The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-26
Barre's Water Supply Has
Been Reduced to 16
10 Inches
~AILY CONSUMPTION
TWICE THE INFLOW
City Officials Confer and
Look for Other Possible
Sources

/ Barre is racing the most serious water
situation in years Water in the Orange
reservoir, the city's principal source and
at the present time the only source that
isn't neglible in supplying the eonsum
ers, has sunk below the danger point
| The maximum howage into the artificial
lake at Orange is hardly 30 per cent of
the daily consumption and the official
depth as registered yesterday was only
l6 feet and 10 inches.
These facts concerning the water SIT
uation came out this morning as a re.
suit of an interview with Supt. IL. T.
Reynolds of the water department and
n. ID. Phelps, former superintendent
OF water and man whose opinion IN
the situation cannot be questioned. 'The
danger point has been reached, said Mr.
Phelps this forenoon, 'and an approxi-
mate estimate of the total fowage is
hardly equivalent to 80 per cent of the
total consumption In the last two
weeks the water has fallen steadily and
now the city faces not only the possibil-
ity of near famine but would be placed
in a dangerous situation should fire
of any proportions break out Continu-
ing, Mr. Phelps stated: "a serious fire,
tAE blhC VI Niiltu iJhilt sGihbiH 1ttss
would necessitate the Use of water III
such quantities that the situation would
be rendered actually acute"
These observations were made as the
result of an inspection tour made at the
Orange water shed yesterday by the wa
ter superintendent, Mr.. Phelps, Chair
man John f. Hoban and Alderman Pat
terson of the aldermanic water commit
tee, and City Engineer George A. Reed
The ground at Orange was thoroughly
traversed and the Investigators early
reached the conclusion that the most
drastic steps possible would soon be tax
en- if the present drouth continues This
is taken to mean that the manufacturing
plants would be compelled to shut down;
indeed, it is stated authoritatively that
such a consummation will be imperr-
tive within few days at least unless
conditions are improved by rain.
Not since April has there been more
than one rainfall of any account. A lew
weeks ago a single forenoon witnessed
the heaviest shower of the season. At
that time everyone of the eity's reser-
voirs was filled to the brim, but a pro
longed period of aridnesS followed and
the conditions eXtant today were only
postponed The rain of Friday night,
here in the city, did not al
feet the Orange water shed owing to its
local nature The city officials are APP
prehensive of the most deplorabe re-
suits should the drouth continue much
longer and even now unusual precautions
have been taken to conserve the pres
ent supply.
Yesterday the superintendent and en-
gineer paid visit to Pigeon pond, a
body of water lying a few miles back
Of the Orange reservoir. 1t was sug-
gested that in an emergency water
could be drawn through pipes to the
Orange intake. The project died aborn-
ing, however, for careful inspection
Of the 49-aere sheet known as Pigeon
pond convinced the men that the plan
would not be feasible. In it's deepest
place, the pond measured only % feet
and soundings were taken in several sec
tions. Moreover, there is very little
water flowing into the pond and in the
opinion of the investigators the entire
contents of the pond would amount 10
almost nothing in alternating the present
situation.
In its most serious aspects the sit
lation confronting the city concerns the
of every man. Just so long as
he dry conditions prevail, the authori-
les say, the question of fire protection
5 largely matter of conjecture. SUI
Reynolds has posted man
il East Barre to remain throughout the
light. In case of fire he is to increase
he pressure and reduce the same when
he danger has passed and the demand
or water curtailed. That the fire pro-
ection at its present high standard and
he normal supply of water cannot be
ogether maintained much longer is ;he
ecision of the superintendent and his
dvisors, briefly stated. Either the one
must be lowered or the other greatly
urtailed if satisfactory solution is TO
e reached.