The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-14


continuation OF "hard times" IN thousands
of instances places the victims of reduced
incomes in position where they are de-
MED the privilege OF choosing and
compels them to submit to its exactions
nolens volens. Unfortunately the edicts OF
fashion impose the most burdensome taxes
that civilized and Christian people are COM
PEELED TO pay, but their effort in one direc-
ton to keep up appearances is not without
its benefits, since in numerous instances the
victims and votaries OF the tickle and des-
potic goddess compelled to adopt pol
icy of retrenchment in matters beyond the
reach of the Paul Pry gossiping brigade.
There is also a remote possibility that COM
mon sense in the management of domestic
affairs may eventually gain the ascendency,
and so vitilze society that person having
an income of $500 a year will not be ashamed
to confess that he is not as rich as his more
fortunate neighbor who has 5000 year.
II such an era should ever dawn
upon the country pawn-brokers
do a less thriving business, and the inmates
of poor houses will be less numerous.
Events now transporting give reasonable as
surances that the science of cheap living is
to receive practical demonstrations at an
early day. The fuel question is the one that
seems first to have attracted the attention of
capitalists, and the scheme under advise
ment is to heat entire cities by steam;
to supply private residences and
public houses with heat, and
to perform the important service at a sum
vastly less than private individuals can do it
themselves. The idea is a capital one, and
as practical as capital. Houses can as we'll
be supplied with steam as with water
or gas, and since the proposed new de-
parture in heating houses is practical. and
cheaper than the old methods. there need be
no doubt about its general adoption in cities,
great and small, in due time. The first city
to try the experiment is Lockport, N. Y,
and the New York Evening Post, in com.
menting upon the undertaking, says:
There is really no problem to be solved in
the matter, no experiment TO be made. The
problems were long ago wrought out In the
heating of large public buildings, inns and
factories by ste am, and the new application
Of the old principle differs from the old one
in ways which favor its success One set OF
workmen is required for each battery of boil
ers, whether the work OF The battery is to heat
n single building or a dozen blocks; and, IL
steam heat is cheaper than any other, when
applied by individual effort to single buildings.
er when q single set OF workmen attend the
boilers that furnish heat to all the houses
within an area OF half mile square.
There is room for the adoption of this plan,
prohtably, here in New York and Brooklyn,
and the time Is propitious for beginning now,
c %e aD9f Is cnesP %a are see rs
the annoyance of fire making and fire main
tenance In their dwellings. There Is no good
reason for postponing the matter to await the
result of the Lock port undertaking, as the use
of steam in this way is In no proper sense an
experiment. Once introduced in these cities,
steam Will soon become as much matter OF
course water Is now. The Budgets and
Gretchens, whose first question now at the
preliminary conference which precedes their
engagements has reference to stationary tub
and other modern improvements, may soon
insis also upon having steam heat, and land
lords may find IL i'm posi- BILE to let houses into
which this latest modern Improvement has
not been introduced. We shall then live in a
real age of steam.
The company formed to supply Lockport
with steam will make the experiment in
that city under the following estimate:
Estimated present cost for coal, wood, kim
ding, labor, repair of stoves and furnaces for
warming the following district in the city of
Lockport, being about one-half mile square,
street, south by High street, west by Saxon
street, north by Caledonia street, including
the following:
Four hundred and seventy-five dwell
ings at 500 each flor fuel and labor s47 500
each.... ...................... 1890
lover and about the stores) ....... ,... 1900
Twelve churches at 500 each labor and
fuel) 800. ................. $500
$500 each, one opera house ....... ....... 10000
Factories, shops mill offices, etc.. ...... 500
Life time of stoves and furnaces, for
ten years, at 10 per 5000
Total......................... 500 $40
For cost of works for warming the above dis
Irict with steam:
Eighteen thousand four hur dred and
eighty feet Of main pipe at 81 per foot. SIS, $50
Building and smoke stack. ........ 5000
Six steam boilers and fixtures. 10000
Lot for building and coal yard............. 5000
3,OOO
TOtal-...... 90, 4oU
These figures indicate a large saving in the
investments necessary to heat the district
within the limits of the experiment, and