The log cabin Democrat., 1920-10-11
WAFER FAMINE IS CAUSED BY
 PUMP FAILURE

The imperative necessity of recon struction of the city water system was forcibly demonstrated today and yes terday when mains throughout the city have been devoid of water. A breakdown of one of the pumps at Gleason occurred at 10 o'clock Satur- day night, since which time no water has been pumped and the reservoir be- came exhausted early yesterday morn ing, having already been almost drained by bursted main in the SUD- ply line in the Drummer field Fri day.
 The public school was dismissed by Supt R. E. Womack at noon today and the pupils told not to return to- morrow morning unless water pres sure was again on. It was impossible to conduct the school without water for either drinking purposes or flush ing the sewerage system, MT. Womack said.
 The plants of the Conway Compress Company and Conway Cotton Oil & Gin Company, both of which depend upon city water for their boilers, are shut down today. The other gins have well water and are able to run. Some of the soda fountains are out of com mission.
 
 Householders are being put to great lnconveniences as the number of wells in the city is very small and water for all purposes has to be carried in buckets for long distances. At Gen. tral and Hendrix Colleges and the State Normal water is being hauled in barrels for use in flush tanks.
 At ? o'clock this afternoon, although Supt. E. V. Leverett and a force of men had been at work without resting since the break occurred, efforts to pump water were still unavailing and no definite promise of relief could be given. The hope was expressed, how ever, that the pump could be started ir time to get water in the mains by night. Four to five hours pumping will be required to fill the empty mains, it was stated.
 The first breakdown of the pump ing plant occurred several weeks ago when one of the 35 horsepower motors burned out. The motor was sent off fer repairs and when reinstalled it burned out again. This left only one unit with which to pump and in order to keep water in the mains it has been necessary to operate this unit Fl hours day. Saturday night a big ron connecting ron on the pump broke. The one remaining motor was moved and connected with the other pump, this being completed Sunday after noon. It was then found impossible to start the pump, on account of the low stage of water in the Cadron creek and the absence of water in the reser- volr With which to prime the pump. A hand pump was taken out and tried last night and this morning and short ly before noon the crew came in and took out small electric pump with which it was hoped to fill the suction pipes and then get the main pump in operation.
 But for the Boy Scouts swimming pool the city would also be without electric current today Located on the light plant grounds this pool contains sufficient water to furnish the boilers of the plant for four or five days.
 Canvassers went to work with re- newed energy this morning to secure signatures to the second petition for new waterworks district and report that several who had previously de- chned to sign readily did so today, when the water famine brought them to realization of the situation Con- way will be constantly facing until new machinery and mains are provid- ed.
 Citizens taking water from wells, especially wells that have not been used recently, should take the pre- caution of boiling the water before QrInkInp if