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Chronological List of District Heating
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A steam heating company was reportedly organized in Ottumwa in 1883, but no other information has been found.
The Ottumwa Railway, Electric and Steam Company engaged the American District Steam Company to build an exhaust steam heating system with over two miles of pipe in the fall of 1889.
The system was sold several times and reached a maximum of 225 customers. It was discontinued on May 31, 1956 due to the age of the system.
References
1883 "Iowa
Items," Omaha Daily Bee, May 11, 1883, Page 7.
A steam heating company has been organized in Ottumwa.
1891 "Distribution
of Steam from Central Stations," Proceedings of the National
Electric Light Association 9:58-78 (February 1891)
Pages 71-72: In the fall of the same year the Ottumwa (Iowa)
Railway, Electric and Steam Company, in addition to extensive street
railway and electric lighting plants, had over two miles of street mains
constructed, in connection with their other interests. The president of
the company has kindly furnished me with some data referring to this
subject that I am sure will interest you, as the several figures will
answer many questions that I apprehend will arise. in your minds. The
exhaust from the engine connects directly from the street mains, which
mains are also connected with the steam drums over the boiler. By means of
reducing valves, it is under the control of the manager in charge, to add
live steam in any proportion required to the supply of exhaust, or to use
none at all. They have two engines; one in connection with the street
railway, which runs, from 6 A. M. to II P. M., the light engine and
dynamos during the hours required. They now have 69 buildings taking steam
at various points along the line-some quite large, such as the Post
Office, Opera House, school buildings, churches, business blocks,
residences, etc. The exhaust steam from the railroad engines supplies
nearly all the steam required to maintain pressure in the two miles of
mains to supply heat to the 69 buildings. Part of the time a small amount
of live steam is added. When the light engine is in use also, the present
consumption does not use all of the exhaust. The pressure at the boiler
house, in the street mains, is 12 to 15 pounds. The pressure indicated
1,000 feet therefrom is one to two pounds less; the pressure indicated
4,300 feet therefrom is three to six pounds less than at the boiler. These
figures were taken when all the buildings were taking their quota of
steam, and still there is a large margin above what is required for the
present consumption. At this date they have about 15 per cent. of the
probable future consumption. Another equal amount is in sight now for the
coming year. Application has been made already for that increased
consumption. The present earnings are, net, about 13 per cent. upon the
cost of this feature of their enterprise, with another equal amount in
sight, as I before stated, in the coming year, which will involve no
increase of expense, excepting for fuel.
In answer to my inquiry as to what the apparent effect of the engines and
boilers was, he says nothing; except that 12 to 15 pounds of extra
pressure must be carried.
1892 "Heating
a City with Exhaust Steam," Street Railway Review 2(2):69-72
(February 15, 1892)
THE EXHAUST STEAM HEATING method in vogue here was the
outgrowth of careful study and is the pioneer in the matter of exhaust
steam heating. The Holly System is used, and the plant was put in by the
American District Steam Company, of Lockport, New York.
There is an electric light plant in connection with the street railway
system, part of which light is furnished from the street railway power
station. The cars run 18 hours per day and the electric lights 12 to 14
hours, which includes all the time the cars are idle, thus furnishing a
large amount of exhaust steam for 24 hours every day. The Iowa soft coal
slack can be delivered at 70 cents per ton into the bins.
The exhaust steam is conveyed in underground mains aggregating 2 1/4 miles
in length, laid and placed 5 feet below the surface. This is at a
sufficient depth to defy the rigors of the winter and very little of the
heat is lost when the pipes are properly protected.
This is the third year of the enterprise and that it grows in public favor
is shown by the great increase in patronage. The first year the new method
found 33 consumers, the second gained 36, making a total of 69, and this
season 119 edifices are supplied.
THE PRESSURE
required is an initial pressure of 15 to 16 pounds and the pressure at the
extreme limits is 8 to 9 pounds, showing therefore an expenditure of 7
pounds.
This of course throws a back pressure on the engines, but as they are of
ample capacity for the required work, it does not cause any difficulty.
The steam exhausts through feed-water heater and separator which delivers
the steam dry into
THE MAINS,
These are of 10, 8, 6, 5 and 4 inches diameter according to the amount of
steam to be conducted on the street, and grow smaller on those streets
where fewer customers are supplied, just as gas mains. They are wrapped
with asbestos board and encased in pine logs that are bored out leaving an
air space around the steam pipe. The logs are tapered at one end and are
driven solidly one into another in a manner similar to the early system of
waterworks, using bored logs for pipes. These wood pipes or "wood log," as
it is called, is made by the Michigan Pipe Company, of Bay City Michigan,
and are coated with asphaltum at the mills, making the log when finally
laid thoroughly water and damp proof. Smaller service pipes similarly
protected connect the street mains with the radiators in the buildings and
residences, each house taking care of its own condensation by discharging
through a trap to the sewer. There are no return pipes to the power
stations — only the one line of main and diverging branches. No traps are
required in the street except where a pipe lies between two elevations so
as to form a sag or low place, they also have drip valves connecting with
the sewers which can be opened if necessary. There are but few of these,
however, and even they are seldom touched. Steam does not escape at any
point along or at end of mains except such as is drawn into the buildings
for heating purposes. In mild weather the exhaust is ample to furnish all
the heating, and the first two years the system was in use, was
almost sufficient even in cold ; but since then consumers have increased
so rapidly as to require in severe weather additional live steam, which is
taken from the boilers by means of an automatic regulating valve which
allows only enough live steam to pass to make up the ditficiency existing,
and as soon as the demand falls, the live steam is cut off and only
exhaust delivered.
The increase in the number of consumers has been so great that at the
present writing, during cold snaps, the amount of live steam exceeds that
of the exhaust. During the present season additional engines will be
installed which will increase the amount of exhaust and which would be all
sufficient to supply present consumers. But so many new ones have made
request for heat that the company will add considerably to their boiler
capacity to keep up with the demand. The furnishing of the live steam
alone is a profitable undertaking but all that is received from the
exhaust is readily seen to be clean profit.
During the winter not a vestage of exhaust steam is to be seen around the
power station. During the summer the engines exhaust into the air. It may
be said the "season" of exhaust steam heating begins about where the
ice-man leaves off and continues until again supplanted by that artist
whose scales are such abject servants of gravity.
The cost to consumers is regulated by meter, per thousand heat units as
follows: 1/2-inch meter 7 cents, 1-inch meter 60 cents, 1 1/2-inch meter
$1.75, 2-inch meter $4.00. Of course the exact amount per house is hard to
calculate, but for example, the Government building is heated for $450 per
year, and a residence containing 12 to 15 rooms costs from $90 to $135 for
the season, which includes all the time that heat is required.
All the churches located on the lines, regardless of denomination, also
school houses, numerous private residences, business houses and public
buildings have taken advantage of this great relief from dirt smell, and
smoke.
The cost to consumers is below that of anthracite coal and but little
greater than that of soft coal, which can be retailed at $2.00 to $3.00
per ton for the best.
The extra cost to the company is principally for the little additional
fuel and water used, as but little additional help is required. