The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-28
Brush Electric Company First
to Operate Here.
Built the Plant in This City
20 Years Ago.
HISTORY OF EDISON PLANT
Was Only q Generator at Shaw
nee Mills in 1887.
March of Progress for Indus
tries of Topeka.

Probably in nothing modern-noth-
Ing that has come to be accepteo as
necessary of life at least-has progress
been more marked than in the devei-
opment of electricity and its applica-
ton to domestic uses. From the olsn
which held grease "f some sort ano
into which a wick was placed sneo-
ding a meager light. through the de-
velopment of the tallow candle. the
finally high powered oil lamp, ana
then from the poorly constructed.
wasteful electric lamp of thirty years
ago to the high powered light OF TO-DAY,
the progress has been steady, ana
every step has been attended with IN
terest.
First Electric Plant.
1t was something over 20 years ago
that the first electric plant in TOPEKA
was built. 1t was operated by the
Brush Electric Light company anu
furnished current for a series of arc
lights. The system would be scorneu
in any locality today. break In one
of the service wires at any POM
broke the circuit and put the "hoie
system out of commission.
In the old days in Topeka the light
ing systems in stores then in vogue
would not begin to satisfy the modern
merchant. Twenty-Five years ago d
store was considered well lighted II
there were 10 or ~ 16-candle power
carbon lamps. suspended from the
ceiling-that is a store 70 rect Wloe
and twice as long. Now more than
the candle power of the whole build
ing would be concentrated IN one
light over the managers desk
OF course Topeka was young when
the first electric plants were installed
here, and electricity for lighting and
commercial uses also was young. Inc
strides forward have been tremen-
dous, in every way, including Detter-
ing the lights. reducing the former
enormous waste, and lettering ana
increasing the equipment to hanole
the increased demands.
First Edison Company.
The first plant of what is now the
Topeka Edison company, then known
as the Edison Electric Illuminating
company, consisted Of a little genera
tor in the Shawnee Mills. installed
early in 1887. In January the follow
ing year the present site was picked
out and the first building erected,
small structure on four lots. the build
ing being about 60 by 20 feet. AT
that time the equipment consisted in
3 $50 horse power boilers, 125 horse
power engines belted to 4 generators
of As kilowatt capacity each. The
capacity of the then new plant was
5000 16 candle power lamps. Very
little power was distributed. Among
the few users of electric current for
power purposes were the two daily
newspaper plants. Colonel Reeds
printing plant, George w. Crane, the
Topeka Spice Mills, and few others.
Among the earlier users of electricity
for lighting were included A. A. Rob-
tnson. Edward Wilder. John r. Null
vane, George M. Noble, ]. P. Griswold,
and perhaps a dozen others.
Growth of Industry.
The comparison of the plant then
with the present shows the striking
growth of the industry. The present
plant occupies II lots. The building
has been remodeled and improved until,
instead Of the little frame structure
with even a wooden switchboard that
marked it's beginning, it is now fire
proof construction. with a marble
switchboard. and has a capacity of
APO kilowatts. The equipment is the
most modern known. including two big
1000 kilowatt. 1900 volt Allis- Chalmers
turbines. one of which is in constant
use and the other held for emergencies.
Proud of Them
Topeka has always been proud of
her industries, and the fact that as
rule they have kept pace with the
growth and development of the city it,
self The Edison plant is no exception to
the rule. Complete in every detail. built
with view to future years as well as
~--C PASt'SAe. oAiA eNulPPcu Nltn mOOGrn
machinery for generating and distribut-
ing current. the plant is enough to
satisfy the most critical.
glimpse inside the big plant is we'll
worth while In the power room the
sounds of rapidly revolving generators
is almost all that is heard. The big
engines. two turbine and four vertical
type Buckeye engines, are practically
nolseless in their work. The big mar
Die switchboard apparently is no place
Tor one who does not entirely under
stand his business. being almost as in
tricate as telephone switchboard.
IN addition to the two big generators
which constitute a little less than half
the pant. there are two 5O-kilowatt
generators. one of 900 kilowatt CAPACITY.
one OF 800 and one of 2OO making the
total noted. There are 1,4O0 kilowatt
capacity in motor generator sets