Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-16
YOUR FA is
DON'T WASTE WATER
Letting Water Run Creates
Dearth---SOuth Salem Goes
Utterly Dry

Through u combination of circum.
stances, which could not have been
foreseen by the company officials, cul.
minated by the visitation of the cold
snap which caused the people all over
the city to turn on their faucets to save
freezing and a possible plumbers bill,
the entire city Of Salem found itself
practically without water this morning,
the water company big reservoir was
drained of the last drop and the filter
ing crib in the river bar refused to give
up any water Had fire occurred in
the downtown district this morning.
the fire department would have been
absolutely helpless beyond the use of
the chemical apparatus, and the city
would have been ut the mercy Of the
fire element.
Complaints poured into the railroad
commission in such volume and FIRE.
quency this morning that that body be.
gan an investigation and ascertained,
through the explanation Of the water
company, that it was due to u peculiar
combination Of circumstances which
rendered the plant unable to cope with
the situation under these conditions,
but they have installed their emer.
gency equipment, used during the
height of the irrigation season, and ex.
pect with the cooperation Of the con.
sumers, to have the situation well in
hand during the day. Railroad Com.
missioner Campbell stated, in com.
menting upon the seriousness Of the sit.
uation this morning, that il was his
belief that It would ultimately bring
about the general adoption Of the me
tered or measured service which, in his
opinion, was the only solution to the
difficulty.
Plenty Of Water Tomorrow.
He pointed out that the company
had any serious loss been sustained bJ
( reason Of the conditions rs they exist
. ed this morning, would have undoubt
edlg been liable for not providing
against just such an emergency, bui
explained that the company had no
b. only been imposed upon by the city II
its corporate capacity, but also by tn,
consumers in opening their faucets ant
letting the water run to protect them
selves against loss on account Of cheal
and improper plumbing, which the,
would not have done if they had bee
placed upon the meter rate. It was
condition, he said, which may neve
! occur again, and again II might occu
at any time, and he believed the com
pony would be justified in putting O.
an inspector and every time the,
caught anyone leaving their water ru
to prevent freezing Of pipes the
should be cut off and the service no
renewed except under an irou.clad con
o tract guaranteeing adequate and pre-
. per plumbing.
). Combination Of Circumstances
o Manager Paul Wallace explained I
n the commission that few days ag
7 and prior TO the cold snap, the waite
= in the mill race which supplies powc
J. for the pumping station was shut Of
for "a hours to permit the city to d
u some cement work upon n street eros,
= ing or conduit and again for l2 hour
!, to permit the Kay woolen mills to NAL,
u repairs to It's flumc and dam, whic
@ brought about q considerable drain NJ
on the reserve supply in the reservoi
Then came the cold snap and the pc,
Pile turned on the faucets and let III
II wntcr run over night for two night
D, In succession with the result that III
Il supply wus completely exhausted In ii
II reservoir and when the pumping plnr
l. Wng act 70 work unnu ihp filioring nri