The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-31
FURNISHES WATER
TO ARID SECTIONS
DenisOn, Tex, Ships Liquid
TO Surrounding Towns.
IT HAS AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY
Railroads Provide Tank Cars and
Minimum Freight Rates Over Their
Drought Is Relieved from Deep
Wells of Fortunate City.

/ Three water trains, OF twenty to thirty
tanks each. have been leaving Denisou
= daily for the past three months TO sup
ply number Of places with water.
! Early in the summer calls began %
pour in on the Denison city commission
asking for water, as the supply in many
Of the smaller towns was diminishing so
rapidly that il was thought necessary
to get outside assistance. The drought
continued. and at last the water situa-
tlon became desperate. The Missouri.
Kansas and Texas put on two water
trains. making daily runs 20 supply
these towns with water and a num-
Der OF railroad tanks which were
unable TO get further water from
the pools and wells which formerly sup
piled them. The Texas and Pacific was
another road which found It necessary TO
install a water train. and this has been
making regular trips for some time past
THE City with the Water supply has
been the advertisement OF the DensOn
Board Of Trade for some time past, and
this fact has been fully demonstrated
during the past dry season. Reports
from the DenlsOn city water department
show that 250.OOa gallons daily have been
hauled out OF DenisOn 10 supply other
places that had no water. This daily
average foots up 70 a grand total Of
over 12.5)0000.
Trains Make Regular Trips.
The water trains made regular trips,
one being made at night and one during
the day In many instances the water
trains were met by delegations of people
with buckets and other receptacles. and
upon the train coming 20 standstl
there was a wild scramble 20 get 20 the
tanks so that their slender supply might
be once more replenished for the next
twelve hours. These water trains pre-
sent q peculiar appearance, as every
available engine tender or oil tank was
pressed into service and the supply
was further augmented by the erection
of three or four wooden tubs or tanks on
fiat cars.
The cars composing this train are
spotted" at convenient points IN the
katy yards IN Denisou. and are filed
by force OF men from the supply fur
nished from the city water mains. As
soon as all these tanks are filed the
train gets its clearance and starts on It's
trip. Upon arrival al the places where
the water Is needed 10 is drawn or rapid
ly by syphOuS or 10y hose connected with
holes near the bottom OF the tubs or
tanks and In some cases it IS pumped by
the engine.
Reports from the city water depart
ment show that between 100000 and
2oQQ0,000 gallons a month are pumped for
the supply Of the city. the railroads. and
the various towns being supplied with
Denison water. This figure is secured
after allowing 10 per cent for slippage,
and IL IS stated that the slippage Is prob
ably not this much, thus increasing the
amount Of water pumped each month.
Railroad Uses Much Water.
The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Rail-
road has been using about 100000 gal
Ions Of city water a month. and this sup
ply has been supplemented by the water
pumped by the "Kayts" private plant.
Early in the summer the city commits
sion announced that water would be fur
uished at rate Of 10 cents per 1000 gal
Ions TO all that desired It. and the rail-
roads put on a low rate for hauling this
water IL o~der that there would be no
suffering from lack OF it. The follow
ing towns have taken advantage OF this
chance 10 secure water from Denlson: /
Caddo Mills. Royse City. Leonard. Bells. /
Fate, Floyd. BurrCw. ard other towns
that have not been taking the water
regularly. From October l3 20 70 In
elusive go cars of water were shipped
out 233 cars being for railroad use and
Is cars for the towns
one OF the peculiar features Of the
water shortage was "a call sent IN from
the Ignite Company. at Waxahachie. 10
put out an immense fire in the mine