Wichita eagle., 1889-03-13
HEAT AND POWER.
something OF the Company Asking Franchise
Capital Stock $500. 600 Want TO be Ready
For Business Next Winter.

| There was considerable talk yesterday
among some of the business men and brick
| block owners about the merits and possible
dement's of the new company and new
movement to change system Of furnishing
parts of the city with heat and to some ex-
tent steam for power. All seemed to be
| anxious 70 gain information on the ques-
ton and if it called for or embraced any
Improvements seemed inclined to think it
would be good thing.
AS is known the comopny is styled the
Wichita Steam Heating company with n.
6. Woods, John P. johnson, H. II. Jack
| man, W. p. Cowen, G. G. Billingsley,
charter members. Officers for the first
year: John 2. johnson, president; W. P
Cowen, vice president; II. II. Jackman,
secretary and treasurer. The system Sc
cured by the company and proposed to be
adopted is the Holly steam combination
system under patents owned by the Amer
lean District Steam company, the secre-
tary of which Mr.. B. D. Hall, of Lockport,
New York, met the company yesterday
and the final arrangements between his
company and the local company were
made
The district system of distribution is a
steam generating station in capacity, de-
pending upon the service to be performed;
1t may be one boiler or an aggregation OF
boilers; mains CT wrought iron pipe radi-
ating therefrom, laid under the streets and
protected so as to prevent radiation Of
heat. with provision for expansion and
contraction of iron; from the mains SER
vices taken off and leading to the build
al eli a Of he
the purpose of heating buildings and heat
for kitchen and laundry purposes.
1t is asserted that the company can fur
nish heat for the various uses cheaper than
it is now being furnished in the city and
that the risk Of fire is reduced and that it
would lower insurance rates. 1t has been
in use in Denver for eight years and it is
said that the plant there is to be increased
in capacity this year. 1t is used in a num-
Der of cities and the parties interested
here claim it has always proved success
Should the franchise be granted the
members Of the company state they will
commence work Immediately on their
plant, and the station viii cost in the
neighborhood Of S25 900. The mains will
be four and FIVE feet under ground; two
from leading out of from the station each
ten inches in diameter. It is said the COM
pany propose to put down four or five
miles Of main, which will cost from If
teen to twenty thousand dollars per mile.
The question was frequently asked
yesterday if the pressure On the
pipes would be great enough to
cause the uplifting of the earth very sud-
denly some day and carry with it all
Strio 1tb al,
be in that vicinity This volcanic feature
was one of the features that commanded
attention. To this question member of
the company stated that the street pipes
would be tested and guaranteed to stand
fifty pound pressure while the higest
pressure in the coolest weather would be
less than twenty pounds This matter
had been carefully provided for by the !
patentes and could be handled at the
station in the interest Of the company and |
public alike.
In case it should be determined to put |
in pipe to run engines 1t would be much |
stronger and of strength to prevent any |
blowing up or damaging accident.
Councilman Allison was speaking of the |
question yesterday and the greatest OBJ |
lection he could find was the mutilation |
of the streets He seemed to think the |
alleys in many places would be good |
enough and they could be used instead of |
the streets.
The company claims to have some loca-
tons for stations under consideration and
as soon as franchise is granted will make
the purchase and commence work. The
committee will give the question
special attention this week and be loaded
with an opinion or recommendation for
Monday night. when the council will con-
slider the question.