My 96 escort wagon just recently died while driving about 3 days ago. After jumping it for about 20 minutes i was able to drive it home. Having diagnosed it as a bad alternator, we bought a new one (and new belt for good measure) and proceeded to install them with only one casualty: the power steering hose is now disconnected from the engine. Oops, but oh well.
Power steering aside (i include that only as additional information) the car should work now; it has a new alternator and belt installed correctly. Alas, the voltage on the battery is hovering around 7 v and needless to say, it doesn't get too far before dying again.

Anybody know why this is going on?

Update:

We replaced the battery with another; upon starting the car the voltage goes to 12, but then quickly starts to drop again. Which seems to imply that the alternator is still not functioning. but why?

Check the 40A fuse in the fusebox under the hood.

Also check the connector on the alternator and wires going from the alternator. I believe one of these wires 'engages' the alternator charge state and it could be broken.

Update:

We replaced the battery with another; upon starting the car the voltage goes to 12, but then quickly starts to drop again. Which seems to imply that the alternator is still not functioning. but why?

For future reference. With the engine running the battery should be reading over 13 volts. That's a way of telling it's charging. At idle mine was putting out 14.3 volts the other day.

I think normal at idle is 14.1 to 14.7 volts with all accesories off.

Yes, definitely check the harness running from the alternator to the battery.

The cables on my 88 exp broke one time and showed the same problem. No charge getting to the battery.

If it's safe, and only if it's safe to do so, you can hook up a one line of a set of booster cables from the positive on the battery to the 12v output of the alternator.

If the voltage rises, replace the harness.