The Detroit times., 1912-07-10
INCREASED PRESSURE
CAUSED BREAK OF MAIN
West Side Main Had Been
Closed, Without Precautions,
Short Time Before Break

The probable cause OF the break
in the 42-lnch water main In Cadi''
lac-ave., was revealed 10 the Boaru
OF Water Commissioners, Tuesday al
ternoon. when inquiries developed the
fact that about 10 minutes prior TO
the break. water main on Warren.
ave, west side, was closed, without
proper precautions having been taken
TO have the pressure reduced. After
hearing the statements OF Engineer
Fenkell and Assistant Engineer He.
witt. members OF the board, were In
clined TO believe that the water back
ed UP and caused the break in the
Cadillac-ave main.
Hewitt stated that he and other
employees OF the board were working
on the main at Warren and Calumet
aves. and that the foreman. Gerald
O'Halloran, had notified the pumping
station that morning that a section
OF the main would be turned off
about o'clock In the evening. O'Hal-
loran told Hewitt that he had also no.
titled the station few minutes be-
fore the main was closed. The pur-
pose OF notifying the station was to
reduce the pressure correspondingly
so as not to subject the other por-
tions OF the system TO abnormal pres
sure.
The inquiry then narrowed down
10 the question. as TO whether the
pressure was reduced. Fenkell stat
ed that he had made two unsuccess-
ful efforts, Tuesday, 10 interview Jorn
Hilger, Jr.. who was in charge OF the
station at the time the main broke.
The most information he got. he said,
was that he understood Chief Engi-
neer Gould said he had been told that
the pressure mad been reduced by
half shortly before the break. The
commissioners expressed great sur
prise that the employees had not made
certain Of such an important matter.
Neither Hilger, Gould nor O'Halloran
We're at the meeting.
Engineer Hewitt stated he thought
the overpressure caused by closing
the main would have been sufficient
10 cause the break, several miles
away. Fenkell was skeptical and in
clined to doubt that it was sufficient.
but he did not venture an opinion as
to the cause. The coincidence OF the
break and seeming carelessness or
employees was significant to the com
missioners and they gave orders de-
signed 10 prevent such accidents in
the future Commissioner Brady
made the suggestion that those IN
charge OF work on the mains, be re-
Quired TO notify those in charge OF
the pumping station several hours
before the mains are closed, and that
the order be written on a blackboard,
with the time, so that all the em-
ployes may take notice. AS an add!-
tional precaution, the employees will
be required to notify the main Office
The fact that people are using wa
ter 10 sprinkle their lawns during
prohibited hours brought the sugges-
| ton from Commissioner Gillespie that
in such Instances the consumers be
required to install meters. The cor
Doration counsel was asked for an
opinion as TO whether consumers can
be required by law to cease the use
OF water during certain hours of the
day. as requested by the board.
Commissioner Gillespie read the
names OF 15 business concerns which
refuse TO install meters and there
rates were raised so per cent.
Thomas B. Barrett was appointed
messenger for the main office at a
salary OF SIS month. This is new
position.
The Detroit Trust Co.'S bid for
s24O,OOO. per cent. 20-year bonds,
was accepted. The company bid par
and offered a premium OF s25l.