The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-03
TWO IN ONE
Plan to Combine Light and
Water Plants.
City Would Use Harrison Street
Station.
PLAN is PRACTICAL.
Those Who Know Say 1t Would
Save Money.
Mr. Shaw Thinks Idea Is a
Good One.

To combine the city electric light
plant with the Harrison street pump
ing plant Of the waterworks system is
the latest plan which is being agftated
at the city building.
Superintendent Shaw of the water
works and superintendent Goodrich oil
the electric light plant both give their
endorsement and think it advisable
and practical. Superintendent Good
rich said: This is not q scheme but
a practical thing. The city would save
money and secure better service from
both of the departments. The Santa
Fe railroad has been anxious to pur-
chase our site for sidetraek purposes
and 1 believe that the purchase price
would more than cover the cost Of
transferring the machinery from its
present location to the Harrison street
station Our boilers down at the plant
are worn out and the moving of them
Will practically destroy their effective
ness we ought to have new boilers.
understand that the boilers at the
Harrison street station have a small
capacity and are old. But I believe
that with the purchase of one set of
new boilers one of the old set can be
made to do and together they could
give very efectlVe service. I believe
that there is sufficient room in the
station to take care of our machinery
and that by very small cost the
building could be altered to take care
OF our light plant. 1 shauld estimate
that the total cost of moving. altera-
ton of the station and the purchase
of new boilers would be about SIS, 1000.
The city at the same time would be
saving 81, 100 each year on the salaries
paid in my department. With the pur-
chase of the plant by the railroad
company and the Saving effected in
one year by salaries the whole expense
could almost be taken care of.
I'm addition you would be securing
better service from both departments.
both waterworks and electric light.
because of the presence of all this
boiler capacity With the reserve
which would be maintained in case of
storm there would be less chance of q
breakdown and an inability to give
service from the electric light plant
while with a large fire there would
be just that much more additional
fire pressure. If the city is ready to
handle the matter now it would mean
saving to the city in the long run
and q profitable undertaking.
superintendent Shaw said: ''Just
from casual consideration should
consider it a good plan to follow At
the present time We are cOnStautlV
keeping on the pay roll two engineers
ana two hremen to keep fires bank up
IN the boilers and to furnish a reserve
IRE pressure. L should think shat the
same force which is tending to these
boilers now could handle the boilers
ana machinery of the electric light
plant The boilers at the Harrison
street station while they are small are
giving good service / had them re-
paired recently and they are in good
shape There is plenty of water here
1or the boilers, something which has
furnished some difficulty to the electric
light plant at its present situation
City Attorney Dreaming is in favor
of charging the sc0De Of the oitT-
elecLrlc nghI plant and have it enter
into the commercial field as q bidder
for furnishing power and light to the
private consumer. The city attorney
has been in communication with the
city officials of Jacksonville. Fla. 81
plant has entered the commercial
field. The plan has met with pro
nounced success and the plant has
been q large money maker for tbs
city. 1T was first built in 1885 II
1898, in 1901 and 1868 the plant was
enlarged to accommodate the increas s
ing trade. The cost Of the 0rieina
plant was s76s675.99 and the eztep-
sions and improvements since that
time represent an additional 1882.
1886 or q total expenditure to date
of S266 .00A.S5. The following are tbs
charges for light and power:
All night arc lights. 1000 candle pow
er. $3.50 per month: u o'clock arc lights
1000 candle power, s6.25 per month; in
candescent lights are charged for bz
meter measurement at the rate of
cents per K. W: not less than a min
imum charge Of $500 per month is made
for any service the city pays for the
tights used for public buildings ans
streets at the same rates as above
power is charged for on a sliding seal
Of z to cents per K w, according tt
quantity used; a minimum charge Of s.