|
Chronological List of District Heating
Systems in the United States |
The Des Moines Steam Heating and Power Company was incorporated in 1891 and built a system that began operating in November.
The Iowa Light, Heat and Power Company was incorporated in 1902 and built a hot water system in 1904.
The two companies came
under common ownership in 1904 but had financial difficulties. A
receiver was appointed in late 1905 and the companies were sold at auction
in 1906.
The Central Heating & Power Company was formed in 1907 with the intention of taking over and rebuilding the earlier system, but nothing came of this.
The Des Moines City Council passed an ordinance granting a franchise to Des Moines Electric Company for a central heating system in 1915 but local voters rejected it.
Another attempt the following year was successful, but was right on the eve of World War I, which likely killed the project.
References
1891 The
Gazette, July 23, 1891, Page 2
Des Moines Steam Heating and Power Co. has incorporated with a capital of
$100,000.
1891 The
Iowa Plain Dealer, August 27,1891, Page 4.
The Des Moines Steam Heat and Power Company has closed a contract with a
Lockport, N.Y. , firm to put in a steam heating plant to heat the business
portion of Des Moines. The district comprises about twenty blocks.
1891 Chariton
Herald, November 5, 1891, Page 1.
The Des Moines Steam Heating and Power Company send their first charge of
steam through the under-ground conduits one day last week. The first
experiment resulted in the successful heating of a large brick building at
a distance of seven blocks from the source of generation. The
company have completed their ouside work for this fall, but if all goes
well they will lay several miles of pipe next season.
1901 The
Des Moines Register, January 25, 1901, Page 7.
The Des Moines Steam Heating Company which owns a plant for the exclusive
conveyance of steam heat through the streets for healing purposes In Des
Moines, is about to transfer its property to another corporation.
1901 Sanborn
Fire Insurance Map from Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa (1901)
Plate 8: Des Moines Heating Company plant
1902 Iron
and Machinery 91(12):15 (March 22, 1902)
It may be that the use of oil as fuel in large plants will do something to
eliminate the smoke nuisance in some of our large manufacturing centers. A
Des Moines steam heating plant is negotiating with an oil company at
Beaumont, Texas, for a supply of oil to be used as fuel in the place of
coal. It has been a great sinner in the way of smoking the Hawkeyes. It
will cease to be so when Texas oil is used as its standard fuel. This oil
is not only economical and labor-saving, but is also innocent of throwing
smoke down the human throat. The Des Moines plant uses ten carloads of
coal each week to keep up the steam supply, and if the new fuel proves
successful, it is likely that other industrial concerns will be looking
Texas-ward for their fuel supplies.
1902 Engineering
Review 12:xx (August 1902)
Iowa Light, Heat & Power Co., Des Moines, Ia., has been incorporated
to engage in the business of erecting and operating light, heat and power
plants; capital stock, $100,000, Incorporators: J. H. Shivley, C.O.
Myers and John Olsen.
1904 "Starts
Big Heating Plant," The Des Moines Register, May 29, 1904,
Page 6.
Gives the Benefit of Hot Water Heating System With Public Service Pipes.
The Iowa Light, Heat and Power company has established a heating plant at
Seventh and University avenue which dispenses heat to a large number of
the residences of that locality at a minimum cost and with lessening of
the smoke nuisance. It is believed that the system of central plants will
become general in order that the smoke problem may be solved in that
locality. Central heating stations, such as they will install, are proving
to be a great success and are in great demand in residence sections of
leading cities.
1904 Commercial
and Financial Chronicle 79:273 (July 23, 1904)
Iowa Light Heat & Power Co., Des Moines.— Trust Deed.—This company,
which was incorporated in July, 1902, under the laws of Iowa, has made a
trust deed to the Iowa Loan & Trust Co. of Des Moines, as trustee, to
secure $100,000 of 6 p. c. gold bonds of $500 each. This mortgage covers
the North Des Moines heating plant No. 2, which will supply a choice
residential section of about one mile square. The company contemplates
constructing other plants to cover the entire city. Only $11,500 of the
bonds are outstanding.The new bonds are dated May 13, 1904, and mature
Jane 1, 1914; but are subject to call on any interest day at par; interest
payable Dec. 1 and June 1 at office of trustee. The capital stock Is
$100,000 (par of shares, $100). The company operates under the Meyers
patents and has about 1½ miles of hot-water mains laid and in operatlon.
It also controls the Des Moines Heating Oo., which was organized in 1893
with $100,000 stock. and which owns a steam-heating plant in the business
part of the city. On Dec 1, 1893, the Des Moines Heating Co. made a
mortgage to the aforesaid Trust Company as trustee, to secure $100,000 of
6 p. c. bonds due In 1908; only $30,000 of these bonds are outstanding and
they are held by the present owners of the property. The President of the
Iowa Light, Heat & Power Co. is O. H. Davison. The Iowa Light Heat
& Power Co. of Des Moines should not be confounded with the Iowa
Light, Heat A Power Co. of Marlon, Iowa, which, having issued $30,00 bonds
in 1899, was in 1902 absorbed by ihe Marion Light, Heat & Power Co.,
which see below. The franchise, we are informed, is perpetual; It contains
no limitation as to prices.
