New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-28
WESTCHESTER STILL DRY
Some Relief Given to Mount Yer
non by Supply from New York.
BUT MUCH MORE is NEEDED
Schools and Factories Closed,
While Special Precautions Are
Taken Against Fire.

Although the water famine in Mount
Vernon was somewhat relieved yesterday
by tapping one of the big New York City
mains between East Chester and Pelham
Manor and pumping the water in the
Pelham reservoir, the situation is still Sc
rious. as the supply so far has proved TO
be Inadequate in other sections of West
chester County. where there is also short
age of water The conditions for fort
night have been serious in the extreme.
and at least one hundred and fifty thou
sand persons are affected by the shortage.
while the danger in the case of fire grows
constantly.
Mayor Edwin w Fiske Of Mount Yer
non, who worked all Monday night 20
alleviate the famine and watched the tap
ping of the New York supply. permission
for which he had previously obtained from
Water Commissioner Thompson, was on
the firing line yesterday without wink
of sleep. The situation in Mount Vernon
was better than on Monday, as there was
water on the first floor of all homes, but
the pressure low that there was
no water In bathrooms on the second
floors in many parts of the city until last
night.
Between fifty thousand and sixty thou
sand gallons we're pumped hourly from the
New York City main into the Pelham res
ervoir. and by nishtfal1 there was nearly
a million gallons there. Mount Vernon
normally uses 5000 900 gallons a day BY
to-day Mayor Fiske said he expected
500. 600 gallons will be running into the
reservoir daily.
Schools Closed Again.
closed Yesterday because of the shortage
of water When the children reached the
schools they we're told there would be no
school. and they trooped back to their
homes through the dusty streets. The
factories were also closed.
Thousands have gone thirsty and bath
less and been exposed to the dangers Of
water which is contaminated since the
famine began 10 make itself felt. Fam
flies Of from three to seven persons have
had TO get along on two pals of water
dav
The fire situation Is not improved. and
Chief Howard of Mount Vernon says 1T
is oS great Importance that the people con-
tinue TO take extra precautions against
fire The chief has now ordered that three
instead of two chemical companies an
swer every minor alarm. The sprinkling
wagon. filled with water. that is at head
quarters ready to go out on an alarm, 1s
to supply water to replenish the chemicals
in the wagons. The chemical wagons will
be the reliance of the fire fighting force
until more water is secured. The sanitary
inspectors and helpers were at work yes
terday morning digging out acCumula-
tons from the manholes and scattering
disinfectants to prevent an epidemic.
Mayor Fiske and the authorities were
disguised yesterday when they heard of
the waste of water through the city on
Monday Many persons had left facets
in the yards open, and when some of the
new supply of water was pumped into the
mains and some pressure came on water
Immediately began to flow and much was
wasted. 1t is expected that pumps Will be
working al Pelham to-day and 100000 gal
Ions will he pumped from a score of ar
tesian wells owned by William Hobby.
which have been sold to the water COM
pany for this emergency.
Some Water from Tsrrytown.
In order to supply Hastings. Dobbs Ferry
and Ardsley the Westchester County Cham
her of Commerce. through its representa-
tives. was able to get a million gallons of
water a day from the Tarrytown Water
Company, and this water is running into
the Ardsley reservoir. three million gal
lon pump is being installed at Ardsley. on
the Saw Mill River. where IT is planned
to pump water from the stream into tho
mains of the Consolidated Water Company.
This water will be allowed TO escape into
the Saw Mill River from the Croton Aque-
duct at the Pocantico blowout. This Will
give Mount Vernon and neighboring towns
a plentiful temporary supply, but unless
rain comes soon many of the reservoirs
which are now low will be empty.
The Westchester County Chamber of
Commerce has called the attention OF Eu-
gene =. Porter. State Commissioner of
Health. to the action of the Consolidated
Water Company In emptying Pocantico
Lake, near the estate of John D. Rockefe-
Ter, which supplies Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley
and Hastings, and the resultant presence
of dead fish along the shores and bottom
of this reservoir.
Commissioner Porter replied that the
presence of the dead fish would be very
unpleasant, but that there would be no
particular danger of disease as result