The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-11
STEAM HEAT SYSTEM
Street Car Company Consid-
ers ACCESSIBILITY of
ASKING FOR A FRANCHISE
Would Prove Invaluable to
Wichita Business Blocks,

Manager Nelson, Of the street railway
Company. is contemplating applying for
a franchise 10 put in a steam heating or
q hot water heating plant, 10 furnish heat
10 the business houses. The plant would
be run in connection with the street
railway plant and the electric light
plant. The scheme has reached no defin-
tie proportions but if nothing interferes
TO block the contemplated enterprise,
Wichita viii in all probability have a
public heating plant Of some description
either this winter or next winter.
The company has been figuring on an
Improvement Of this nature for soma
months, but they have not been in shape
to present the claims. Other matters
have absorbed all the time Of the man
aseLnent and it has not been reached.
TIE company has been granted an cleo
trio light franchise and the council is
nGw s,cl'ng upon a franchise 10 erect and
equip a modern gas plant. The heating
plant movement is a matter that will
require considerable judgment and it IS
not the intention Of the company TO go
into the scheme blindfolded.
Manager Nelson has received from the
eastern owners a copy Of a hot water
heating ordinance and is studying the
provisions carefully in view Of putting
in a plant.
When seen by a reporter for the Eagle
he refused to talk much on the subject,
but he gave the reporter to understand
that franchise would be asked for by
the company as soon as certain other
matters were out Of the way
Wichita is greatly in need Of a steam
heating or a hot water heating plant,
and there is no question but what an en-
terprise Of this kind would be success
full. When run in connection with the
street railway plant but very little addi-
tional expense would be required 10 oper-
ate the same. The Tenth street power
house IS equipped with sufficient machin-
cry to perform the work incident to a
steam heating plant.
Nearly every first class city in the
state maintains and operates a plant OF
this kind Two years ago the electric
light company at Fort Scott put in a
plant. running a main up the principal
street and connecting with all the bust
ness houses, and il worked so success
fully that an additional main was put in
this summer. The heat furnished IN this
manner has proven eminently satisfac-
t)rv and would be good investment in
Wichita. as many Of the large business
blocks. as well as the small ones, are
without private steam heat and are com
peeled 70 use stoves. Steam heat is more
regular than heat produced by stoves.
The difference between steam heat and 1
hot water heat is that steam heat can I
he attached 70 hos water heating radiat- 4
ors. In putting in hot water heat it re-
ouires different radiators than are used /
for steam heating purposes.
One main on Douglas avenue and Main 1
street would connect with nearly all Of 1
the business houses in the city. The 1
pipes used for this purpose are sur
rounded with wooden pipes which are
wrapped with asbestos. In this manner
the heat is retained.
Should the company decide to put in
steam heating or n hot water heating
plant 10 doubt liberal patronage would
be received