The daily sentinel., 1907-02-25
BAD BREAK IN MAINS
All Water Was Cut on From
City's System Yesterday
for Hours.

Grand Junction was certainly a
dry" town yesterday and the COM
lplaints that went up to the skies from
all parts of the city were absolutely
numberless.
People that hadn't been thirsty for
cool refreshing drink of WATER in
months suffered terribly yesterday
so they reported, and others who had
not taken a good. all round bath
since summer ended. were so anxious
TO perform these ablutions yester-
day. Water, water, water" was the
cry that was heard on every hand. 1t
was a sad. torturous day for the may
or. the water superintendent and the
city clerk.
Yesterday morning shortly after 8
O'Clock one of the most serious acci-
dents that has occurred on the city
water mains in months took place. At
a point about one hundred yards be-
low the railroad crossing on Fifth
street a Joint in the principal water
main, the long line that brings the
supply from the reservoirs into the
city. was blown out and stream of
water as big as a man S body shot in
to the air.
Water Superintendent Vedder was
lat once notified of the break and was
soon at the scene of the accident.
He saw in a moment that the break
was a very serious one. There was
but little time for Notifying the peo-
pie that the supply would be tempor-
arily cut of, however Mr.. Nedder de-
cided to wait 40 minutes for this to
be done. Fire Chief Rogers from the
fire station called up the hotels and
as many private residences as he
could and told them to draw sup
ply of water for the days use before
| the water was turned off.
Superintendent Vedder shut the
water off at the Fifth street bridge
At the point where the pipe was
bursted regular pond had form
ed. The whole end of the street was
practically flooded.
Just here the line is lower than a
any place in the city and it took mucf
time and a great deal of work Il
drain the pipe so that the repairs
could be made. A big hand pump anC
n large number of men with scool
shovels were put to work and th'
lneigbboring fire plugs were also pu
10 work drawing off the water.
The break was repaired as quickll
as nossible but It was four O'Clock be
fore the water was turned ON again.
Superintendent Vedder and nj
men worked faithfully and hard an'
got the repairs made and the waite
ION again in just as short time a
possible.
Many residents were naturally
greatly Inconvenience as they ha'
no water in store but this could no
he helped. As much notice was Civ
en- as possible. There was no warnini
of the break. it was one of those un
looked for and unexpected oceurrene
/ Ies that are liable to take place a
lany time. Occurring on sunday an
without warning no announcement
could be made through the newspa
lners though some of the impatien
residents couldn't see why the cit
officials did not have supernatura
!; knowledge of the accident ana an
nounce it Saturday in the papers.
Had a fire occurred yesterday tn
, department would have been prat
, tically helpless. -,
Accidents like this easily prov
, how great is the need OF doupl
! supply pipe from the reservoirs TO Tn
CITY SO that when one line is put ou
, of business the other line could q
! once be brought into service.