The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-05
BROCK SECURES
VALUABLE DATA
PROJECT OF CENTRAL HEATING
PLANT AND OTHER PUBLIC
UTILITIES ARE BEING
CONSIDERED.

For some months past number of
local gentlemen have been consider
ing the feasibility Of installing and
operating a central heating system, to
furnish heat by hot water or steam to
the central portion of the city, taking
in the section between West street
and Mesnard and for a district ihreo
blocks in width. II was mainly TO OBJ.
tain facts and figures on this subject
that III. u. Brock mace mis- recent ex-
tensive trip. during which he visited q
large number of cities in Minnesota,
North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois and
Michigan.
He returned with vast amount
of data, not only on this particular
subject but also on the municipal own
ership of such public utilities as cleo
tricity. gas and water, so that lie is
i'm a position to impart information of
an authoritative nature on any of these
matters.
There has been more or less agitation
locally for municipal electric lighting
plant and some time ago the board of
public works was authorized to secure
an estimate Of the probable cost of
maintenance and operation of such en-
equipment suitable for the city of Han
cock. The figures and facts secured
along the line are complete and the
board Of public works we'll DOUBTLESS
utilize them.
The rates charged for gas and cleo
tricity and water were also investi-
gated. Mir. Brock found that the rate
for gas in Hancock, was the hishes:
charged in the United States with the
exception Of town in Texas. being
Sl.5o per thousand feet. Tomahawl.
Wis. sells electricity on a fiat rate of
dollar month to residences, using no
meters. and the rate for water for
houses is four dollars a year, minimum.
compared with six dollars i'm Hancock
or 90 cents a hundred feet. In Milwau-
kee the charge for water is Az cents a
hundred. In New Richmond. Wis. the
with discount for prompt payment
within a reasonable time.
Mr.. Brock found that i'm many places
heating systems are operated in con-
nection with electric plants, but a loss
results as the peak OF the electric SER
vice comes about seven in the evening
while the peak of the heating service
is between six and seven In the morn
ing. coming at a time when the steam
at the electrical plants is allowed to
drop to its lowest point.
In Eveleth, Hibbing and Virginia
City. Mimi, and i'm several Dakota
towns Mr.. Brock found that indepen-
dent central heating plants were being
made to pay In Detroit was found the
most extensive installation. covering a
territory three miles long. with boost
er" plants at each end OF the ine to
help out the central plant. The heat
supplied is measured by flow" meters
as it leaves the boilers and the service
L. consumers is measured by the re-
turn water flowing through meters af-
ter condensation. Ii is estimated thar
plant suitable for supplying Han
cock could be installed for about fifty
thousand dollars
a plant that will return the water
To the boilers 60 be used over again
instead OF allowing 1t To run away
through the sewers is considered the
most advantageous and il is figured
that heat could be furnished at the
present actual cost of coal for fuel used
by individual residences and business
places. eliminating the cost of original
installation of furnaces, heaters or
stoves. and the cost of repairs, remov-
ing ashes, doing away with dust and
dirt.
when Hancock builds its new high
school" said Mr.. Brock. the building
should be equipped with vacuum
cleaners: in fact they should be used
in all school buildings. In Chicago. II
found vacuum cleaners in use, and was
much impressed with the manner In
which dirt, chalk dust paper. etc.
cleaned from the floors and wallis and