The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-03
WATER FAMINE
Make Mills Shat Down For Want Of
Power.
CITIES NEED WATER

Charlotte is Without Water, While
Other Cities Daily Lessen Their
Supply.--Water Being Shipped to
Stricken Districts in Tank Cars.
IA dispatch from Charlotte, N. c.,
says as a climax to the unprecedent-
ed drought this section Is experience
Ing, one hundred and fifty-two cotton
mills in North and South Carolina
shut down Monday because the wat
er in Catawba River is so low that
the Southern Power Company cannot
supply the plants with power.
1t is estimated that 10000 operat-
ives are thrown out Of employment.
1t is expected that work will be re-
sumed in a few days. 1t has been
many weeks since rain of any conse-
ouence has fallen, and local weather
bureau records show now deficiency
Of so per cent in precipitation for
this section. Creeks which have not
gone dry in forty years are mud
holes, and the distress among the
rural population, dependent for wat
er on wells, Is great.
Mountain streams to the west, up
on which many Touring mills, tan
neries ard cotton mills are dependent
for power, have dwindled to mere
brooks in some instances, and many
foreign enterprises have been forced
to shut down. Crops in this immed-
late section are burning up In the
fields. Many farmers in this and ad-
joining counties, despairing Of corn
crop, have chopped down the young
corn and are using it for feed, while
the hot winds are playing havoc with
cotton.
Cities and towns 70 the north and
west of Charlotte are facing the or
deal of a water famine that this city
/ is now experiencing. Concord,
Wadesboro, Monroe and other towns
are facing the water supply problem,
and measures Of economy are being
enforced.
The situation in Charlotte is not
improved, although the authorities
are working night and day on the
problem. Feeling that the distress
is not being relieved as promptly
as was hoped by means of tank care,
the. offers of water, from Gastonia,
Shelby and Lincolnton were accept
ed, and tank cars brought in $4,000
gallons from Gastonia. This was
pumped into the mains of the city by
means OF the engines. 1t is hoped by
Wednesday to resume an economic
service through the mains. 1t has
cen cut off since early Friday.
Special prayer services for rain
have been held in churches through
out the section. There was brief
shower Monday and a light rain
fell Monday night, with atmospf eric
ctl ditions t''at promise re'ie:.
A message from Columbia says:
Any aid that Columbia can render
was offered to the authorities OF
Charlotte Monday by the water-works
department of Columbia, and the CITY
council, at special meeting, cordial,
ly endorsed this action. Columbia
offered to ship either raw or filter
ed water to Charlotte in tank cars in
any quantity. Councilman Superin-
tendent VIM. F. Stieglitz and Engi.
neer Superintendent F. C. Wyes, OF
the Columbia department, left Tues
day for Charlotte to look into the sit
uation.
The Columbia water supply is
drawn from Saluda River and is be-
lieved to be ample for the local re-
quirements for some years to come
although council is now considering
the advisability OF acquiring the Con
garee Creek watershed for the de-
man::s of the future. The Saluds
River water is brought to the $780,.
900 pumping and filtering plant
built few years ago, near the Peni'
tentiary, by means Of a double line oi
large intake pipes, which cross Broad
River, just above the confluence o,
the Saluda and the Broad, which a
this point unite to form the Cougar
&C. In midsummer the local water
consumption often reaches 4,000,
900 gallons. The pumping capacity
of the plant is about 100000 gal
Ions, and it is likely another biz
pump will be installed rext year.
To relieve the water famine, from
which the citizens Of Charlotte arc
now suffering, 100000 gallons Of
| Asheville will be shipped to Char
lotte. A daily supply Of like quaint
ity will be sent to Charlotte, in the
event that the situation there re
quire it.