The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-23
IN NICK OF time.
Boiler at WaterWorks Found to
Be in Bad Shape.
Was in Grave Danger of an
Explosion.
FIX 1T UP AT ONCE.
Will Cost in Neighborhood of
Five Thousand Dollars.
Cottages for Employees to Be
Built at Pumping Plant.

II an investigation had not beer
made of one of the boilers at the up
river pumping station of the city
waterworks and steps taken imme-
dlately to guard against any accident
an explosion might have occurred that
would have wrecked the entire plant
n killed several persons.
The oldest boiler at the station, one
which has been in service for the past
eighteen years, is found to be badly
cracke near the low pressure cylin-
ders. The entire front of the engine
will probably have to be rebuilt at a
cost of $4,000.
According to c.. E. Jewell, one of the
members of the board of trustees, one
of the engineers at the plant knew
that a crack existed when the plant
was first purchased by the city but
said nothing about it. Lately In max
ing an investigation of the engine it
was discovered that the crack had ex-
tended and that repairs would have to
be made or an explosion might take
place.
Its something that will have to be
done right away and we are now get
ting an estimate of the cost of repair
ing the engine" said Jewell. IF we
don't attend to it we might have an
explosion out there that woul tear out
the entire south wall of the plant. 1t
will probably cost sometime like
$4,000, and just as soon as we find out
what the estimate. that we have k
for amounts to we will give the order
for the contract"
The question at issue in making the
repairs is whether it will be necessary
to order an entire new set of high and
low pressure cylinders or whether the
cylinders now in use can be dismantle
and shipped east, for repairs. 1t Is
thought that the latter method would
be the cheaper.
While the repairs are being made to
this engine the Harrison street pump
ing station will be put into use again
and will serve to furnish an extra sup
ply of water for emergency purposes.
The pumps at the up river station
are in good shape, says Mr.. Jewell,
and all of the boilers. Whether the
engineer who concealed the condition
of the engine from the board of trus-
tees will be discharged is something
that the board of trustees has yet not
decided upon. The $4,000 which will
p1 obably be incurred in repairs is in
the nature of an unexpected expense
and will hamper in a n some of
the plans for betterments to the plant
and in water rate reduction.
Two cottages will be. erected in the
near future for employees at the wa
terworks pumping plant in order to
keep an adequate number of employees
at all times at the Station One en-
SA1SOI $500
at the plant, living on the second
floor. but in case @f%an accident or a
big fire in which case a larger number
than the regular shift of employees
are necessary a serious delay would be
incurred for several of the employees
live in the city, one living in a To-
peka. To obviate this delay the board
of w~aterworks trustees plan to erect
two cottages on the grounds near the
plant and rent them to the employees.
"1f we have a small colony there We
can always have somebody extra
around in case of an emergency and
for that reason we think it would be
wise to put up a couple of houses and
rent them to he men," said Mr..
Though the erection of the cottages
and the rebuilding of the one engine
will use up close to $4,000 the trus-
tees still hope, if there are not extern
sive main extensions demanded, to
make some reduction in the present
rates. Within one year the trustees
believe hat they will be in a position
to certain reductions which
though not radical in nature will still
make an appreciate difference as
compared to the rates now in effect