Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-17

Heservoir Nearly Emptieos Due 70
Closed Pipe
A traveller in Arixona was told BY Ioy-
a denizen Of one Of those oe-begone,
drouth-stricken, Greaser-infssted towns,
that the place was al right except in one
or two particulars. "AIl it needs.'' be
said. ssis more water and . little better
society"
Randolph leads the world in society, TO
be sure, but is nearly as destiture Of wa
ter as the Arizona town aforesaid. In
deed, for a few days the past week 1t
looked as though our citizens would 20
as dry as the proverbiaI Goldfish.
The newly acquired Soper springs were
connected in and the water started week
ago Sunday. The condition Of the,
reservoir was then not bad. and with
tkis addition 3 gain was looked for. But
almost Immediately the water level began
to lower with startling rapidity. As this
came in conjunction with the very cold
snap Of early last week, the loss was
attributed to the practice some water
patrons have of letting faucets run at
night to prevent freezing, and notice
was given that this must be stopped.
An inspection OF every house in the viii
lage was made to check any waste o.
water, and some losses Of this kind were
discovered. But altogether il did not seem
10 fully account for the condition, nor
did the reforms achieve the desired result.
Finally, at = meeting Of the water COM
missioners Friday forenoon, It was voted,
a. q last resort, in order to prevent the
freezing OF the village mains and the
possible deskruction OF much Of the sys-
tenn, as wen as to provide the water
actually needed by patrons, to pump
from the branch into the main. A loca-
tion was selected opposite School street,
on land Of "a. r. Preston, where II
wns planned to run the village road
roller, whose 25-horsspower engine is
adapted 10 any work Of this nature. A
four-inch pipe was be laid to the School
street main and a large pump secured,
TO be run By tie roller engine. The
point chosen was in the running stream
above the mill pond setback, and likely to
be Is free from contamination at this sea-
son OF the year as any open brook or
river. It was also voted to purchase Of the
Sargent, Osgood q Roundy company an
eight-hor1spower Abenaque ghsolsne en-
gine to BE- installed at the Forest street
reservoir. This reservoir had flied, but
the water was 90 strongly imrregnsted
with lime nn a1dopnt Of the cement used
in lining i that 4 ives unht to drink,
and required 70 b smpllsd and filed
again.
Sunday. there was only sman stream
running across the bottom or reser-
voir and into the outlst Ptrainef mo
supply Whslerfr IN csss Of nrt. The water
commissioners. ALREADY acquainted with
TIE fert thak IDA pipe leading from the
HepGr springN bad fttzsn early 81 TIE
week. decided to make thorough inspec-
tlon Of the whole eastern feed supply and
see II all the water normally recsived
from that direction was coming. They
scun ascsrtained that there was trouble on
Tisson fiat q little distance uD on the
tws-inch pipe above its junction with the
four-inch pipe. No water at ali was COM
ing from the Morse and Damon springs,
which, with the loss OF the soper springs.
meant q cutting on Of seven springs in all
for q full week and easily explained the
drop in the reservoir level. The pipes
were evidently frozen, and break was
found part way up the Slack hill. with
the water escaping. It was ct first sup
posed to be due to the cold weather and
the sluggish running of the diminished
flow in the pipes, but the commissioners
found another cause for il presently The
gate at the Tilson bridge had been shut OF
when the Soper pipe was connected and
was still closed last Sunday, cutting on
the whole supply above and explaining
the freezeup. 1t developed that work
man had been told to turn on the gate,
but had forgotten or neglected or failed
to do so, and the break had resulted in
consequence. Monday, it was but the
work OF a few hours to thaw the pipe,
mend the break and restore the flow from
the Morse and Damon springs. A percep-
tibis gain in the reservoir ensued, and is
continuing. Ire danger point has not
been passed yet, but with care and atten-
tion to prevent waste, there Is good pros
pect ahead.
In view Of this turn in events, the CON-
missioners have decided to hold in abey-
ance their plans for pumping from the
branch. They win relay the pipe from
the Soper spring, which was consider
ably shattered By its freezing, putting in
a smaller pipe to awe faster flow and
possibly placing the pipe few inches
underground. This viii give about ten
gallons q minute. The Forest street
reservoir viii be ready to empty in q day
or two, probably as soon as the new en-
i A AA4E IaI 0AAAHG anu 0N 3NA - ~ AAH
water added to the system ought to help
materially. The plan is to pump this
water in as fast rs the reservoir fills. once
in four or five days, as long as needed.
The White Cross Milk company is ne
gotiating for 3 supply OF water for its fac
tory from the Moulton farm opposite. and
Manager Miller, as well as the dairy pa
irons OF this concern, hopes it may be
effected.
H. M. Totman's recently acquired
spring supply for his greenhouses has
failed, the pipe freezing and the spring
playing out.
Randolph High School.
This is the week Of exams, also the
week Of many TROUBLES.
The style Of wearing the hair down the
back lasted only one day.
The Senior class gives 3 social dance to-
morrow night ct Grange hall Refresh
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