Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-16
HEAT 1T BY STEAM.

During the past few days the reporter
has heard several suggestions rs to the
advisability of heating the various county
offices in the courthouse, and also the
courtroom, by steam, instead Of wood
and coal, as now. The idea Is not new
one. 1t has been entertained by differ
ent officers for several years; but within
the past few days it has come to the front
again.
Here is the situation. There are five
offices in the courthouse-those of sheriff,
probate Judge, clerk, treasurer and audi
tor, which require heating during the
whole cold season. Then, the courtroom,
Jury rooms and the offices of the superin-
tendent of education and county supervi-
sor, also requires heating at more or less
frequent intervals.
The cost Of heating in the offices where
heat is kept constantly, averages some
thing like $40 each per winter. This is
an aggregate of 500 year. Estimate
the cost of heating the other six rooms
referred to at an average of say 50 each a
season, and the total cost of heating the
entire building is about S14s year. AT a
rough estimate, firstclass system OF
steam heating could be put in the build
ing, so as to provide for all the rooms
and Offices, etc., mentioned for about $500.
Now let us calculate little. Fifty dol
lars worth Of coal and 80 worth of wood,
would be sufficient fuel for an entire
winter, and $50 more would employ a
fireman for five months of the year. The
fireman may also be required to act as
janitor, thus saving about $50 that is now
being paid for sweeping, making fires,
bringing water, etc., for the whole build
ing. The services of fireman, therefore,
are to be had without additional cost.
Now add the interest on $500 at 7 per
cent, and we have the total cost Of heat
ing the building down to SIG year, or
1872 per annum less than the present ex-
pense. And this, too, with infinitely
more convenience and satisfaction than
is now experienced.
But this is not all. With an additional
amount of fuel-so small as not to be
worth consideration in the calculation
the same boiler, with the same attention,
will be capable of furnishing great deal
of additional heat. There ia Law Range
Just behind the court house, with five
offices, which require constant heating.
Though the reporter has not spoken to
any of the occupants of the range, as q
business proposition, he would say that
each of them would gladly put in their
Offices the necessary radiators at their
own expense, and pay the county min
imum Of $l5 season for the use Of steam.
Here would be an income Of $75 year,
which added to the S32 mentioned above
as saved every year, would make $lO7
per annum, an amount sufficient to pay
the entire expense of the whole improve
ment in less than eight years.
1t is true that, except in the case OF the
superintendent of education, York coun-
ty does not pay the fuel bills of the coun-
ty officers, as is the case in Chester and
most of the other counties of the state.
Here, each of the officers pays his own
expenses, and the county pays for fuel
only in the courtroom, jury rooms and su-
pervisor's Office. Whether or not this is
right it is not the purpose OF this article
to argue. 1t has been shown, however,
that if the county will take hold Of the
matter, it can heat the whole building at
a handsome profit to itself, even without
charging the county officers anything, and
if it sees fit to charge the county officers,
why then the profit would be greatly in
creased. 1t would seem quite clear that
the whole subject is at least we'll worth
careful investigation.