The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-24
LIGHT BIDS ARE IN
New City Plant Will Cost Less
Than $4,000.
And This for Modern Lights
and Up.to-Date Machinery.
HAS NOT YET DECIDED.
Will Submit the Proposition to
an Electrical Expert.
Only About Half the Amount
Voted Will Be Needed.

The bids from four companies on the
equipment for the new city light plant
have been received and opened by the
three trustees and it can now be auth
oritatively stated that the new plant
complete with 500 new and improved
lamps in commission and capacity for
800 lamps, will not cost $4,000, which is
about half of the sum called for in the
bond election held here last spring
when $4,000, or so much thereof as is
needed, was voted in the face of oppo-
sition for modern and efficient light
plant for Topeka.
r. L. Cofran, w. W. Mills and Her
bert Hackney were selected as trustees
for the taxpayers to supervise the work
of buying the equipment and INSTALL
ing the new plant. They have received
bids from four of the largest electri-
cal concerns in the west and after in
specting these bids have decided that
they would consult an electrical expert
before letting the contract. The queS-
ton that confronts them is whether to
buy enough old style lamps to fill out
the required number of 500 required at
this time by the city and rewind the
old dynamos and thus spend $4,000 on
the old plant, or to buy 500 of the new
magnetic lamps and a new dynamo
and thus have a capacity for 800 lamps.
The last proposition means an expendi-
ture of nearly $4,000, but appears to
be the best proposition. The matter
will likely be settled this week.
The trustees have been working on
this matter for over four months, which
seems a long time in which to decide
on buying machinery and equipment.
But when it is remembered that the
city of Topeka as represented by three
different mayors and councils has
wrestled with the problem of new
light plant for six years and accom-
plished nothing, the trustees will have
done splendidly if they let their con-
tracts this month.
The most important question that
confronted the trustees was whether
to buy more of the old style arc lamps
or contract for all new lamps. Then
they want additional expert advice on
prices quoted on material The city
now has 345 of the old style enclosed
90 of these lamps have been turned
over to the Edison company and the
latter furnish current for them at the
rate of 81, 900 per year, but the city now
owns 345 lamps, and would have 20
buy only 1856 more of these lamps to
fill out the required quota of 500 lamps
to properly light the city at this time.
The new lamps under consideration
are of two styles, the magnetic lamp
and the metallic flame lamp, burning
new lamps have been tested here by
Superintendent H. r. Goodrich of the
light department and 1t has been round
that they consume about half the cur
rent of the old lamps and give bet
ter, brighter light. Four men now
trim and care for the 322 lamps fur
nished by the city, while one man
could care for the proposed 5OO new
lamps. The old lamps consume a car
bon costing about II cents every night
NJ mo "a. RI H.
er in connection with installing these
lamps is the fact that the light plant
is now equipped with a splendid Cor
liss engine, 500 horse power and prac-
tically new. This engine has capac-
ity for 500 of the old style or present
lamps. while it will handle 900 of the
new lamps, which require only about
half the current that the old lamps do
Thus the question is, shall the capacity
of the plant be increased at this time
to meet just the present needs or the
city, or shall it be increased to care
for the lighting of the city streets ten
years hence. IN
The Topeka light plant is 20 years
old, but the building is erected or stone,
is in good condition and there is plenty
of room. The engine, as has been sta
ted, is practically new and of suthcient
power. So there is only building ana
engine to form the nucleus for the new
plant. Three new boilers and a smoke
stack will have to be bought; these
will cost about $4,000, placed in posi-
ton for service, and all the trimmings
that accompany them. ooo
A new dynamo. costing about $4'OOO'
is needed. but this will have capacity
of 900 lamps of the new style
The city has 81 miles of serVlceaole
wire and will have to have ABOUT ten
miles additional, costing about $500.
About 400 new poles will be needed
and these will have to be longer than
the regulation forty feet to carry tue
city wires over the low poles OF the
telephone companies and VIII likely
cost about 50 each.
So, 500.
Thus. with an eye to the specifica-
tions and the figures in the plds al
ready opened, it will be seen that ths
less than $4,000, which leaves $lO.OOo
for construction work. And this new
plant would be equipped With modern
lights and have a capacity Ior Soo
lamps with only the additional cost OF
the lamps and wire. THESE proposed
new lamps cost about $25 apiece. On |
the plan of the $4,000 estimate all the |
electrical equipment and machinery,
big and little, will be brand new except |
the engine. building and 81 miles OF OLD |
wire now in service. And 1t is believed
that the plant on these speclncatlohs
will not cost quite 100000
The people are not so much interest
ed in who gets the contract as they
are in the price and efficiency and ca
pacity of the new plant. 1t is now GER
tain that the cost will be within $4O'-
300. The question yet to be finally de-
cided by the trustees is whether they
shall spend So. 900 for 500 lamp plant
using the old lamps and re-winding the
Did dynamos, or spend $4,000 for
modern 900 lamp plant with everything
brand new and up to date while they
are at it. The cost of running the |
modern plant will be less by a consid-