The herald., 1898-03-06
SUSTAINS THE VETO
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
COUNCIL OIL COMMITTEE
TRANSFERS OF CITY FUNDS
Auditors Weekly Balances-A Plan
to Carry Overhead Pumping Ca
bles-Protests and Petitions

The special oil committee, which several
days ago made an interesting trip through
the oil fields, looking up the matter of
the proximity of wells to school houses,
yesterday made its report to the council
as follows:
"Your committee visited the oil district
affected by the ordinance and we found
that the Alpine street school is on the
west border of the oil channel so there
Is no danger of any wells being bored nearer
than at present in any event no wells west
of Alpine street or south of the school. The
prevailing winds are from the west, so
the smell and smoke of the present wells
are blown from the school rather than
towards It, All the present developing for
oil IS east and north of the Alpine street
school. so 1t is leaving, rather than ap-
preaching.
The Union avenue school is bounded on
the north and south by a siXty-foot street,
east and west by oil wells that have been
completed and pumping for some time, so
there is no objection or annoyance from
noise, smell or smoke. The passage of the
ordinance would confiscate these wells,
involving a large sum: also many of the
wells in the district of the Alpine school.
For the above reasons your committee
recommends that the mayors objections
1--WE recommend that the city attorney
be instructed TO prepare an ordinance
amending ordinance No. ALI (new series),
by eliminating subdivision D. which reads
as follows:
TT shall be unlawful for any person,
firm or corporation to place, stretch, MAIN
tain or keep across any portion of the
graded streets or sidewalks of the said
city any ropes, wires or cables in any
block where there is pumping plant pro-
vided for the pumping Of oil wells in that
block. In blocks where no pumping plants
are located no wires ropes or cables shall
cross any street or sidewalk unless said
ropes wires or cables are supported at
least seventeen feet above such streets
and upon such substantial pests and ap-
pliances that such ropes, wires or cables
shall not at any time sag below such
height OF seventeen feet or fall upon said
street when broken or disconnected
I'VE recommend that the oil inspector
be instructed to notify all owners or
operators Of wires TO. pumping oil wells
that are stretched across any public street
that they must procure special privilege
for maintaining and operating such cables
from the council before March 30th, and in
the event of such special privilege not be-
ing secured. the inspector to serve notice
on such owners or operat tors that the wires
must be down within five days after serv-
ing such notice.
I'VE submit for your approval plans for
supporting cables for pumping oil wells
when stretched across any public streets,
and recommend the same be approved and
placed on file with the city clerk.
I'VE recommend that in the event of any
petitions being filed for special privileges
for pumping wells, the same be referred to
the Oil inspector for his report, and, If
granted. to be erected under the super
vision of the oil inspector, and according to
the plans on file and that the petitioners
be required to pay the expenses of pub
fishing the ordinances and other expenses
incurred III granting such privileges
The plan for preventing the sagging OF
cables alluded to above, it is thought, will
meet all requirements. Unique features
consist in spanning streets at any angle by
an elevated carrier for cables from a
pumping plant to derricks, no matter how
distant from the source of power The
details consist in 6X6 posts set on the in
ner edge of sidewalks, which will be
twenty-five feet high, connected by an iron
rod at the top. From this series of wires
with large loops hang down three feet from
the top iron rod, through which will travel
the pumping cable, bringing it seventeen
feet from the ground. This elevates the
cables, keeps them from sagging, and pre-
vents continuous stretching, as their
weight is taken care of. In case of a break
the objections of the ordinance are over
come, for the wire rope will not fall to the
ground