The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-06
TACOMA LIGHTING BID.
How e WoalA BE Cheaper to Buy an
Electric Plant.

Spec1al Dispatch to the Pos;-Inteiligencer
TAco4A, Aug. Sat tonight's meeting
Of 44city council the bid submitted by
thca5 Ec0na Railways Company for fur
nishing light to the city for a period Of
five years was presented. 1t was accom-
panied by report prepared by Commits
toner of Public Works Doherty, advising
the council to look into the matter care
fully before entering into a contract with
the railways company. Mr.. Doherty also
furnished figures and data looking TO a
reconstruction or reorganization of the
citys lighting system. The commissioner
Is opposed TO the purchase, as the follow
ing report will show
"Inasmuch as the city has only received
one bid for furnishing power. and that bid
Is objectionable In some OF It's features II
seems 10 me that II would be wisdom on
the part of the city TO consider the ex-
pense OF remodeing It's own steam plant
ana building and the cutting down Of ex-
pense OF making electric power by such
an improved plant as contrasted with the
proposal OF the bidder
I'm this connection / beg to submit to
your honorable body some estimates
which ] have obtained for the remodeiing
of our steam plant in a manner calcu-
lated to reduce the expense OF manufac-
turing electric power.
We are In receipt of a proposal from
the Salt Lake and Ogden Gas and Electric
Company 10 furnish us T. o. b. cars at Salt
Lake City the following machinery: One
go horse power tandem compound Corliss
engine: two Heine boilers. s75 horse power
each: one feed water heater! forty-four
feet Of line shaft with driving pulley.
clutch pulieys. pedestais. boxes etc.
They propose TO sell us this machinery
as stated above for the sum of SO $50, and
II Is the understanding that the terms will
Aa NJ r% a64 IL fha aS- 0t.fY
cry has been in use seventeen months. and
was discontinued because the parties own
ing IL were enabled 10 buy power from
water power plant. Til. type OF nlschin-
cry Is first class In every respect, and at
first value would cost a, least twice the
amount asked for Il by them. 1t is guar
anteed 20 be in excellent condition, and Is
subject 70 our inspection.
The following is an estimate OF recon-
s,ruction Of our plant. taking into con-
sideration the purchase OF the above ap-
parstus: Cost OF engine. boilers, shaft
ing. etc, delivered In Tacoma. 81. roo:
foundation for engine. g s.i; placing en-
gines. boilers. etc, 81 osS: foundations for
line Shaftlng. etc. sl.o50, making a total
OF SEQ Geo
The following is an eetlmate OF the
machinery. etc. which we would have
fer sale II We reconstructed our plant.
the estimate being placed conservativeiS'
in accordance with the first cost; Twelve
boilers. 3,49: ore " estingkouss COM
ponud en gfne, $40; oi.a Westinghouse
standard eneise. $50: swo Russell en-
stnes. 81 sc; making a total OF ss,s5e.
'It is Qaite probable that ve mix5t
have some further rnsehinery TO sell
after We have reconstructed the plant
but ! consider Il reliable estimate 70
say that We will he abis 20 realize go
from the sale Of the machinery, etc,
from cur old plant. Thts would reduce
the cost Of reconstruction 70 about Is. 80.
From estimates made BY ire foreman
OF machinery ard the city electrician /
consider that We can. with The sfoFe
reconstruction. manufacture oar electric
power as cheapIy ss the rate offered ii
tho bid A. present car fuel - costing
more than wnst We can purchase X for
II we make arrangements 10 hsni the
wood over the lines Of street railway IN
tho city. The wood shovt6 not cost 70
exreed 81 Per cord for cusAng ard ioad-
ing OF cars. ard the Lost Of hauling
;heraos and placing In our fire room
shculd not excssd e cents per cord. MS
would effect 2 reduction of s-ss cents per
cord under The present price OF Tooc.
and means 4 very material ts0ucf'on n
thu expense os manufacture.
In presenting the abov~ statements ID
yonr honorable beGy ! wisn 70 can your
earnest attention TO the merits OK pota
s:d@s % TIE matter under cc-ssGerafto1-
Our electric FEht and power system
may Re sasfgvidsA into two genera d@-
r@rttnents az fellows:
s'Firet-Tne steam and electric pi~os
fo- generation oS power
~Secosd-Tas olstrtDc,icn system Tor