according to an article written by dr. fred s. clinton, a pioneer tulsa physician, there were a number of freshwater springs in the immediate vicinity. however, it soon became apparent that these could not support the needs of the rapidly expanding population. the city built a pumping plant in 1904 to deliver water from the arkansas river to consumers via a standpipe atop standpipe hill, north of downtown tulsa. the standpipe has since been demolished.