The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-08-09
FACTS REGARDING
WATER SHORTAGE

'HNtOo thC HcoCtdlt WAS OH the ROAD To
upper Bridge street, it having been
ascertained that the fire was on the
premises OF Chris Diess. Upon the ar
rivai or the hosecart at the scene, it
was discovered that a small cabin in
the rear of the Diess residence was
ablaze and that the fire had gained
such headway that the small structure
was doomed. The hose was connected
to a hydrant at the corner of Upper
Bridge and Railroad streets. when it
was ascertained that there was no wa.
ter available. BY using water that
neighbors had stored in buckets and
washtubs and shoveling on dirt, the
fire was soon extinguished. having been
confined to the cabin. Mr.. Diess es
Inmates his loss on the building, furni-
ture, clothing, etc, at $500. with no
insurance.
There having been considerable ad-
verse criticism of the Water & Light
company for its failure to have water
available, W. l.. Akin, superintendent
OF the company, was seen this morning
by representative of the Silver State.
and had the following to say in regard
to the situation:
At the time of the blaze last Sun
day the Water company had available
900 gallons of water. The first in
timation We had of the fire at the pow
erhouse was when a man rode up on
horseback and informed us of the fact.
and the water was Immediately turned
on. There is a telephone stationed at
the hosehouse for the express purpose
of turning in alarms. and had this been
hn 4
able before the hosecart had reached
the fire.
"After the blaze had been extin.
guished | took walk about the streets
and found that every hose down town
was running at full capacity"
Asked as to the truth of the state
ment published in a local paper to the
effect that the town was absolutely
without fire protection. Mr.. Akin re.
Piled
1.-The story is unqualiiedlv false
There is from 100000 to 100000 gal
Ions of water on hand night and dav
with which to fight fires. This is an
unusually dry season. with very little
water in the hills. and druing a portion
of the day the water is shut off in Ger
tain districts in order that this reserve
may be maintained for use in case of
fire. Within ten minutes from the time.
an alarm il turned in TO the power.
house from the hosehouse. night or
day. there will be in the neighborhood
Of 100000 gallons of water available.
While on this subject it may not
be out of place to state that if water
consumers would use ordinary prudence
IN the sDrinkling of lawns. it would
be unnecessary to shut the water off at
any tine during the "a hours. How.
ever. there are several hundred stands
of hose that are opened up at the be-
ginning of hot weather and never shut
off until fall. The only way this water
can be conserved for fire purposes is
for the company to shut off the
streets
Edward Reinhart. of the Water &
Light company stated that within the
Board Of Fire Underwriters of the
Pacific had examined the water plant
ard reported the same in a satisfac
tory condition.
Last spring the company purchased
the water rights in Thomas canpon,
in order that the town might have an
adequate supply of water for all pur
poses However in order to utilize
this new source ii will be necessary to
construct canal from Thomas to
Cross canvon, distance of four and
ore-half miles This has not been done
as vet. owing to the fact that condi-
tions have not been right. 1t is stated.
however. that the Improvement will
have been finished by the time the new
sewer IS COMPLETED. When this is
done the eomnanv will place meters on
all the taps Of the town and consumers
will lie allowed to use all the water
they wish and at the same time will be
REQUIRED 10 paw for 1T.
Compared with the cities of the
country the water rates in Winnemueca
are extremely reasonable. Here the
ordinary family paws a flat rate or
A.. so per month while in most cities OF
the country the same service wouid
cost considerably more. with the diff
ference that in the city any consumer
caught violating the rules would nave
his water shut off. in many eases per
manentlv.
That Winnemueea s fire protection is
considered adequate by the board or
fre underwriters is evidenced by the
fact that insurance rates are very mod
crate. considering the class of strue
tures. Referring to the board s print
cd schedules 1T is found that the rate
rms from 60 cents to $3.50 per hun.
ared with one or two higher rates. and
i l. extremely doubtful if this rate
wo,la he reduced even if the town
shonla have an unlimited water srnplv
81 IN
stataa in the paper referred TO above
~ tawn was absolutely without hre
protection, every pohcy IN ''"n
be cancelled within "a hours
x-pn nM rTRcT