The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-05-18
HALF THE CITY OF BOISE Is
BEING HEATED BY STEAM
AND HOT WATER.
Suggestion Of State GeoIosist Of Penn
syIvania Is Carried Out With
Splendid Results.

three years ago the citizens of Boise,
Idaho-where the winter is almost as
severe as it is in Alaska, and fuel is
c. Demming, acting state geologist of
Pennsylvania had determined that the
earth's crust was very thin in that re-
gion, and might be tapped for hot
water and steam, for the practical
heating of stores and residences.
To some of the wiseacres in Boise
the idea seemed to be merely a piece
of imagination--an Aladdin's lamp
dream-pleasing nonsense, so far as
real utility was concerned. But sever
al business men and the governor Of
the state, John T.. MORRISON; the for
mer adjutant general, ]. L. Weaver,
and the mayor of Boise wrote to Colo
mel Demming for suggestions and OBJ
tanning them, began an experiment by
boring holes in the ground.
During the last five months half the
stores and dwellings in Boise, which
has a population of $4,000, have been
heated with boiling water and steam
by pipe lines from borings through the
earth's crust.
On invitation Of state and municipal
officials Colonel Demming will travel
from Harrisburg, Pa, to receive a
public ovation at Boise in appreciation
of the successful economical demon
stration of his idea.
A Reception for Colonel Demming.
The reception was arranged by Gen.
eral Weaver, who was among those
who believed, when the first expert
ment was made, that the natural heat
ing idea was practicable. His enthu-
siasm is indicated in letter to Colonel
Demming, in which he states that the
waste hot water is being used g for
sprinkling some of the streets, and that
in consequence. the grass plots and
shrubbery on the sidewalks have been
green since early in the spring.
Colonel Demming was surprised and
greatly amused over the report of YER
dure in March in the streets Of Boise.
one of the coolest places on the wealth
er map.
| But he wasn't surprised to learn
that half Of the town, including the
public buildings, had been heated from
holes bored under it.
Il knew the crust was thin at Boise, /"
| he said, and that the strata of soil
would permit borings to reach boiling
| water within say $500 feet. That es-
innate was conservative"
It was very conservative, for they
| found boiling water under Boise last
winter at a depth of 1900 feet, and at
1000 feet they found temperature
Of 220 degrees Fahrenheit, degrees
| above boiling.
No Longer an Experiment.
Some idea Of the thinness of the
| earth's crust in Idaho may be had
from the fact that to reach tempera-
ture Of only 100 degrees Fahrenheit un-
der New York. Chicago or Philadelphia
it would be necessary to bore to depth
of $500 feet, If the temperature at the
| surface were as high as so degrees
above zero.
| And at Boise, with surface temper
| allure Of 80 degrees below zero, they
have been obtaining a plentiful supply
| of boiling water from depth of 1900
to 1000 feet.
In the worlds modern scientific rec
ords of geological exploration there has
not been any experiment as astonish-
ing as the project at Boise.
Flying machines, balloons, electricity
as a substitute for steam in fast rail-
| way transportation, wireless tele-
graphy, electricity as a substitute for
fueEall these things are yet really in
the experimental stage.
But getting heat from the center of
| the earth" to warm your house-a
dream Of the forefathers- no longer
| an experiment. Away out in snow
bound Idaho It is fact-so simple in
| application that the community re-
CARDS It as commonplace, as Pennsyl-
vanians regard oil wells. or California
gold mines.
Where the Hint Came From.
From the middle O. September until
the first Of May, Boise requires arti-
ncial heat and coal costs so . ton.
For months at time the city II snow
bound. and often coal cannot be had
| at any price. g
By the tapping of the earth and pip
ing hot water and steam through the
town last winter, the citizens saved
thousands Of dollars, and besides did