The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-13

he continued with a much larger force
| of men than has been employed here
| tofore, the plan being to have the frame
completed within the next six or eight
weeks.
The new shop, about one-third of the
frame being shown in the accompany
| ing illuStrat ton, is said to be the larg-
est railroad shop in the west. being $50
feet long, $50 feet wide, and in the
neighborhood of so feet high. 1t is
located between North Klein and Bran
ner streets, extending north and south
from Seward avenue almost to the main
line tracks of the railroad. In the north
eI~d will be located the boilermaking
department, fully equipped and ar
ranged for that important work. At
the end of the framework already being
finished four columns of steel 81 feet
long have been set up as supports for
the riveting tower, in which all the
boilers to be handled in that part of
the shop may be raised and worked on
with the greatest speed and con-
venience. The machine shop will occupy
the remainder of the structure on the
first floor. Above will be located the
apartments of the timers and others
working with light machinery All
over the shop there will be travelling
cranes and hosting apparatus for NOV
ing the heaviest bodies. 1t is under
stood that hoist similar to the one
now being shipped to Albuquerque, n.
NJ, will be in service, and by means of
it locomotives may be lifted and shifted
wherever desired for making repairs
One of the particularly modern features
of the whole plant is that all the ma
. chinery will be driven by electricity.
This plan has been worked out fully by
George r. Henderson, superintendent
of motive power, who wishes to make
the new shops equal in efficiency and
up-to-datenesS with any in the whole
country. Between 40 and SO electric
motors will be placed about the build
ing for running the machines, some of
the machines being supplied with indi-
with them by means of wires laid under
the floor, thus dispensing with all over
head shafting, which in itself will prove
to be a great economy in power 1T is
calculated that in many cases half the
energy of the engine is lost through
transmission. The lighting of the build
ings and of the yards will be by cleo
tr1city, and already the contract for
placing the electrical machinery has
been been let to G. w. Summers, of
Chicago, the value of which stands in
round numbers $40 900.
The erection of the steel frame is in
charge of Frank Hammond foreman of
all the steel bridge building work on the
Santa F'e proper, who has had exper-
fence in constructing this part of many
sky-scrapers in Chicago and st. Louis.
The job has reached such a stage that
the workmen are watched every day by
crowds of men. women and boys. Perch
ed here and there through the maze of
channel bars and steel work are men
with blacksmith FORCES who attend to
the heating of the three-quarter-inch
rivets which are being hammered in to
hold the great structure in place. AS
soon as a rivet is heated it is tossed
with a pair of tongs to one of the men
composing the riveting forces who
catches it in powder can and quickly
places it. welding it by means of a
compressed air riveting machine sim
liar to those in use in the boiler shop
here. The air is supplied through hose
from an air compressor used as a part
of a weed burner now out of service
The power house will be located just
west of the building and south of the
new blacksmith shop. 1t will contain
a battery of six boilers, to be supplied
with machinery whereby the fuel will
be fed into the fires automatically and
the ashes withdrawn likewise. In this
way the whole boiler room may be in
charge of one man.
With the exception of two or three |
cars, nearly all the structural steel has
been shipped from the factory in Toledo. |
Ohio. and there is little fear that delay |
will come from that source longer. 1t |
will be many months yet before the new
building which is now going up viii be |
ready for occupancy, but the job will |
be rushed. and when completed all the |
delay and cost otherwise will be suffi- |
GENTLY repaid 1t will contain ma
chimes valued all the way from SO to /
$4,000 apiece Besides that part of the |
equipment which is now in use here and |
a good part of which will be given an |
overhauling before moving into the new |
quarters.
ROCK ISLAND WITHDRAWs.
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