The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-06-22
Accident Occurs Near Wat
er Company's Plant.
BREAK BtIsG REPAIRED
Stand Pipe and Water
Mains Are Drained.
Work Of Repairing Damage is Im-
mediateIy started---How Long Ma
rion WIN he without Water Is Not
Known--Rcpairs May he Made To-
night or Tomorrow Morning.
Citizens Suffer.

Marion was converted into n vcrl-
table desert as far as the water sup
ulY was concerned, yesterday after
noon about o'clock. when an acci-
dent occurred at the plant Of the Ma
rion Water company Since that time
the city has been without fire pro-
lection. excepting that which the els
terms in the up town districts AFFORD.
The stand pipe and the water mains
are drained an dthe source OF water
supply was shut off entirely when the
dredge Of the Foohev Dredging COM
pany sthruck the water main crossing
the Little Scioto river and ripped
a hole in the pipe.
After much discussion between
Countl Surveyor ,Aut. hhe eounty
commissioners. the surveyors and the
water company and the dredging com
pany. permission was granted the
dredge to cross the water main with
the dredge. The old main which eros
ses the river about two feet under
ground was to be lowered Or stretch
ed" as the engineers term the work.
For some reason this work was not
completed.
Yesterday II was decided to cross
the water main and commence work
on the south side.
The Water Main IL Crossed.
The crossing of the main was sue
cessfully accomplished and work be-
gun on the other side when the ac-
cideh. occurred. The dredge was
stopped about three feet from the
pipe line and set in motion. To pre-
vent the upsetting OF the boat i'm
which the machinery floats there are
two heavy timbers placed in a peri
pendicular position at the two front
corners of the boat. In the rear, there
Is third piece OF timber running
from the rear end Of the boat to the
bottom of the river These timbers
or "spuds' as they are called. are
placed in this position to prevent the
upsetting of the dredge while IN
operation. an".i ''' hfi i.fn- /,
when the heavy dipper Is loadeh,
the spuds hold the boat In position.
But when the dirt 81 released from
the clipper, the front end OF the boat
sinks While the rear end Is elevated
above the surface Of the water.
This was what happened yesterday.
While the dredge was in opera tion. as
the dirt was Released from the dip
per. the rear spud was thrown in the
direction OF the pipe and struck the
main. ripping large hole In the pipe,
, from which the water Immediately
began pouring forth. r. Petee, en-
gineer at the water works plant. was
the first to notice the water stream
ing out Of the pipe The water com
pany was Immediately notified and
the water shut off.
stand Pipe Drained.
The capacity OF the stand pipe Is
about $4,000 gallons hut this wa
ter and the water in the mains was
soon drained. In one hour and thirty
five minutes after the accident occur
red, the standpipe was empty. Dur
ing that time the pressure, which
Is usually 45 pounds, sank to zero.
The daily consumption Of water In
/ the city averages 100000 gallons
The reserve supply In the stand pipe
would scarcely hll the water mains
after they are emptied. j
The factories in the city. which
draw their water supply from well In
their own plants, began pumping
water into the city mains last night
endeavorlng 10 help the situation. Ten
pounds Is the maximum pressure,
which can be maintained In this way.
II Is insufficient 10 furnish the neces-
sary supply. The factories that ara
Pumping water into the mains are
the Marion Steam shovel company,
the Huber Manufacturing company,
the Marion Lumber and Coal com
many. aud Marion Light & Power com
pany. The Marion steam Shovel COM
pany has two two and one-half incn
mains leading into the city mains,
Repair Work Started.
As soon as the accident occurred
a force of men was set at work to re-
pair the damaged pipe. The task Is
unusually difficult as the break ls
under ten feet OF water, The dredge- |
men began Immediately To build a
dam north OF the main to shut out
.he water and revert the stream back
into the old bed, A dam Is being con-
structed on the south side OF the leak
and pumps are ready to drain the
water from the space between the two |
dams so that II will be possible for
the workmen to repair the damakod
parts Of the pipe
superintendent Kelly was unable "a
state today at what time the repairs
viii be made and the water turned
back into the mains Much depends
on the success Of the construction oi
the dams. II the dams DO not hold,
the city win be without water for
TWO or three days.
citizens have suffered In many ways
because Of the lack Of water supply,
The wells in the city have been taxed
to their capacity but the people own
ing them have been exceedingly gen
erous and up TO the present time fe"
have gone thirsty.