Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-08
SHARP GIVES HIS
RECORD TO PUBLIC
Superintendent OF Waterworks Replies
to Statement Of Commits
sfoner Murrin.
r0TRTEEN YEARS AN EXPERT
Reproduces Endorsement of His Supe.
rior to Prove His Record for
Efficiency.
FOURTEEN YEARS AN EXPERT

Rock Island, H., Jan. S.-Editor The
Argus;
To the Public: At no time have
had sny desire or intention of getting
into any controversy with Mr.. Murrin
through the press relative to my re-
ouested resignation as superintendent
NJ the waterworks, but inquiries from
numerous citizens have compelled me,
IN Justice TO myself. to make a state
ment as to my actual connections and
duties with reference to my position as
srnerintendent. feel that Mr.. Murrin
has not been fair with me when he says
am neither a chemist nor a bacte-
riologist, and while am not a grad
nate chemist / have for the past IA
years been conducting the chemical
and meteorological analysis of water
throughout the United States.
1t is true George Etzel has been as
sisting me in laboratory work and un-
der my supervision has been making
tests Of the water. and all of his knowl-
edge of the archaeological work has
been taught him by me, and if there is
anv question on this point in the minds
Of the public l refer you to Mr.. Etzel,
who will bear me out in this state
ment.
Il is true that the pumping station
at the foot OF Twenty-fourth street was
not in the best of condition at the time
Mr.. Murrin took Office, the Holly Gas
Kill pump being entirely worn out and
beyond repair The Snow pump was
the only machine the city possessed
for the purpose Of pumping water to
the filter plant 1t had been working
continuously almost night and day for
eight years past. 1t was in bad condi-
ton and getting worse every day. l
advised the city officials weekly of this
fact
Advises Against Purchase.
The plungers on the Snow pump
we're badly worn, some of the valve
decks cracked and it was in such con-
dition that the slippage amounted to
1914 per cent of the water pumped. l
could not afford to stop the pump long
enough to repair it as we had not SUI
fcient storage capacity at the filter
plant. and we were waiting until the
city purchased a new pump before
could make the necessary repairs on
the Snow pump. With reference to
the new steam turbine pump purchas-
ed by the last administration l strong
ly advised against the purchase of this
machine, as my written report, on file
in the city clerks office, will show.
am not responsible for the purchase
of this pump or its installation, as the
contract provided the company fur
nishing the pump is to install it and
give it an official test before acceptance
on the part of the city.
Mr.. Murrin in his statement init
mates my work has been chiefly con-
fined to clerical duties and that l have
not been acting in the capacity of SUI
perintendent My answer to this state
ment is his letter TO me under date OF
Dec. 16, 1915, which is as follows:
Letter OF Endorsement.
Rock Island, Ill, Dec 16, 1915-TC
whom it may concern: This will in
troduce the bearer, R. ". Sharp, whom
take pleasure in highly recommend
ing as most capable, efficient and ex-
perienced WaterwOrks man. He has
had years Of experience in the water
works business, several years of which
was in the capacity of chief field engi-
neer for the Pittsburgh Filter Manu-
featuring company.
Mr.. Sharp. acting for the aforesaid
company during the season of 1910 anC
1911, erected our present efficient anC
well constructed filter plant. and dur
ing the greater part of the last three
years he has had charge of the opera
ton Of our waterworks, mechanical
and publication, including the sanitar!
analysis Of the water, which he ha'
handled with eminent success, credi
10 himself and economy to the city.
| might add that Professor Barlow