The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-19

cover I'D our main with a lot of rock
ballast and stuff which would make it
very hard to get at. We would prefer
in such case to move the main. We
want it where we can get at it"
Mr.. Street and Mr. Shaw explained
that the main was washed out for a
distance of 1000 feet and that of this
500 had been replaced under the
ground The remainder was built on
a trestle of oak posts with headers. rip
raped around the bottom with rock.
The treStle is from three to eight feet
high. Mr.. Shaw stated that he be-
heved the main would withstand an
other flood like the last one better in
its present condition than it did before
In regard to the boilers, which were
called into question by Porter Mitchell
superintendent of the city electric light
plant. Mr.. Street said that the two 25C
year ago from the Fftzgibbons boiler
works of OSWegO, N. Y. I'VE paid three
or four hundred dollars extra freight
on these boilers said Mr.. Street, land
brought them from New York, because
we believed them superior to anything
we could get nearer Topeka. The cost
for repairs may be higher than on some
boilers. but it is not excessive"
In regard to the condition of the en-
gines, Mr.. Shaw stated that the en-
gines at the plant now are exactly as
| good as new engines. The repairs be-
| ing made to the pumps consist in re-
packing, with new valves. One of the
pumps was bought in 1887 and rebuilt
| in 1891, when it was moved to the new
| power house. Two months ago it was
repacked. The other pump is Holly
| bought in 1895, and is to be repacked
as soon as the material arrives. Each
pump has a capacity of 5000, 900 gallons
! per "a hours, but in actual service can
pump about 5000, 900 gallons.
Mr.. Street stated that the 6-inch
main across the bridge would be re-
placed by an 8-inch main before the
plant is transferred to the city, and
that when that was done. he would
| consider the plant in as good, and bet
ter condition than it was before the
| flood. Superintendent Jesse Shaw
agreed to this view of the case.
President Street submitted to the
| council a special form of bond, manu-
featured in New York, which he de-
sired to have the council use. 1t en-
bodies certain safeguards against for
gerry or alterations which Mr.. Street
deemed advisable, and the council will
probably have the $S5o.oo0 issue printed
1 in the manner Mr.. Street desires.
Mr.. Street showed that he has been
keeping in close touch with the situa-
| ton by remarking:
I'VE feel that we are giving a pretty
big price for these bonds when we take
them at per cent for par. Your last
bonds were AZ per cent
Yes, but we got a big premium for
Them said City Attorney Spencer.
Il know that" said President Street
but it wasn't enough to cut them
| down to 4 per cent I watched that
sale very closely, you see. 1t was OF
a good deal of interest to me because
it meant a good many thousand dollars
on this $350000 deal"
Owing to the fact that the meeting
last night was informal, no official ac-
ton was taken, but at the council
meeting Wednesday night, a resolution
will be passed which will probably pro-
vide for the transfer of control on
April !.
The councilmen were all present last
night except L. A. Ryder of the First
| ward E. B. Snyder of the Second
| and George w. Tincher of the Sixth.