Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-07
STREETS WASHED
DowDpour This Noon Caused Trouble For Trolley Cars
 Much Damage Done.

opeaKing dDout deluge one
 struck this city to-day about 11:50
 and although it lasted only 15 min
 utes, it raised the "old nick" with
 the streets, put a wrinkle in the
 trolley service for a time, caused
 many people to miss their lunch and
 made it disagreeable for everybody
 in general. Nevertheless it was a
 much needed shower and in addi,
 tion to doing wonders for the crops,
 it helped a little at our reservoirs, | which are badly in need of assist
 ance. The weather was rather gloomy all morning but it was only a few minutes before the storm that
 the clouds became really heavy, Then the gates were opened and how
 1t did come down. It seemed as
 though half a dozen rivers were flowing onto West Main street.
 All rivers meet at sea and this
 morning West Main street was the
 sea. Prospect street was one of
 the main tributaries and it rattled
 down with its cargo of sand and stones in manner that would do
 credit to North Willow street. Leavenworth street was also well supplied win water which steered clear of the catch basins and has, tened on to the miniature lake in front of St Johns church.
 Did 1t not make you think you were in Venice as you passed the
 church? Water a couple of feet on all sides of you, yes it was a rifle dirty but then the iL,aginati Tl had to be stretched only a little. The way the trolley car rocked sure ly made you think you were on a boat.
 What a grand sight it was to watch the rolling waters rattling down Central avenue, racing as it were to be the first to fill up the bottom of State street. It is really delightful to wade through State ctreet after heavy downpour. This noon a fakir with bathing suits would have disposed of much of his stock.
 What Is the man with the meg aphone on the front end of the car saying?" Wait until you see North Willow?' Why here We are, SO soon." In order that the passen- gers may get a good view the car is stalled here for a quarter of an hour. Meanwhile the crew with shovels try to locate the switch.
 As one young lady alighted near Hillside avenue her sleeve caught in part of the car-big rip--but she took 1t very good naturedly. But North Willow street between Johnson and Ridgewood received an awful do- ing up. The water rushed along the street with such force that practically all work done by the Warren Broth CTS was ripped up. The company had the street all graded to lay the foun- dation for the paving but this will have to be done once more. This makes the third time that the com pany had the grading ready and the rain came along and rendered it use less. The workmen this morning in an effort to keep the water from the gutter so as not to wash away the curb threw ties and paving blocks into the stream, but these were car ried down as though they were little sticks. Ten double teams with about half hundred men have been work ing on the street getting 1t ready for the ravirg for the past week. conee- quently the storm cost the company a .-..... l.lUuey,
 The catch basins were not able to take care of water that rushed down the side streets and that is why such a large quantity of water found its way to the center.
 Field street was badly gullied. For a distance of about twenty feet op- posite the property of Thomas Nc Kenna the walk caved in, the flags dropping anywhere from one to two feet. The city is paving the gutters and straightening the curb, and while they are at 1t they ought to lay a new walk for the entire length of the street and throw away the old flags. Several driveways in that street should be paved with bricks or Belgian blocks if the walks are to be kept in anything like decent shape.
 Lounsbury street from South Main street to a point above River. street Is in a shocking condition. and unless It is repaired right away it would be a good plan to order 1t closed and keep it barred up until it Is worked to grade. curbed and guttered.
 A few things happened al noon during the heavy downponr in the neighborhOod of the Odd Fellows \ horse pulling a light ex- press wagon was walking slowly down North Main street when some one shouted Stop that horse" The man who Is always ready to do . good turn ran out into the deluge 10 stop the horse when a vofc. l eame from under a tarpaulin that was faid over the wagun. "Let him alone, he's all right. butterin." Won tering where the voice came iron, l he man stood in surprise until the ] wheel of the wagon coming in con lact with his corporation brought 1 him tc
 The horse passed along slowly and I when ft reached the corne- of The green cut ran one uf the trolley I starters to stop it- He vas taken l lT hls fee. also when he vas sa- uted by the voice from under the srpaa'il- The next 70 hEura in the I