The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-15

jplace of the eight-inch one now in
use in order to reduce the speed
of the fan. This fan now makes
ninety-four revolutions per minute
when the desired speed is about
half this number. 1t was reported
that as the fans now run, 100 cubic
feet of air is given to each pupil,
which is excessive as the law re.
quires but thirty.
That Extra Money.
The property and expense COM
mittee reported that they had been
unable to procure the extra money
that they were supposed to have,
and which is at present in the
hands of the county auditor, who
said he would not pay the money
until he had orders from the state
auditor 1t was moved and carried
that the secretary be instructed to
correspond with the state auditor 70
see what is to be done with this
money, which amounts to $4,000.
Attorney John E. Regain reported
that he had seen the members of
the council personally in the matter
of some sidewalks to be built near
one of the schools, and he had been
promised that these sidewalks would
be built early next spring.
Boys Laying Thing.
The building committee reported
that the gymnasium had now been
completed and that the students
are beginning to play basketball and
use the shower baths. The boys are
doing the work of laying in the til
ing, so that the only expense in
this matter was the cost of the tile
and expense of hauling out the dirt.
The matter of the bond of the ].
B. Nielsen Construction company was
brought up, with the result that a
motion was made and carried that
it was referred to the building COM
mittee with power to act. There ap-
pears to be some controversy be-
tween the Nielsen Construction COM
pany and some sub-contractors, and
therefore Mr.. Scherer refused to re-
lease the bond. 1t also seems that
the bond was held up because the
Mankato Manufacturing company
had a bill against the Nielsen Con-
struction company. The bond was
given in the first place for the pur
pose of protecting the school from
any lleL, WHlCu lHo SoHoIi uS'oi D
might make against it.
1t was decided that the amount
of the bill of c. NJ. Masters for the
exchange of low radiation for high
radiation be corrected to $120 in
stead of 800.
Mr.. Strive Addressed the Board.
Mr.. Strive of the Water Arch
company was then given the floor
for some time while he explained
the supposed deficiencies of the fur
naces. In the first place, he said,
the amount of air given each pupil
was excessive, and in the second
place the blast service was enor-
nous, which involved about one ton
day in heat losses. The circula-
ton was also sluggish in the heat
ing system.
His system of furnaces was large
ly in use in Chicago, he said, and
had given satisfaction there. He
then read a long report from the
Water Arch company, in which he
criticised the conditions now exist
ing in the school, he having made
complete investigation, and also
pointed out what should be done
! toward improving these conditions.
| He also read the rate of coal that
should be used. Three thousand
pounds or a little less than half
the present consumption, was suf-
ficient, he said, if the proper condi-
lions were made.
Mr.. Strive said that $4,000 cubic
feet of air per minute used about
$500 pounds of coal for day of
six hours He also criticised the
large shafts or pulleys on the mo-
tor, which resulted in too high speed
OF the fans. Besides these things,
he said the building was compare
lively new and had not dried out
yet, and was therefore not as sus-
ceptible to the heat of the furnace
as when it had died out completely.
The brick in the walls was still
/ full of moisture. An allowance OF
800 pounds of coal a day should be
made for this also.
Mr. Scherer said that the speed
of the fan in the old building could
| likewise be reduced considerably
with a resultant saving in fuel.
Architect Is Present.
]. B. Chandler of Milwaukee, who
|
present and he admitted that there
was an oversight on the part Of the
architects in some small matter, but
in drawing plans for the building,
they had also made some extra al
lowance. The boilers had been
made ready for a five-inch pipe, al
though the plans called for four.
inch pipe.
Mr.. Strive then explained that
the school board would make big
saving if storm windows were put
lon, as there would be a considerable
! saving in COAL In test some time
ago at high pressure when the Their.
mometer registered twelve below
zero. one day 1900 pounds were
used while the next day at five be-
low zero, 1900 pounds were used
so that the change in temperature
had something to do with coal con
sumption.
The coal was also not up to the
standard. Mr.. Strive. suggested that
the board buy screenings, which
, serve the purpose better and are
also cheaper. 1t was suggested that
the present contract with the local
coal dealers he cancelled as the