The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-07


Of city commissioners Tuesday night
considerable excitement was developed
when Commissioner Tom Carter an
nounced that he was Through with
the whole official family" and walked
out Of the room.
The cause of the commissioner"
action was brought about by more oil
the pipe line controversy which has
been the bone of contention with the
mayor and commissioners some
time, and when another slug was
blown out of the pipe line yesterday
runnin gthrough the Westheimer n
Daube pasture as the result of a
test by the engineer. Commissioners
Carter told the mayor and commits
sioners that they are trying the i'm
possible, at the expense of the people
of the city, and that he was not
going to be party to any such deal
longer. With this announcement he
Immediately arose and left the room.
Two Commissioners Shy
With Commissioner Carter out or
the official family of the city, there
are now two vacant places at the
conference table.
Commissioner Fraley resigned severa,
days ago. and an effort was made to
fill his place without success, for ii
now appears that w. G. Doak, who
was named at the last regular meet
ing Friday night handed letter TO
the mayor and commissioners de-
clining the honor. Under the cir.
cumstances the commissioners will
have some difficulty in transactins
business without the third commits
sioner present, and for this treason
considerable pressure Is being brought
to bear on Commissioner Carter TO
have him stick to the place a white
longer.
May Consent to Act
Commissioner Carter states, however,
that he will not continue in office,
handicapped as he has been in tho
past; that when he was transferred
from the street to the water de.
partment he took the place with the
understanding that he would not keep
the Job unless he could make it at
least self.sustaining. This he says, 1.
impossible under the present system,
and Tuesday night when the mayor
and commissioners authorized him to
employ men TO take care of extra
work at the pump station (which ne
says would be necessary il the city
would quite "monkeying' with the
pipe hne) he rebelled and refused to
continue longer In a place he deems
untenable to his sense of duty.
Pipe Was Tested Yesterday
Tuesday another test was made OF
the pipe line in an effort to bring the
pressure to 100 pounds. Mr.. Garter
stated that the line stood the test
up TO 20 pounds, when a slug was
blown out OF the pipe at point in tine
Westheimer & Daube pasture at the
top of rise where an air pockey
had been formed.
Bert Parker, the city pumper who
for seven years was employed by the
late Fl. E. Foster as pumper and all
around water man, was present ~
WI. Stii bti y itIutst anu Sldttu THAI
the pipe would not stand the test OF
100 pounds under existing conditions
He explained the formation of air
pockets In the pipe as the test was
being made and estimated that at least
500 pounds pressure was brought to
bear where the break occurred yes
terday. this condition will always be
present until air valves are used, he
said.
More Muddy Water for Consumer.
Commissioner Carter stated that il
will be at least "a hours before tho
new break in the line can be repaired
and water running through the pipe
to the pumps once mere. in the mean
time consumers would have to con
tent themselves with muddy water
pumped direct from the lake, which
Is at very low ebb at this time.
The cost OF priming the pumps un
der present conditions was one Of
the main causes Of last nights rup
ture between Commissioner Carter an6
and the rest of the city commits
sioners.
Under present conditions, with the
intake pipes compelled to make
turn over the dam to the pumps
it is necessary that back water bc
used continually to prime the pumps
every time air gets in the intake
pipes. This condition. Mr.. Garter
stated, could be overcome II th'
mayor and commissioners would au
l,horlze him to lower the pipe. He
says the ditch Is already dug fol
this purpose and that he wants u
have the pipe depressed but has never
been able to secure the authority t,
do 80.
Contract Smashed Forty Ways
In speaking Of the pressure tes
now being imposed on the pipe line
which invariably results in its be
ing blown up, Mr.. Carter said tha
the test was uncalled for; that the
pipe line was furnishing more water
than was expected Of 1t at the start
that people were delighted with th'
clear pure water furnished when thu
pipe was let alone and inasmuch n!
the contract existing between the cit,
and the Ardmore Construction Com
,pany had been violated in every par
ticular by all parties, be could see M