1904 "Heating
and Plumbing Notes," Metal Worker, Plumber, and Steam Fitter
62(21):19 (November 19, 1904)
The DES MOINES STEAM HEATING COMPANY, Des Moines, Iowa, is contemplating
extensive alterations to its central station steam heating system. The
proposed improvement will consist in abandoning existing dead ends of
steam pipe and substituting therefor a system of vacuum returns. This,
according to the manager, will effect an economy sufficient to enable the
company to materially reduce its rates during the coming season.
1905 "Franchise
Taken Over by Company," The Des Moines Register, September
29, 1905, Page 1.
Through a quiet transfer of stock the business of the Iowa Light, Heat and
Power company is about to be taken over by a new company with Francis H.
Porter of Chicago. William B. Starkey, J. B. Marsh, John Snively and
others of Des Moines and W. B. Kennick of Adel as the principal
stockholders. The deal has gone far enough to be practically certain, and
the new company expects to take over the business by Oct. 13.
1905 "Receiver
is Asked for Heating Company," The Des Moines Register,
December 22, 1905, Page 2.
Iowa Loan and Trust Company Wants Business of Iowa Light, Heat and Power
Company Placed Under a Trustee.
The Iowa Loan and Trust company commenced an action for receivership
against the North Des Moines plant of the Iowa Light, Heat and Power
company.
1905 Commercial
and Financial Chronicle 81:1852 (December 30, 1905)
Iowa Light Heat & Power Co., Des Moines. — Receiver Asked For. The
Iowa Loan & Trust Co. of Des Moines, mortgage trustee, has applied for
a receiver on the ground that interest on the $11,500 outstanding bonds is
in default. In September last new interests, including Francis H. Porter
of Chicago, William B. Starkey of Des Moines, and others, were reported to
have acquired control of the stock, with a view to reorganization and the
building of a new plant. Compare V. 79, p. 273.
1906 Commercial
and Financial Chronicle 82:1500 (June 30, 1906)
Iowa Light, Heat & Power Co., Des Moines. — Sold. —At the adjourned
foreclosure sale at Des Moines on June 20 the property was bid in by J. G.
Rounds, one of the bondholders, for $13,540. Compare V. 81, p. 1852.
1906 "Heating
Plant on Sale at Auction," The Des Moines Register, July 10,
1906, Page 5.
County considers purchase of bankrupt concern.
The Des Moines Steam Heating and Power plant, which is the only available
source of securing heat for the new Polk county court house this winter,
will be sold at auction to the highest bidder at 10 a. Aug. 6, under order
of Judge Smith McPherson of the federal court. by Special Master in
Chancery Edward Mason at the west door of the Polk county court house to
satisfy the sums of $5,407.86 and $94.07 with interest at 6 per cent.
Who will buy?
It is an opportunity for county to secure a heating plant, but hands of
thee the supervisors are tied because the people refused to vote money for
a heating plant.
The court house must be heated this winter and the plant to be sold is
probably the only source from which heat can be obtained. It is expected
there will be a number of bidders. The sale is ordered because of suit
commenced by Mary M. Love, one of the stockholders, against the company.
1906 "Franchise
Company Sells," The Des Moines Register, September 7, 1906,
Page 6.
The Des Moines Steam Heating and Power plant sold at Auction Yesterday To
Mary M. Love of Ohio.
The Des Moines Steam Heating and Power plant was sold at auction yesterday
by Ed R. Mason, special master in chancery for the federal court, for
$5,828.10 to Mary M. Love of Ohio, who holds a judgment against the
company.
She was the only bidder. This is the only plant accessible for heating the
new Polk county court house. The owners have one year to redeem this. The
supervisors did not try to buy It and yesterday afternoon Attorney
Starkey, who is a member of the corporation, made an offer to the board to
heat the new court house for $3,150 at 70 degrees. Last year the board
paid this same price for heating the building 55 degrees to the same
company and required no bond.
1906 "Heat
for New Court House is Secured," The Des Moines Register,
October 5, 1906, Page 1.
Contract is Entered Into By County Board With the Iowa Light. Heat and
Power Company
1907 "New
Companies Organized," The Des Moines Tribune, July 1, 1907,
Page 8.
The Des Moines Central Heating company filed articles today. The capital
stock is $70,000, and the incorporators are William H. Schott, M. O. Payne
and W. B. Starkey. The company is a Des Moines corporation..
