The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-07-30
WATER FAMINE
Continued from page OneJ

Experts in the employ OF the SANDER
son and Porter firm who are expert
enced in the repairing Of water pumps
have come 10 the assistance OF the
water authorities and are now on the
Job doing their best 10 relieve the sit
uatiOn.
Practically all OF the trouble here
tofore has been caused by bad boilers
which IS regarded as much more seri'
Gus than the defective water valves
which are the chief trouble now.
Il is not at all improbable that the
present water fannie will result in
complete rsyisement Of the water sys-
TEN in this city. The session OF the
Board OF Affairs yesterday was deyot-
cd almost entirely to a discussion OF
the serious water situatioI. Commits
sioner Smith was given authority 10
confer with George w. Fuller, one OF
the very best water system special
lists in the United States regarding
proper water system for Fairmont.
Mr.. Fuller will give the situation IN
this city his personal attention and
will make recommendation 10 the
city as TO what should be done.
As for immediate relief Commits
sioner Smith has ordered a new cleo
trical pump and will place an order i'm
mediately for a new boiler. This new
machinery will be installed just as
soon as possible.
The problem involved in working
out the water situation here will be
chiefly 20 devise some plan whereby
sufficient amount Of water may be Sc
cured which is free from the chemi-
Gals emptied into the rivers from the
mines. Many are of the opinion that
the pumping station should be moved
farther up the river above the King
mont mines. The moving OF the pump
station farther up the river would not
make il any farther TO the reservoir
and would provide supply OF water
free from chemicals.
The moving Of the pump station IS
sure 10 be one Of the ipmoTtant sub
iects 20 enter into the discussion Of
better water system.
Because Of the serious water situa'
ton complaint after complaint have
been heard from all sections Of the
city. The least complaint comes from
the East side where there has been
fairly good water supply. People re-
siding on the higher points Of the city
have had no water since last Tues
day morning. just one week from TO-
day. when the first trouble occurred.
The rain last evening saved many
people from going to work this morn
ing without washing Everywhere
people were out with tubs and buck
cts catching every drop OF water pos
sble.
In some sections OF the city where
there has been no water for a WeeH,
wells ard springs have been reported
dry. The use OF wells and springs
in the city, many OF which are con
t2minated may result in a continued
spread Of typhoid fever. People should
be unusually careful about the use OF
water from wells and springs as tests
completed recently show that many OF
the most popular wells and springs IN
the city are unsafe. Among the addi'
tional wells which have been found to
b. unsafe by ". b. harrington, assist
ant engineer Of tests for the Consolida-
ton Coal company are the following:
. PENNSYLVANIA avenue spring on main
road: a spring on Robinson street;
spring back OF Or. Jamison's resi-
dence: spring at the corner OF Mer'
chant street and Morgantown ave
nue.: spring under P. II. II. track, cor
ner of Newton and Water streets.
The rain at noon today was vel
coined by all. In some sections OF the
CITY where there has been no water
for DAYS, the rain water was used for
drinking purposes. Most OF the wells
4 in the city where there is no water
have been drained dry. Those that
are not dry have been locked to con-
serve the water for the owners. Some
people who have had an abundance Of
water have been reported to be sell
ing the water for ten cents per gallon.
Twice this morning electricity was
OF in the city The cayenne power sta
ton at cayenne uses city water. Due
to the poor water supply the cayenne
plant has been able to turn out only
little electricity today. Those in
charge Of the plant absolutely refuse
10 use the water from the West Fork
river. choosing to discontinue opera
ton instead. The water in the West
Fork river is even worse than that at
the city power station and would eat
out a boiler in short time. As a result
Of the insufficient water supply at the
Jayenune plant, cars have been oper-
ating late on the Fairmont and Clarks-
burgh interurban line all morning.