The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27
BIG HEATING PLANT
The Largest System in United
States is Located at Camp
Funston.
TWO ARE NOW IN OPERATION
Others Will Be Completed at Rate
Of One Each Week-Some
Startling Figures.

steam Missed through the pipes Of
two OF the heating plants at Camp
Funston recently, marking the begin
ming of the end of the construction
OF the largest steam heating system
In the United States, If not in the en-
tire world. The two plants completed
will heat two entire infantry units
and the other plants will be completed
at the rate of about one a week
Although there have been slight de-
lays on account of shortages in ma
terials and lack OF proper help at
times, some really great work has
been done by the contractors for the
plant, the total cost OF which, not
counting some extensions which will
have to be made, will be approximate
~ $1,100,0O0. It was August 15 when
The contract was let and three days
later wien the first men arrived on
the grounds. At that time there was
not a piece Of material on the job.
To gain an idea Of the immensely of
the system which will furnish heat for
nearly $4,000 men this winter, con-
slider the fact that there is 100000
square feet of radiation, or 9,1O6 sep
arate radiators. That is more than
100 carloads, or 100000 pounds.
per cent of the radiators
are now installed.
It takes seventy miles Of pipe, which
would stretch from Kansas City to To-
peka, to carry the steam to the various
ported on telephone poles, as was or
dered by Washington.
The mains are covered with two and
one-half inches of hair felt, a thick
coating of asbestos, then wrapped with
and finally painted with as
phaltum. In that way there should be
very little loss of heat, even though
the lines are not underground.
There are seventeen main power
plants, one for each unit of buildings,
thirteen 900 horsepower plants and
four $50 horsepower plants. The great
boilers weigh twelve tons each and in
many cases they had to be rolled a dis
lance of 500 feet
X x x
Old Paper Finances church.-The
United Brethren Church of Scandal
has adopted a unique and novel way
Of meeting the church's expenses,
During the past eight months, mem
bers of the congregation have gather
ed carload of paper, which was
shipped out a few days ago. On re-
ceipt of the fund from the sale of the
paper, they will pay the pastors sal
airy for two years, build a basement,
lay a new carpet and paper the church
building.
Pastor Into Army Work.-Rev. Guy
Brown, pastor of the First Baptist
Church in Wichita for many years, has
to go into the United States
Army. He will work Through the
army Y. NJ. C. A.
Held Real Bridge Party.-The peo-
pie of Hanover ard surrounding coun-
try recently celebrat ted the dedication
Of new concrete bridge across the
Little Blue, just completed and opened
for traffic. All the places of business
closed ali day, and the townspeople
Joined the farmers in building a quar-
ter mile of gravel road, part on each
side of the bridge. More than two
hundred teams were on the job all
day. The ladies served a big picnic
dinner in the grove near the bridge.
X
Allen and White Returning.-Henry
J. Allen, William A. White and others
Il the Red Cross party of which these
men are members, will sail soon for
America, according to a cablegram
from London. They are spending a
few days in London. The date on
which they intend to sail was not
given in the cablegram because Of CEN
sOrship regulations
x
Find Man Dead in Road.-M. Skid
more, SIS years old, resident of Wilson
county many years, was found dead in
he road east Of Neodesha the other
lay. Death was probably due to heart
disease.
Winfield Church Burns. - Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church at Win
,ield was completely destroyed by fire |
he other night. The congregation |
vas holding a prayer meeting in the |
church at the time, but the fire got |
such start in the furnace room and
basement before it was discovered I
hat the building could not be saved. |
Two hundred persons were in the |
and they managed to save all |
he church furnishings. The loss is |
about $4,000, with $1,000 insurance.
x x
independence Banks Meroe.-The |
First National and Citizens National |
banks of independence have consoIi-
lated under the name of Citizens /
first National with a capital and sur |
plus of more than half million dollars /
md deposits of more than five mil |
ion dollars
Pioneer Merchant Dead.-Ben F.
sparr, a pioneer clothing merchant of |
Wellington. died suddenly of heart /
disease at his home the other night.
he was 55 years old and had been
here since in the late seventies.
X x
Superintendent in Draft. Baxter |
Springs lost its superintendent of |
schools when J. W. Twente was caught /
n the draft caIl. The board of educa-
ion tried in vain to get Mr.. Twente |
exempted Mrs. J. II. Boswell has /
'een appointed as temporary success