The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-03
HUGE HEAT PLANT
FOR MINNEAPOLIS
Central Station and System of
Tunnels and Substations
Planned.
UNDERGROUND WAYS
FOR FREIGHT LINES
Sideways to Be Open to Use in
Place Of Wire Conduits
Downtown.


neapolis Heating & Transmission com.
pany were filed today with the secre-
tary of state. The purpose Of the com.
pany is to furnish steam heat to con-
sumers from a central plant, as we'll as
to lease space in its tunnels and shafts
to public service corporations for car
rying their wires. Altho it's capitaliza-
organization permits an expansion to
provide for the distribution, transmits
sion and delivering Of mail and ex.
press matter and general merchandise,
as we'll as of heat, light and power,
thru underground conduits, tunnels and
subways, or, in short, pneumatic tube
service. = -
The operation of the new company
will do away with the smoke nuisance
to large extent, and obviate the ap.
parent necessity for the continual tear
ing up of the paved streets.
Income to the City.
From an economic standpoint, the
Minneapolis Heating & Transmission
company promises remuneration to the
city more definite than a clear sky and
the mere saving of the integrity of the
streets, and an increase in its revenues,
by paying graduated gross earnings
tax, and by the offer Of the free use
of the company's tunnel for the carry
ing Of the city's fire alarm telegraph
and police wires.
The incorporators of the Minneapolis
Heating & Transmission company are
%ot : PoTteoHs T Lewis s. s. Miner liner J. A.
and Edwin II. Cheney Of Chicago. For
NAL application will be made to the
| city council in the near future for an
| ordinance giving the company permits.
sion to construct its shafts and tunnels.
| Plans of the company call for CEN
trail steam plant and, as the system
grows, a series of substations, with dis
tribution thru the tunnels at low pres
sure.
Economy of operation of individual
steam plants in downtown buildings is
one Of the advantages held out by the
4 new company. Many plants operate ma
chinery with steam all thru the sum-
mer, when they are not using a heating
plants can operate thru the summer
months with power furnished by cleo
trio companies, and get their heat in
the winter by simply turning valve
opening to the heating company %
mains. III.
Plans of New Company.
J. S. Porteous, one of the incorpor-
ators Of the company, said today:
"This is plan for a central heating
plant that will generate and distribute
steam for heating purposes.
| SThe theory of this distribution is
a tunnel or shaft, under the streets and
alleys, at such distance below the sur
face as not, to interfere with any gas,
water or sewer mains, or existing con-
Quits. ~. .. 49, ~
'This plan will obviate tearing up
the streets for repairs or to find possible
leaks, or to make house connections. i
"One difficulty with which we have
had to contend in Minneapolis is the
impracticability Of putting small
plants in non-smoking condition
whereas with the size Of the central
plant and the modern attachments ap.
piled thereto, this can be easily done
I An advantage which accrues also from
expense of fuel to the consumer, al
large quantities are bought at low
{ prices instead Of small quantities by
individual firms. Still another advant
i age is the facilities with which the pa
- iron Of the plant can turn on the hea'
q as he does gas or electricity.
Y Pneumatic Tubes Possible.
!. "This organizations also contemplatel
the use, for itself and others, Of tun
\ nels SO constructed that they can b,
have recently come into use for tn,
transmission Of small packages AMI
l. light freight.
y fsThere is the possibility Of tunne
/ so large that space can be rented t,
other public utility companies 70
stringing wires, and the engineerin,
problem suggests the probable use o.
concrete for the tunnels, SO that the,
!, will be absolutely dry.
j: : "The company has made trial boring
K to determine the nature Of the STRAIT
l. underneath the city and has also can
0 vassed the possibilities Of probable cua
/. toners. It has met with much encoul
agement from citizens who invite pla,
Of that kind. In fact, this scheme ha
been created by solicitations Of larg
consumers of heating steam.
"Another probable advantage of
n plan of this kind is that altho niue
II work is now being done by public sery
ice corporations in laying undergroun
: tubes before the resurfacing Of tn
streets, the growth of the city an
probable requirements of the companie
2 in supplying the increased demand fc
= service will create call for more sue
5. work in the near future, which can b
J taken care of at reasonable prices in
r tunnel Of the type planned by this con
Ii pa1nry T,o oo,,n.n,, .o,,,,n;,o. ~, :,
= that such privileges as it asks entitlt
l the city to a reasonable compensation
and is willing to give it in the shape
y gross earnings tax and free carriaf
$ Of the city's wires. -