinery at the Thomas Jack son stone yard Is resting. much to the disappointment of the owner. who says that there Is some work which machinery is most necessary to turn out. The machinery depends entirely upon electricity and cannot operate until the break Is repaired
 The news of the accident in this city was not taken very seriously at frst. The congregation at the First church. the Immaculate Conception St Johns and the Second Congregational won derei why their organs were not In on<xst,ou. but never suspected that it