The Winslow mail., 1925-02-13
GAS ENGINEER
ON CITY PLANT
CONDITIONS

the purpose of hearing the report
OF l.. B. Jones, gas engineer who
had spent two days in survey of
the plant and distributing system
of the City Gas company, was well
attended, and showed without doubt
that the people of the town are be-
hind the movement to rebuild the.
plant. A special meeting of the
council was called for Tuesday to
consider calling an election to vote
bonds to finance the improvement.
Mr.. Jone made a very compre-
hensive report of the situation as
he found it, which is given here
with in full.
Report of Engineer
Following a complete and care
full survey of your municipal gas
property both from the financial as
we'll as from the physical side it
is apparent that your operations
are in a deplorable condition.
The total gross revenue from op-
erations for the six months ending
December 31st, 1924, barely met
operating expenses with no margin
for bond interest or depreciation.
When these fixed charges are add
ed to operating expenses the gross
revenue showed a deficit of so
cents per each thousand cubic feet
sold. The situation therefore pre-
sents very serious problem for
the consideration of the people of
Winslow. They have invested $42,-
900 in a business which must be
considered at the present insolvent.
This condition is attributable di-
rectly to the high cost of production
which in turn has prevented an ex-
pansion and development of the
business.
While it is true that a consider
able part of the two bond issues
were used to meet the operating de-
ficit and not invested in physical
property it is fact that the total
obligation is no greater than the re-
placement value of used and useful
physical property
The distribution system is ap-
parently in good condition and
with some reinforcement and addi-
tiOns is adequate to present and
future requirements for some time.
The manufacturing plant however
requires a-complete rehabilitation.
The equipment is obsolete, made
quate and insufficient and in some
parts in very dangerous state of
Many parts of the
operating equipment are not in dup
licate without which continuous
uninterrupted service can not be
assured. Though inefficient for
regular. operation much of the pres
ent equipment is entirely satisfac-
tory for emergency use as stand by
and should be added to
rather than replaced. The low
pressure storage holder is beyond
repair and the generator building
is in such a state of delapidation
that its replacement seems highly
desirable if not absolutely neces-
sary.
Our study of your gas problems
has convinced us that the business
can be put on profitable and self
basis, an asset rather
than a liability to the tax payer
and a source of convenience and
economy to the householder To
accomplish this it will be necessary
to at once install the following i'm
prOvements:
IA modern and efficient gener-
ating unit with all necessary aux
Hilary apparatus.
II-A steam boiler with all nee
essary appearances.
III.-A $4,000 cubic foot low pres
sure storage holder.
IVA pressure booster.
VA lamp black filter.
VI.-Additional purefcation.
VIA building Of permanent
construction to house the present
and proposed apparatus and auxil-
liaries.
VIII. - Necessary foundations,
connections, etc.
IX.-Replace 1900 feet of three
inch main on Third street from the
gas plant to Colorado avenue, with
six inch main and relay this sal
vaged three inch main with 400
feet of new three inch main to
supply the consumers available
south of the tracks.
Item /. (Gas Generator) will ac-
reduction of approxi-
mately so per cent in the oil used
for gas manufacture and a reduc-
ton in labor necessary.
Item II. (Steam Boiler) is es-
5ential to insure continuity of SER
vice.
Item III. (Storage Holder) is
necessary to replace the present
holder which is beyond repair and
is of sufficient size to make pos
sible additional economy of pro-
duction and care for the future re-
uuirements of the system.
Item ". (Presure Booster) with
the large storage holder and rein
of street mains insures
adequate pressure to all consumers
during the periods of maximum de-
mand