The Winslow mail., 1925-01-09
MASS MEETING
CALLED TO TALK
over CITY GAS
PLANT PROBLEM

A mass meeting will be held next
Friday evening at the city hall to
which every property owner in the
city is urged to attend The subject
under discussion will be What is the
City of Winslow Going to do About
It's Gas Plant?"
The city council is extending the
members of the community an oppor-
tunity to advise with them on this
important subject, and to discuss with
them means of solving the many per-
lexing problems with which the coun-
| Gil is faced. The matter is of too
large responsibility to be lightly
considered or hurriedly decided, there
fore the mayor and council ask that
everyone with views on the subject
be present and submit their ideas
for the guidance of the council .
For some time the affairs of the
gas plant have been approaching a
crisis, and not much longer can the
matter be left unattended. Either
the plant will have to be greatly i'm
proved, enlarged, rebuilt, or will have
! to be abandoned.
The plant was built about ten years
ago, to satisfy population of some
two thousand people. The gas
containef or holder, the boiler, build
ing and engines were designed for
use by a city no larger than Winslow
was ten years ago. But the growth
Of the city to well above five thousand,
and growing now more rapidly than
at any time in it's history, together
with the depreciation of the equipment
resulting from it's overload for many
years, makes it impossible for the city
administration, even with the con-
scientious and untiring efforts of the
gas plant plant employees to keep the
service up to the requirements of the
city. The use of gas is increasing
every day in Winslow, even during
the winter season this year, whereas
in past years, the winter saw many
meters removed and gas users turn
ing to coal and wood for heating and
cooking fuel But this winter the con-
ditions are different, and the gas plant
is working to absolute capacity every
day, with no possible let-down to
overhaul, repair or even clean the
machinery.
The quantity of gas possible to
store in the present inadequate holder
is insufficient to last the city longer
than throughout the night, even with
the pressure reduced, and the supply
cannot, with the present equipment,
be kept up to full force without work
ing three shifts each day.
The old boiler at the plant, because
of it's long and constant use, is in
bad shape, but no time permits it's
over-hauling, and it is too small any
how, to provide power for the manu-
facture of all the gas the city con-
'sumes. Another boiler WILL in any
case have to be installed at an early
date or some time the system will
collapse. Bert Steinert, superintend-
ent of the plant, estimates the ulti
mate life of the boiler to be two years,
but states that it may give way at
any time.
The matter of installing a $4,000
cubic feet container will also be dis
cussed, and the needs of the plant for
more storage space will be outlined.
Other improvements, notably a new
adobe or concrete building to replace
the present old tin shack will also
be taken up.
report of conditions and recon-
mendation for their betterment will
be made before the assembly by the
superintendent of the plant and by the
mayor, and the discussion of a bond
issue in amount sufficient to care for
the present and possible future needs
of the plant will be before the peo-
pie for full and frank discussion. Two
weeks ago THIS paper contained re-
view of the situation as confrontS the
administration by Councilman K. r.
Comstock, Swho in his letter urged an
immediate bond issue for the purpose.
But before going to the expense OF
calling bond issue election the city
officials wish to determine the sentl-
ment of the public, as to whether or
not such bond issue would meet the
approval of the people.
The bonded Indebtedness of the city
is now about 100000, divided between
city hall gas and sewer bonds. The
city can legally bond to several
times that amount.
Flagstaff two weeks ago voted about
$500 900 for the improvement OF its
water supply making the indebtedness
there over $663,O0O and the indebted
ness of pretty near every city in Ari-
zona is greatly in excess of the in
debtedness of WinslOw.
The original cost Of the Winslow
gas plant was $4,000. Later bond
issue of $4,000 was voted but of that
$4,000 only $4,000 was used on the
plant, the other $1,000 going toward
the erection of the city hall, and to
other places.
But it is not the intent of the coun-
ell to tell the people what they (the
counciD want to do but to learn what
the people want done, and the best
means of accomplishing it.