The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-12

terially enlarge the Harrison street
station, and install there a first-class
electrical plant. Such equipment as is
necessary might be moved there from
i the city electric light plant. ana the
present light plant shut down. Then
instead of having two big pumps 10
pump the water, would have about
dozen smaller pumps, each 1ndepenu-
emit each a separate unit These
pumps 1 would operate by electricity,
and 1 would generate enough electsifI-
ty not only to run the pumps, out 10
run the city street lighting system
This is the economical way TO do, anu
1 will explain why
In the first place, the city would
save the salary of one superintendent
and a large number of men necessary to
operate two different plants In the
second place, by having our pumping
station arranged on the electrical unit
system, we would use just as much
power as we needed, and no more ON
for water. But out at the present
pumping station they have to keep
those big pumps going and the big
boilers fired up full blast.
IF we should have a plant arranged
on the unit system, we would use just
what pumps might be necessary-tWo'
four six, eight or ten, as the case
might be- 1t would result in a great
saving in operation.
1.-The question naturally arises, what
would you do with the present pumping
station?' Well, that depends on clrcuIn-
stances The city would probably do
best to simply sell it for what it cGIld
get engines, pumps and ALL OR II
might be held as a reserve, though L
doubt whether this would be necessary.
IF the city should be of the OPINION
that it would not be best to establish
a pumping station at the foot OF Harri-
son street, L would suggest that II
would be the best and most economical
plan to rebuild the city electric nSnt
plant so that it would furnish the power
for running the pumping station west
of town. The power could be transmit
ted out there by wires To make the
pumping station effective, however, d
new main would have to be laid to
town. reaching right into the center OF
the city where the pressure is neeued-
would also think it necessary that the
city build couple of big settling baslhS
on the hill near the pumping station,
and not attempt to take its water from
the open wells, which are unreliable.
AS far as they go. believe that the
present pipe lines of the company are
in good shape and are satisfactory, but
they are not big enough to supply the
dry districts. There would have TO De
what we call booster, that Is a laISe
| separate main leading direct from tne
plant to some of the dry districts ana
there distribute into the mains
| 1T seems to me to be the helght OF
! folly to talk about giving up tne cry Ivy
electric light plant, and allowing the
! Edison company to furnish our hgnts,
while at the same time we are taking
about taking possession of decreplt
old waterworks system. The city cleo
| trio light plant is in better condition To-
day than is the city waterworks.
| by a proper arrangement OF Things,
think that separate main up Kansas
avenue for fire pressure is unnecessary.
We can give all the pressure necessary
with the present mains. A separate
main up the avenue would be very
heavy expense"
| There is one serious objection to using
the Harrison street station, even II the
purity of the water supply there couio
/ be assured That is that the river IS
very liable to get up into the plant ana
shut off the city's water supply How
ever. there are many good suggestions
/ in Mr.. Goodrich's remarks, which the
council would do we'll to study