The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-06-22


and business houses are connected
and additional extensions are now
being planned to make sewer connec-
tions available to every home and
business house in the city. 1t is
planned to install 5000 feet of inch
mains at an approximate cost of S4,-
200.
Storm sewers were constructed in
1917 to carry off surface water being
installed at the time the paving of
the city was laid. The original cost
of the sewer system at the time of its
installation was $52,787.18. There
never has been an epidemic of disease
in the city and it's prevention is ac-
credited to the excellent utilities pro-
vided to prevent such hings.
There are twelve miles of cement
walks in the city with four miles of
curbing and four miles of paving
properly distributed to the streets
where the paving is most needed.
Plans are now being made for the
paving of twenty blocks more in the
city. C. A. Harkness is mayor and
has been twice mayor and three years
a commissioner. The city is under
commission form of government.
Electric Lighting Plant
While the water rates of Hays are
much lower than the average city and
the service much better, the light
rates are about the same as the aver
age city of this size.
The lighting system Of the city IS
also municipality owned and is self
sustaining and one of the few munic-
ipally owned plants which can bOas5
Of paying its own way. It was es5ab-
lined in the city as a municipal insti-
tuition in 1917 and was constructed
at cost Of $29, 9,O33.OO. Since beirg
taken over by the city new buildings
have been constructed, lines have
been rebuilded and one 200 h. p. en-
gine with 12O k. W. generator and two
$50 h. %. boilers We're put in in 1917
while one $50 h. p. engine with 315
k. W. generator and one 2O5 h. p.
boiler was installed in 1921.
The original power house was con-
structed in 1917 and at this time
some additional construction work is
contemplated, that of building 81
transmission line to the city of Vic
toria, seven miles, to furnish that city
with power from Hays.
The streets of Hays are we'll light
ed with a white way system, there be
ing 135 lights maintained and are
located at all street intersections and
range from 100 to $50 candle power.
An exceptional low power rate is
maintained for the city and the
majority of institutions using power
are equipped to use this current. At
tractive rates can be offered to manu-
featuring institutions wishing to use
electricity.
The Telephone Company
The telephone service for the city
is operated by the United Telephone
company which has had this plant
since 1916 and since coming under
this management the number of sub
! scribers has increased on an average
of sixty a year. At that time but
three toll lines were in operation and
improvements have been added until
now there are fifteen operating from
the Hays office, ten of which are cop
per long distance circuits. The num-
Der of local calls handled through
this office daily will approximate
$500.
The company at this time is getting
ready to install a new common bat
terry system at an appropriate cost
of $4,000 which will be a decided
improvement and put the city in the
will include 10000 feet of under
ground cable, a new telephone Office
building and the finest equipment
throughout. This work will be com
pleted about November 1st of this
year.
The system was originally estab-
lished in 1901 with 100 subscribers
and the present plant established in
1908. There are 200 lines operat-
ing from the plant today which
necessitates five employees outside Of
twenty operators. The approximate
monthly payroll of the company in
Hays is $4,000. There are $50 city
subscribers and $50 rural subscribers
from the Hays exchange. The com
pany is under the management of H.
F. Addison who has been located here
for eighteen years.