Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-02
ALEXANDRIA, VA. WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2, 1911.
WATER SITUATION IS
BECOMING MORE SERIOUS,
Water Company May Draw Supply
From Hunting ---Predic-
tions of Rain Again Fail.

The anxiety concerning Alexanlria'
water supp y has not been relieved
and the same grave conditions face tn
community which were in evidence q
the beginning OF the week. Con
sumers are already experiencing in
convenience from the fact that waite
from spigots is flowing weakly, while
in some cases it is impossible to get j
to run in upper stories.
! The Weather Bureau predicted ram:
in all sections Of tie country yesterday
According to the forecasts, shower:
would fall last night or today. These
hopes have not been realized here
abouts. But . few more days can in
tervene before the supply OF Cameron
water will have been exhausted. Ol
course, the company can, as last re.
sort. have recourse to Hunting Creek
but, for many reasons it is best
to avoid this procedure il possible.
While there is decided aversion to
using creek water for drinking or cult
nary purposes, it is suggested that this
should be utilized for washing purposes
and at fires should occasion require. 1t
I is understood that the water company
! officials are considering the advisabilIty
r OF drawing upon the creek should such
q course bc deemed eXpcdient. OF
course, due notice would be given the
community should this be found in
evitab!e, in order that the water TO b."
used for drinking purposes might be
boiled.
There were decided signs OF rain
early last night when slate-colorcd
cloud appeared in the western heavens.
Lightning occasionally flashed from it,
but rs the night wore on the sky bc.
came clear and the stars shone out
brightly. There was reason to believe,
however, that there had been showers
somewhere west OF the city and that
probably our water sheds had been I'M
! proved somewhat.
Today broke clear with the mercury
at the eighty mark. No relief was i'll
sight.
Chief Gronau, of the fire department.
and the Board Of Fire Wardens have
issued rules that in the event Of 4 lire
east OF Pitt street, the Columbia tire
engine shall go to the river and relay
to the Reliance engine, which will be
stationed at the top OF the hill, and the
Reliance engine will supply the water
to the fire. The engines also have
orders to carry an extra supply OF
hose to meet any such emergency that
| may arise.
Walter Roberts, president of the
water company, in an interview this
morning said
"The unprecedented drought is the
| sole cause OF the lack OF water and it
is not correct to say that the company
| has been careless in making new CON
tracts for water which would require a
larger quantity than could ordinarily he
met by our supply. Last year was =
very dry year and We did not have any
trouble and consequently did not expect
any scarcity during the present season.
1t is true that We have larger number
| OF subscribers than ever on account OF
! the extension OF our mains into the
county but it must also be remembered
that some time ago we cancelled out
contract with the Southern Railway
which practically took one third ol
the entire amount Of water used in
| Alexandria.
The suggestion that has been in re-
ference to artesian wells We do moi
think is feasible. There is only one
we'll in this vicinity that has flow ol
good water although many have been
sunk. The Southern Railway has spent
thousands OF dollars in trying to get
water from this source and we have
watched their efforts with much inter.
terest
Some years ago our company pur,
chased the land and water rights in Fair
fax county near Bailey's Cross Roads
distance of six or seven miles from
Alexandria. for which we paid 500, 900
1t vas unr intention whenever the de
mand was sufficient to build 4 large
reservoir at that point which woulC
hold sufficient water TO last Alexandra
for year even if there we're no rain:
whatsoever. 1t will cost lis nearly
$3.50, 900 to carry out our plans ant
from our experience last year wc die
not think there vas any necessity loi
haste in The matter. That plan cannot
be considered during the present crisi:
and about all that one can do is to hops
for rain"
Mr.. Roberts denied that water haC
been cut off f.om the county subscriber:
but said that if it became necessity
they would be cut off before q famine
would be permitted in Alexandria. He
stated no water whatsoever is furnished
the Southern Railway or Potomac
| yards.