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Mail Tribune 100, June 28, 1922 By Alissa Corman Jun 29, 2022 12:47 PM A A News from 100 years ago The following news items were drawn from the archives of the Mail Tribune 100 years ago June 28, 1922 WATER FAMINE ENDED, WATER PIPE REPAIRED The danger of a temporary water famine in the city ceased at a few minutes after 6 p.m. yesterday when the break in the main pipe line near Wellen was repaired and water again began freely flowing through the city mains. It came just in time, as at 4 p.m. when the drain on the reservoir during the day had drained that immense basin so that only three feet of water remained Fire Chief Lawton ordered the remaining water in the reservoir shut off from the city mains, as it was needed to maintain pressure for possible fire use. The only water supply from then on until the chief’s embargo was lifted as soon as the break had been repaired and water again began flowing into the reservoir, was what was contained in the mains, which enabled a few homes to obtain a little from faucets. In the great majority of homes, however, not a drop of water could be obtained from the faucets, and in many homes where the women had neglected to fill tubs, kettles, boilers and other receptacles earlier in the day, in preparation for an emergency, the families were truly “up against it” for water for drinking and cooking purposes. Hence when shortly after six o’clock the water began again to flow strong through the mains there was much rejoicing throughout the city. However the siren whistle was not blown to tell the people that the embargo on watering lawns and gardens was lifted, as that could not be done until the reservoir had filled up again. This desired result was reached this morning about 8:45 and City Superintendent Davis ordered the whistle sounded at once. The reservoir could have been filled up earlier had not many water consumers in their selfishness and recklessness for consequences stolen water, mostly in open hoses, during the evening and night to irrigate their lawns, gardens and flower beds. The city reservoir holds two and one-half million gallons of water, and water flows into the reservoir from the main pipeline at the rate of four million gallons every twenty-four hours, hence it would take ordinarily about 12 solid hours to fill it. — Alissa Corman; [email protected]