Drought Leaves Henderson With Less Than Week's Worth of Water, Oct. 13, 1921

Henderson Water Company Goes in Receiver’s Hands. . . Desperate Emergency. . . The Town’s Water Supply Is Not Sufficient to Last a Week, City Council Asks Water Company to Take Measures Which Company Cannot Undertake

Henderson, Oct. 13—Facing an emergency in the water supply as the result of the continued drought and with a reserve sufficient to last less than a week, according to official estimates, the city council last night petitioned Judge Thos. J. Calvert now holding Superior Court here to order a receiver for the privately owned water company which admits it is financially unable to carry out such recommendations as have been made for taking care of the city’s needs.

The drought of the summer remains unbroken here, less than 4 inches of rain having fallen since early in July, the main lake from which the supply is drawn has been dry for two months. Showers have provided water for curtailed consumption of the city from week to week, but this has now dwindled to a mere puddle. The weather today had no indication of rain. Efforts are to be made to tap a small lake about a mile from the city to help relieve the situation. A petition for a receiver will be presented to Judge Calvert at 2 this afternoon.

From the front page of The Daily Times, Wilson, N.C., Oct. 13, 1921