The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-01-03
Water
When 1t Won't Rain, What
Shall We Do? Mayor
Writes Letter on
Subject.
Editor Post:

This town has splendid
water system, expect that dur
ing extreme drouth the supply
falls short. Twice during the
past summer it barely stood in
the upper stories Of Poplar Hill
residences and failed for three
weeks on lmboden Hill. Ii the
furnace had been in operation
and taking water, no doubt
large part of town would have
been without water. In for
mer years, when the furnace
was in operation and was sup
piled from the towns water
system trouble was much more
frequent than has been the case
since.
But if a drouth is prolonged
and severe the supply falls short
even if the furnace is idle. We
had such "A drought in the
spring and summer of 1914.
Such expedients as were quick
IL available were resortcd to
but apparently with little sue.
cess. There was considerable
discussion at the time but that
seemed to subside when the
rains came and the supply be-
came adequate.
If the town is going to take
steps to remedy the situation
and secure supply OF good
water during extreme dronths
it should formulate plans and
execute them before the drouth
comes, as there il no time for
such action when the scarcity
is upon us. About all that can
be done then is to grunblc and
blame the town authorities.
Now let us sec what the town
authorities have within their
reach with which to remedy the
situation.
First; They have good
pump with all accessories ON
Butchers Fork W here the
mains cross it, all connected up
ready for use. There is always
plenty of water there and the
pump is of sufficient capacity to
supply the town. But the
trouble about that arrangement
is that the Board of Health will
not permit that water to be
pumped into the mains on the
ground that'it is impure. SO
much then for Butchers Fork
Second; There are several big
limestone springs accessible,
any of which would be ample,
but here again the Board OF
Health interfercs because of
impurity;and serious considcra-
ton must be given to amy
proposition that involves the
contamination of the mans aud
supply pipes.
Third; Roaring Branch, in
the Gap, would afford consider
able water during the time that
our mains are full but when n
severe drouth comes 1T goes al
most out of business, and that
is the only time we are interest
ed.
Fourth; The South Fork of
Powell River would he perfer-
able 10 the North Fork but mel
ther il worth serious considera
ton because of contamination.
Fifth; III looking further
failed to find any water of any
consequence except at the very
place where we draw our sup
ply from. There is always
some water there, no matter
how long the drouth, but not
enough for our wants. To this
has been added at one time by
pumps what was afforded by
Two springs each of which
would fill or rather was thought
would fill, two inch pipe, but
while such streams looka i'm
portant, they prove 80, disap-
pointing when used to 'E5ply
town of this size. En-
So, there seems to DO Bt on
ly two ways, one to@ink a
deep we'll in the hope OF Hriking
a sufficient supply OH water
which can be pumpedY or to
store water in time of B plenty
and release iG in time of ascarci-
ty. 1t was with the idea of
storing that the reservoir back
of lmboden Hill was construct
ed twelve years anl at n inn.t