1907 The
Des Moines Register, July 2, 1907, Page 2.
The Des Moines Heating company and the Iowa Light, Heat Power company have
transferred their franchises to W. D. Kinnick In consideration of the
payment of $5 and certain claims which are liens against the franchises.
J. S. Polk and G. B. Hippee are the principal stockholders in the two
companies. The papers were filed in the county recorder's office
yesterday..
1907 "Repeal
of Franchise," The Des Moines Register, December 17, 1907,
Page 10.
Solicitor of the Opinion That the New Company Should Not Be Permitted to
Act Under Old Franchise.
That the franchise of the Des Moines Steam Heating company should be
repealed was the recommendation made to the council by City Solicitor W.
H. Bremner yesterday.
W. B. Starkey of Des Moines and Engineer Schott of ChirHgo are considering
the reorganization of the old heating system with a new plant to be
operated under the perpetual franchise granted to J. 8. Polk, B. F.
Kauffman and G. B. Hippee In 1891.
Mr. Bremner dclares that the old franchise is incomplete and that the new
company. If organized, should not be permitted to use the streets of Des
Moines for Its conduits under the old franchise.
Must Have New Franchise.
"If a new company is organized it should be given an entirely new
franchise." he said yesterday.
"The franchise granted to the old company is perpetual, but incomplete,
and not at all suited for the newer organisation." The Des Moines Steam
Heating company closed Its plant about a year ago It Is said that It was
not satisfactorily conducted and that It heated only the buildings that it
wished to and when it wanted to. It formerly supplied heat to the police
station, but afterwards cut It off without notice and the city was
compelled to put In Its own plant. It supplied heat for the city hall and
when the plant was closed the building was left without heating
facilities. No Action Is Taken. It is claimed that, the old franchise
permits this sort of business and for that reason It la thought necessary
to grant a new one to its successors.
1908 "The
Central Heating and Power Co.," Heating, Ventilating and
Sanitary Engineering 18:xxii (January 1908)
The Central Heating & Power Co., Des Moines, Ia., has had its capital
stock increased to $600,000, and will soon start again. W. H. Schott, of
Chicago, is behind the reorganized company. He is also interested in Salt
Lake City and St. Louis. A new central heating plant is planned on South
Sixth street, south of the Burlington tracks. Another plant is planned at
Nineteenth and Ingersoll
1911 The
Des Moines Register, October 8, 1911, Page 41.
The Des Moines Central Heating and Power company will be rejuvenated and
placed in operation again next year, according to the announcement made
last week by W. H. Schott, president of the company..
1911 American
Machinist 35:860 (November 2, 1911)
The Des Moines (Iowa) Central Heating and Power Company will rebuild its
plant.
1911 The
Heating and Ventilating Magazine 8(11):53 (November 1911)
The Des Moines Central Heating & Power Co., organized in 1891, and
granted a franchise by the city during that year to lay mains in the
streets of Des Moines, will rebuild its plant, lay new mains and again
open for business, according to a communication filed by W. H. Schott,
president of the new company, with the city clerk. The territory bounded
on the east by the Des Moines river, on the west by Tenth street, on the
north by Chestnut street and on the south by Market street, will be
served. Oronda H. Davison, vice president of the Standard Life Insurance
Company, is understood to be one of the principal stockholders in the new
enterprise.
1917 "A
Central Heating Plant for Des Moines," The American City,
17(1):60 (July 1917)
The chemical properties of the coal in Iowa are such as to create a very
real smoke nuisance in Des Moines, of which the community has long been
desirous of ridding itself. With the object of abating the nuisance, the
Chamber of Commerce conducted a vigorous campaign a year ago in behalf of
the installation of a central heating plant-and lost. It undertook a
campaign again this year with better results. A heating plant franchise
was drawn with great care and was approved by the Corporation Counsel, and
the installation of the plant was favorably voted upon at the special
election held on March 26.
The franchise completely safeguards the city, in the judgment of the
Corporation Counsel and others who have closely studied it. It is to run
for twenty-five years
and is subject to revaluation at the end of seven years, which, under the
commission form of government which exists here, is easily possible. The
schedule of rates to be charged is the customary schedule charged by
heating plants in the Middle West and in cities of this size. Work is to
be begun immediately on the piping zone, extending approximately nine
blocks in one direction. and four blocks in another, including one pipe on
the east side of the river to take care of a certain section there.
The victory was won only by hard work on the part of everybody. The
Chamber was assisted by the Retail Merchants' Bureau and the Des Moines
Commercial Association. Petitions were circulated, and nearly every
down-town merchant promised to avail himself of heat from a central plant
if the rates and conditions were right. On election day more than 500
telephone calls were made to Chamber members, and in this work the Junior
Chamber participated very helpfully.
R. H. FAXON, General Secretary, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.
© 2024 Morris A. Pierce