The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-02-11
v, /, BERRY FOR
WATER BONDS
PIONEER TELEPHONE MANAGER
SAWS RAILROADS AND PEOPLE
SHOULD COOPERATE.

W. H. Berry, ST., manager OF the
Ardmore exchange, local and long
distance lines OF the Pioneer Tele'
phcne company, said to an Ardmole'
tie reporter last evening that II
was a duty the people owed not only
to themselves but to posterity as
well, to provide the city with an
adequate supply of water which
would serve the two-fold capacity o!
safeguarding their property and their
health.
Ardmore, Mr.. Berry said, is not a
village, but city. 1t sprung with
life and built itself up from nothing
to its present greatness under the
most adverse and trying circum-
stances. In fifteen years time ne
fore statehood when all conditions
of self.government were hampered by
territorial laws she made herself the
gem of what is now southern Okla.
homa
Go out. he said, and look at our
splendid business blocks. not frame
or other ilimsy material, but built in
most substantial manner of the best
material ohlainable Look ut our
numerous churches which are both
beautiful and substantial: see our
ward schools which have been con
structed along the most sanitary
and hyGienic lines, with the view OF
developing the mind of the coming
generation and guarding their health
as well; drop into the court house
which is second to none in the state
of Oklahoma in point of architectural
beauty, magnificent interior finish
and imposing exterior: study the
plans of our high school building,
the construction OF which will be
commenced in a few weeks, and then
ask ourselves if we will be so blind
to our own interests as TO deprive
all this representation of dollars AMI
cents of guarantee from loss bv fire.
Mr.. Berry said further that he con-
sidered the mayor and board of
city commissioners had done no
| more than their duty in the steps
they had taken in this matter II is
| their duty, he said, to see that the
property and the health of the peo-
pie of Ardmore-of the present anl
| the future Inhabitants safe
guarded. 1T is good business he
said, Ito protect our property and
| it is humanity TO protect the lives
of our citizens. One must study
this matter carefully and thoroughly
to conceive the least idea of the
dreadful sanitary conditions which
would result. The hot weather com
| ing on would SOW disease germs
| broadcast and an epidemic of ty'
phoid, or kindred diseases, would
follow resulting in practically depopu
| lating the city. The children that
| have been given us by omnipotent
| kindness would be the first to sue
| cumb as they have not yet developed
the constitutional rigor to cope with
| disease, and one summers season
would be sufficient to turn this into
a city of mourning
To return to a strictly business
point of viewing the matter, the
! gentleman said he thought it bad
| policy to think for moment OF
shutting the water supply from the
railroads or any other business con-
CEN. The railways. he said. are. to
use an old but trite expression. the
arteries of trade-thev furnish the
means of transportation for our peo-
PIE and our produce and are the
greatest source of building up a town
or a community. The railroads
hayn done much for Ardmore in the
AT aud are ready to do as much
in the future, they are among our
heaviest taxpayers and while they
would be benefited most materially
by a water supply for all time to
/ come at the same time they will
pav their pro rata of the tax with
ont complaint or Quibble.
Il have in mind" Mr. Berry said.
"one instance almost similar to this.
The town of Wellington, Kansas,
where | resided before coming here,
ran short of water number OF
years ago as we are here today.
They went out, not one or two miles,
but twelve miles and laid pipe and
installed a pumping station so as to
oat water in sufficient uuontities TO