The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-04-12

$500 ~ - = <II&~
Birdsill Holly Of Lockport, N. Y, Il
the originator Of a new system Of con-
veying steam for heating purposes BY
means Of pipes laid for long distances
under ground. In the month Of May,
1876, he put his ideas into an expert
mentally practical shape by placing q
small steam boiler in his yard and con-
Meeting 500 feet Of underground pine.
The result satisfied him that the plan
was entirely feasible. In the month Of
january, 1877, a stock company. with a
capital Of $25,O0e, was formed to test
the plan on a larger scale, under the
title Of "The Holly Steam Combination
Company, limited.- A brick boiler
house was erected on Elm Street, and a
horizontal boiler, sixteen feet long and
five feet in diameter, was placed in po-
siton, and a line Of three-inch wrought
iron pipe was laid three feet under
ground for the distance Of half a mile.
This line was purposely laid in the
sparsely settled portion Of the city, for
the purpose Of testing the power Of
steam without Interruption. Junction
service pipes were placed in the main
pipe At intervals Of from 100 to 200 feet,
and at these points and at the terminus
OF the line tests were made 10 determine
the amount of condensation, the power
OF the steam, and the requisite sizes Of
pipe.
The results from the half mile II pipe
were so satisfactory that additional pip
ing was laid, making a total distance Of
a mile and a third, the size Of the pipe
being modified as follows: Four-inch
pipe was used for the first 400 feet,
three-inch pipe for the next 1900 feet,
two and one-haIf inch for the next 600
feet, and two-inch for the rest Of the
line. In this distance we're eight right
angles, at corners of streets, and ten
in the main pipe. For the first
mile the grade descended 20 feet for
the next quarter If a mile it ascended
~ feet, and for the rest of the distance
it descended 40 feet. 1t was found that
"A pressure Of 40 pounds of steam de-
livered to the service pipe az the boiler
house, a pressure Of - pounds Of steam
was perceptible at the end of the line,
showing a loss from friction and con-
Of but eight pounds. In all
mis- line there were no traps, thus obvi-
ating one objection which had been
urged. Twenty dwellings
scattered on the line were connected
the junction service pipes, and the
proved the entire feasibility Of the
for a district two and one half
niles square, the extent Of territory to
heated depending upon the size Of
pipe used. Ii was found that pipe could
economically laid as follows: One
Ind one-half inch pipe for 1000 feet,
hree-inch for 5000 feet, six-inch for
200 feet, aud twelve-inch for $4,000
eet.
One boiler with a blower is sufficient
or the work required, but two addition
boilers have been placed in the boiler
for alternate use and TO guard
accidents To attend the furnace
md boiler. a man for the day and an
'ther for the night are sufficient. Dur
az the months Of October and Novem-
1877, two miles Of additional mains
Tere laid.
The narrow trenches to receive the
ipe are dug about three feet deep, SO
: 10 be above all gas and water-pipes.
n the bottom Of the trench a drain 81
wo-inch tile Is placed, 70 receive mois-
IRE. The tiles are surrounded with
r0ken stone. over which the steam
lains are laid upon a strip Of board.
he mains are made OF wrought iron
imilar to gas-pipes. and covered with
and hair-felting, and placed
Of wooden pipes bored OFT length
Use, the wooden tubes being from two
10 four inches thick outside OF
steam pipes The top and sides Of {,
wooden pipes are covered with
eavy tarred roofng-felt, to prevent (
'ater from coming in contact with |
lem. {,
A service pipe three-fourths ofan inch !
! diameter, running from the main, !
Ill serve to warm n large dwelling. I
he service pipe does not extend dlrect- /
from the wrought-iron main, but from !
cast-iron expansion box, in which the !
nds OF the main pipe can expand and I
In the dwelling the service /
ipe is so constructed as to deliver at /
i'll either pure, dry steam for heating
urposes, or hot water for laundry pur- Z
oses. An automatic valve regulates 4
le pressure Of the steam SO that, what {
YER the distance may be from the boil
r-house 70 the dwelling, or whatever
10 pressure may DO in the main, il can
OF exceed a given amount.
The quantity Of steam used il shown
y a small meter, which makes an ac- 4
lrate record upon a ribbon Of paper, !,
le quantity depending, Of course, up !
n the size Of the aperture and the \
ressure. The steam passes from the !
,gulating valve into 4 distributing !;
either nthe basement or sttic, !,
ON which IL DIVORCES TO the several !,
Dliators or heaters ia the house. The !,
can Is finally received into = chamber !
nd trap In the basement, where the i
,ndensation i received and stored in 1