, 1877-02-04
HEATING CITIES BY STEAM

~ - very com1non mistake to prpcee
upon the assumption that We have reache
the limit Of scientific appliances for CONVEX
fence and comfort: and to scoG at ne,
schemes for enlarglng the scope Of well
known forces as impracticable and visionary
The fact is that we are only on the thresh
old OF science and invention, and life mn,
be rendered good deal mora endurable b,
turning scientific and mechanical investica
ton to practical Improvements for the well
being OF mankind. The person who sup.
/ poses that the resources of heat and elec.
tricity have been exhausted by steam and the
telegraph have not been shrewd observers OF
the progress already made. Every denizen
Of crowded city has daily cause to reflect
that, with all the modern improvements. u
good many comforts aud conveniences
might be added to the stock; and chemists
engineers, and mechanics still owe the world
something from the vast forces which Nature
has placed at their command.
twill not be many years before the stoye-
makers will have to turn their attention to
something else in order to earn living, for
the next step in the progress Of steam will
be to supply cities and towns with heat in
much the same fashion that they are now
supplied with gas and water. The subject
has been discussed for some time, and at
last practica1 experiment is to be made in
Lockport, N. T., if indeed that can be called
an experiment which only needs proper in
genmty to assure success. We print in !an-
other column some accounts Of AIr, Ho11r,s
plan There is nothing peculiar or intricate
about 1t. 1t is simply an enlargement
Of the area for supplying steam on
materially the same plan rs that bv
which large buildings nre now supplied
1t has already been demonstrated TINT
Steam can be carried whole mile but the
lockport trial will be based upon supplying
rom q common boiler, or battery Of boilers,
'nthc1ene steam for consumption in IN area !
lalf mile square. There are maiu pipes /
graduated from three down to two and half
NO, one and halt, and one inches in diame.
er, according to the distance from the boilers,
lnese pipes are placed about four feet be-
leath the surface of the ground; they are of
ron, hrst covered with asbestos and then
'laced IN ducts OF wood about two inches
hlck. The outside pipe Of wood protects
1e inner from water and moisture, and the
sbestos reduces the condensation abopt
nfee-fourths. A careful estimate of the |
7latlve cost of heating this district of half
nile square shows thnt, under the prevail ,
lg system OF stoves, furnaces, private +
ETC., the cost is over 500 00O 3,
II what can be furnished under tie com.
on-supply plan for less than S3S. S.O00. or p /,
wing of nearly two-thirds.
II suoh system can be advantaReous1v q
'plled IN . small town, how much mora 10 r
large city! What a blessing it would be u
cnlcago If all the heating, cooking, man. G
octur1ng, running of elevators, ETC., could
oono oy having set OF boilers located in I,
centre Of every half-mile square, burn ie
hard coal, or soft coal with smoke-con- =,
ne1s The number of fires would be di- r.
nlshed, the accidents would be fewer. thu m
't OF heating and manufacturing notably b)
'reased, great amount OF labor saved, and h,
cleanliness and beauty of the city pre. so
Ved thereby. The supply Of steam Or
not even now confined to any f.
building. There are several build or
$ IN tho centre Of the city which sup W
sufficient steam to surrounding buildings is
heating purposes and for running eleyo- br
). We believe the American Express Conn.,
US building and the Journal Building do ne
). The system only needs to be extended CO,
onsaness enterprise to become at once tin
ntaole to those who undertake it and tbf
1omlcai to those who avail themselves of snf
Chicago pluck and capital should not VII
70 follow the example Of any other city. COT
MS new movement. 4 number Of the | for
oo1ler-makers, like the CRANES. GATES. her
lRrHUn, and others, should form conn., nre
with the necessary capital, secure are
RAJ location on the South Side between bar
= ason street and the river, erect their saw
nngs and boilers, lay their pipes, and the
'uace their steam for sale. They will SON
plenty Of purchasers, and their example nov