The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-03

The county commissioners met in
| regular session yesterday principally
to discuss the elevator question, but
failed to award it's contract. Represen-
! tatives of the elevator companies were
present and submitted reports showing
the relative cost of maintenance and
operation of hydraulic and electric
plants now running in some Of the
principal business blocks of this city.
a communication from the Brodresser
Elevator company of Milwaukee was
handed to the commissioners by their
agent, in which they agreed to guar
antee the county for five years against
any expense for repairs, should the
county decide to purchase a hydraulic
lift, and further stated that a verbal
agreement made by their agent, Mr..
Tracy, would be sanctioned by them.
Mr.. Geddes declared he was unalter-
ably in favor OF the electric elevator.
HIS report to the county court covers
his eastern "trip which he made in
company with Selectman Roberts. He
states in his report that While east he
witnessed a number of tests Of various
elevators and was most thorouhly con-
WINGED that the electric elevator was
greatly superior to the hydraulic lift
in point of smooth action, better SER
vice and less cost for general malnten-
ance.
MR. GEDDES' REPORT.
Geddes tells of his journeytngs to
and fro and his prayerful desire for
light so that he may be enabled to
choose the best machine and serve his
constituents faithfully and we'll
G =
contains little more than has been al
ready published as his reasons for adj
vccating the Sprague electric machine
The report gives eight positive ana
negative reasons why the Sprague
electric system should be adopted.
F'irst-The expense of running is
small-$36 a month, or probably less.
Second-The plan to use the exhaust
steam for heating in case a hydraulic
machine is put in would be expensive
and Intellectual.
Third-No special engineer is re-
quired to look after the Sprague ele-
Vator
Foruth-The sprague is so construc-
ted that accidents are impossible.
Fffth-The movement Of the Sprague
is more even, smoother and under
better control than any hydraulic ele-
Vator made.
Sixth-The sprague electric system
obviates noise and dirt and entails no
expensive extras for auxiliary connec-
lions.
Sprague is less than that Of the only
hydraulic elevator the claims Of which
are advanced against it
Eighth-The depreciation is very
small.
ROBERTS TAKES ANOTHER VIEW
selectman Roberts also filed a report
with findings in favor of the hydraulic
lift Mr.. Roberts firmly believes that
the hydraulic plant SURPRISES the cleo
trio lift at every point Following Is
SYNOPSIS of his report as submitted:
He starts out after telling about the
nights he has kept awake thinking
about elevators for the benefit of the
by the declaration that he is
in favor Of the vertical {
hydraulic system for the positive rea- /
sons:
First-The system has been in use
for years and is we'll nigh perfect.
Second-It is the safest system and |
with it damage suits are out of the (
question.
Third-It is SO simple that a fool /
could operate it or repair it.
Fourth-It can be run at less ex-
pense than any other system, and in .
this case the annual cost of operation +
would not exceed 500.
Fifth-It is so reliable that stoppages
FOR repairs seldom occur
Mr. Roberts then states his ObjeC-
tons to the electric system, which,
are that it is in an expert
mental stage, and he does not purpose
that the county shall be called on TO
pay for an experiment in the interest
y Iay7 q
lecturers. Electric machinery is deli
cate, easily put out of order and costly
% repair, and the running expenses
IF an electric lift in this instance would I
lot be less than $1,000 year without
'epairs; the elevator is wanted imme-
lately, and IF the Sprague electric is
)ut in. no one can tell how long it
viii be in perfect running order. If
he city should place a hydraulic ele-
rator in the north half of the building
he two could be run at little over the
cost of running one. while if the city
should buy an electric machine the
county would have to pay The same
ind the city would have to pay for
he extra voltage needed"
NO ACTION TAKEN.
To both these reports were appended
'eports from electrical and mechanical
WHICH we're uleQ- NO ac-
ion was taken by the commissioners
IS to which system would be adopted.
md upon motion of Mr.. Geddes fur
her consideration postponed until
Wednesday afternoon at 2 p. m. II is
Iuite possible that a decision will be
cached at that meeting. Mr.. Christie
'herson has apparently come to no
conclusion as to which system should l
Re adopted, but in all probability will
asst the deciding vote on Wednesday.
At the meeting yesterday Geddes and
Roberts, particularly the former, made
lng verbal arguments, setting out the
nerits of the electric and hydraulic
fits respec lively, evidently for the
enefit of Christopherson. whom they
ucceeded in so bewildering that he
had no idea of what ma
hine he favored or whether he fav-
red any of them If the public or
ny Individual after reading the two |
eports can form any idea Of which is
he better machine, they must be gifted
I a higher degree with the attributes
aimed by Anna Eva Fay.
WHITTEMORE. TOO. =.
1t would appear that Mr.. white
lore is also taking a hand in the Gle
ator business, as the selectmen, while ,
hey were in session. received the fol- :
,wing telegram from him at New {
orlS:
Cannot advise you definitely about ]
evators until further Investigation Of