Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-07-02
CITY COUNCIL HOLD
A QUIET SESSION
Heat Committee Make Report-Rec'
commended the Abandonment
Of Heating Plant.

| Of Heating Plant.
The matter of considering the re-
| port of the committee appointed
some time ago to investigate the
city heating plant, took up most OF
the time Of the city council in their
session last evening. They recon-
mend that the plant be abandoned.
A petition signed by G. F. Tucker
and others was presented, asking
that crossing over the right-of-way
of the Chicago & Northwestern be
made in order to connect Merritt
and John streets. The matter was
left in the hands of the street and
alley committee.
A written request, signed by Mes
danes w. c. tombstone, o. N. Ross
and G. D. Carl, a committee repre-
senting the Iowa Holiness Associa-
ton, asking that the lots at the end
of Dubuque street near the flowing
we'll be allowed for their use, as they
wish to hold tent meetings there,
was presented and the favor grant
ed.
The matter of obnoxious weeds on
the lots owned by VIM. Wilke, just
east of the city square, was left to
the city street commissioner, who
will remove them.
The agreement of E. D. Curtis to
pay by August 18th for the lots pur-
chased from the city some time ago,
located in the" south part of the city,
was accepted.
Officers reports were then read
and bills allowed. ~
The following report of the COM
mittee was submitted:
After an investigation of the city
heating system from the new cleo
trio light plant to the Wilson house
corner with a view of recommending
the operation thereof for another
season, if conditions warranted, and
after carefully considering the in
conveniences to present property
owners by a discrimination there
Of, as we'll as the deficiency caused
by the expense of operating same
being greater than the income deriv-
ed therefrom, which has to be paid
by the general property owners, and
considering the welfare of the city
of Webster City with relation there
to, this committee begs leave to re-
port. ,., sa.. S. -..- p, D.. 10y.
This part of the heating plant be-
gins at the electric light plant and
extends a distance of five blocks
Part of one building is heated in the
first two blocks; three buildings in
the next block; parts of seven build
ings in the fourth block and parts
of fifteen in the fifth block. 1t can
readily be seen that with the ex-
ception of the 5th block there is not
sufficient patronage to warrant the
heating of any entire block with a
single plant The fifth block is too
far away from our plant to heat
profitably and heat cannot be profit
ably carried a long distance unless
the plant is we'll enough put in and
insulated so that there is practically
no line loss. However, a centrally
located plant could heat this block
profitably. We believe. There are
private plants located in this dis
trict, as we are informed, with boil
err capacity sufficient to take on the
present users of city heat in this
block, should the users care to make
the arrangement. One plant is re-
ported to be large enough to carry
it's entire side of the street.
The experience of the city has
been that the income derived from
the heating plant was insufficient to
pay the operating expenses thereof,
Il even UeloTe lue AOsI plohlaolc pal
of the plant, which was located
around the old electric light plant,
was cut of. This neeessitated the
general taxpayers being taxed to
make up the deficiency and the city
at large was compelled to assist in
paying the expenses of operating the
plant.
About five years ago the then city
council realized that the line loss OF
the present plant was too great and
investigated the expense Of taking
up and putting down a properly in
sulated main which was found &c
cost at that time over $4,000. As
it was too expensive nothing was
done at that time.
: Extensive repairs have been made
the past season and wherever seer
the pipes are shown to be almost be
- Thava n