The Winslow mail., 1925-03-06
ENGINEER FROM
SANTAFE MAKES
BONDS REPORT

VI. II. Davenport, ASSISTANT SuSl
neer of the Santa Fe system, re
Gently made an investigation o.
the gas plant situation in WinsloW
on behalf of the railroad company
and has submitted his report
which is herewith made public il
The Mail The report comes from
superintendent J. D. McCully. who
says:
II feel that it is entirely proper
that the citizens of the town should
be made thoroughly familiar with
the subject before voting such al
enormous bond issue as is contem-
plated. 1t occurs to the writer that
it is poor business to vote bonds
on which interest must be paid for
q long number of years to take
care of operating deficits, and in
stead of following out this prac
tice, it would be better if the Sbwn
would secure the services off, an
expert and follow out his recon-
mendations, with the idea of plac-
ing the plant on a basis which will
OuOLQlA lIOC1lJ clIlu fOIC O0ND JULIUS
as may be necessary to accomplish
it, 1t is certain that something
should be done at once to improve
the plant, because it is admittedly
in dangerous condition, and it is
liable to cause accident which will
seriously injure or possibly kill
some one"
Engineer Davenport's report fol-
lows:
Report ON Winslow City Gas Plant
January, 1925.
This is a supplement to the re-
port which l made Jan. 80, 1923,
when several recommendations
were made for future improve
ments.
recommendation of 1928.
These recommendations were
briefly:
(1) The addition of second
duplicate high pressure receiver.
This was carried out.
(2) The installation of stand
by high pressure compressor. A
91ax91a Westinghouse locomotive
type steam compressor was pur-
chased and is now in use.
90 The installation of a low
pressure g to 5-pound) rotary
compressor belted to a steam en-
gine to save the excessive cost
of COMPRISING gas to high
pressure and then reducing it.
This was not carried out. Other
minor recommendations were
made looking toward a more COM
plete duplication of apparatus to
guard against failure and the
possibility of enlarging some of
the mains was mentioned.
I made another inspection of the
gas plant on: Jan. 20, 1925. The
low pressure gas holder is leaking
badly and appears to be in dan
gerous condition. Rivets have
dropped out in many places and
have been replaced with bolts or
wooden plugs. The steel is thin
and the tank has been used, am
told, nineteen years. A collapse of
the tank would allow the gas to
reach the boiler and a dangerous
and probably fatal explosion would
result, not to speak of the total tie
up of the gas manufacture. A du-
plicate engine and blower are being
installed and the feed water heater
previously recommended has been
placed in service.
The building is in poor condition
"a little worse than two years ago.
Much circulating water is undoubt-
edly lost through the bottoms and
sides of the settling basins, which
are not lined. The plant has been
maintained as, we'll as could be
with the apparatus on hand, and
the installation of the additional re-
ceiver and compressor have in
creased the efficiency.
Gas Consumption.
In the last two years there has
been an increase of about 80 per
cent in the number of consumers,
now averaging 400 The maximum
daily use now approximates 10000
cubic feet, one baker alone using
1000 cubic feet Most of the gas is
still used for cooking, though a
few people have gas heaters. The
new town hall has gas heaters of
the radiator type.
With town population of 5000,
it does not seem unreasonable to
predict that 500 consumers would
be secured in the near future if the
gas supply were to be made reli-
able.
Recently an interruption of the
supply came near to causing sew
eral deaths of prisoners in the city
Jail, which was heated by gas, and
the same danger exists in houses
using gas unless a continuous sup
ply can be guaranteed.
Outstanding Bond Issues.
Of the original bond issue of $780,
900, only $4,000 was used to re-
place the gas plant while the other
$4,000 went to pay the $1,000
monthly operating deficit for the
first year.
To summarize, out of $4,000 out
standing bonds only $4,000 has
been used for purchasing and i'm
proving the plant.
Proposed Bond Issue.
1t is now proposed to vote an
other bond issue of $4,000 to fur
ther increase the plant. AT present