The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-31
TOBORROWM MONEY
Funds for Extension of Water
Mains to Be Secured.
Board of Commissioners Would
Negotiate Loan.
Do NOT FAVOR BONDS.
Earnings Can Take Care of Oh
legation Incurred.
Work to Commence Within Six
Months.

The members of the board of water
works commissioners have decided to
make, extension of the water mains into
the dry districts of the Fifth ward.
To meet the cost of making these ex-
tensions it has been decided to secure
the necessary money by borrowing the
same from the banks in the city. Sup
erintendent Shaw stated that he
thought the matter could be handled
better in this manner than by issuing
bonds to cover the cost. In support of
this he cited the experience of the To-
peka Water company, the former own
ers of the plant, who were accustomed
to go to the banks and borrow the mon
ey sufficient to provide for improve
ments as they were made. In this man
ner the loan can be secured in a more
expeditions manner The suggestion
meets with the approval of the board,
who favored the plan and would prefer
to borrow money rather than to call for
an extra bond issue. The idea OF long
time obligation is the one which did not
meet the favor of the board. The mem
bers opposed a 20 year bond issue.
The members of the board decided
| that, though extensions cannot be made
throughout the district, an attempt will
be made to serve the most thiclxly set
| tied portion where a revenue ample to
cover 10 per cent of the cost of the ex-
| tensions can be assured. This cost, on
| intendent Shaw from $4,000 to $1,000
| The estimate of the cost to be incurred
in supplying the entire districts close to
$4,000 The extensions will be made. it
/ is expected, within the next six months,
| The Harrison street station will be
| closed. The $40 a day which 1T is
4 costing the city to maintain the pres
sure for emergency purposes is char
acteriZed as useless and as soon as the
extra boilers are installed at the upper
pumping station and the choke re-
moved, the Harrison street station will
be shut down.
The purchase of twenty-five addi-
tiona1 well points was considered last
evening, the cost of these upon an
estimate will be about $4,000. The
points will be six inches in diameter
inch poipts now in use and will con-
sequently give increased supply of
water. 1t is probable that they will
be placed in position in October. The
river is at its lowest at that time and
it is much easier to place the points
in position at that time.
This morning Superintendent Shaw,
together. with a force from the engi-
neering department, went to the upper
pumping plant to secure definite esti-
tmates and measurements for the pro-
lposed changes in the station. They
will include the erection of additional
boiler room and the increase in the
height of the smoke stack. With these
figures as basis the city engineer can
prepare estimates of the cost of the
changes and, under authorization from
the city council, bids can be called for.
1t has developed in the answers which
have been secured from supply houses
| that there is a pipe trust. The board
has been writing to several supply
houses for prices on mains and in each
instance the prices returned show an
| almost unvarying uniformity. In turn
one company has referred to another
The prices vary in one or two instances
to so cents per ton, just enough to make
the uniformity not too striking. The
prices quoted all hover about the $50
ton mark. This is an increase over
: the prices asked three and four years
ago of from two to three dollars. One
of the last things which the board acted
: upon was the appointment and designa-
! ton of the official list of employees OF
the water works department.
, The list shows but few changes
l though made on the basis of shutting
down the Harrison street plant. Nico
who has been engineer at the Harrfsor
street plant goes to the upper PLAN
as fireman. The assistant to Nicol a.
the Harrison street station will be al
lowed to 60
The list of ell pleyes decided upon il
as follows: Observation-Disclosures Shaw
= cashier-F. L. Stevens, cierk-Lena Tall
T man, chief engineer-M. ]. Zollinger
: second engineer-John Hanson, fireman
John Nicol, fireman-Lon Bright
Ter meter supervisor-Louis Poison
d meter reader-A. H. Jackson.
Y The board adjourned to meet again
Friday evening at which time furthe
t | data regarding extensions and improve
Z ments will be submitted.