The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-08
new WATER BOARD
GETS INTO ACTION
First Act Orders Payment
by Addition Residents
for New Water Line
FINANCE INVESTIGATED
Members Ask for Statement
on Departments Condition;
Gas Expense Is Cut

Tulsa's newly appointed non
partisan water commission funC-
toned for the first time Tuesday
afternoon. Meeting with the mayor
and city commissioners in the
mayors office. the commission got
down TO business Immediately
q. II. Mccullough, u. w. sinclair,
4. l.. Farmer and &. T.. Hopkins,
who compOs" the water commission
were sworn In by Mayor r. -. Evans,
WIN Prepare Statement
Then followed n frank and busi.
ncSlike discussion OF the local water
situation as IT lis at present within
the next tcw days e. s. Younkman,
water commissioner and cx-officio
chairman Of the non partisan water
com mission. viii have prepared -
complete financial statement OF the
Tulsa plant. This statement, az re.
qucstcd by the commission. Will
show the entire Investment, returns,
expenses, and all other Items per-
tanning to the operation OF the wa =
tcrworks system, 40 there will BE- u
basis by which tho value OF the
plant may be determined and upon
which the percentage OF returns
may be accurately ascertained.
First Order Issued.
The first official act of the COM
mission was TO pass an order reIuir-
ing owners OF new additions To the
city to put In their own water ex.
tensions and fire hydrants. While
this IN required by the city charter.
the city In years past has been
ienient and tho cost of these i'm
provements has been borne by the
water department.
Under the charter and the order
Of the water commission, the city
VIII take over and pay for such cx-
tensions whenever they have been
paid for by bond Issue or whenever
the returns TO the Acity amount to
elk per cent OF the investment.
Numerous additions have been ad-
mitted, It was pointed out during
the meeting. and Immediately the
owners or tho purchasers OF prop
erty In such additions have clam
ored for city water. The burden Of
providing water will hereafter fan
upon the additions and those who
put them on the market.
Page Gets Gas Contrart.
Commissioner Younkman was In
structed to prepare "a contract ut
once with Charles Page. who has
agreed to furnish natural gas for
use at the waterworks station for 40
cents a thousand cubic feet. The
rate charged by the Oklahoma Ma.
,ural Gas company In ~ cents. with
the probability OF n raise. Page,
contract will probably hold Tor three
years at least.
industrial consumer, was shut OF
by the Oklahoma Natural, coal 4
being used. Younkman estimate
operating with coal costs the cit,
approximately 3700 more cacl
month than with gns. II will b,
necessary to lay four-inch lin
about three-fourths Of u mile to th,
Page lines from the station.
Mayor Gratificd.
Mayor Evans ana all the city com
misSioners were gratified at th'
manner In which the new commits
sion imme ediately took hold" OF tn,
water situation. They declared thei
belief that there will never again b,
any inefficiency In conducting tn
water department..
"rhat's n commission Tulsa ma!
be proud Of" Mayor Evans declare,
at tho close of the meeting Tues
day afternoon. 81 never saw a bod
OF men get down to business ~
quickly In my life. There was iittl
formality. within five minutes afte
they had been sworn In the mem
beers were intensely Interested Il
their work. They went right to N
heart of the water situntion--the
asked for figures on Its financia
condition. They wanted to kno,
whether 1t IN paying or losin
money. They asked for a financia
statement, which is TO be prepare
Immediately. ! think Tulsa ought I
know that tho members of this com
mission are going at their Job
earnestly and thoroughly. and tina
the water situation IL In able hands.
Water Commissioner Younkma
was equally pleased at the actions q
the board.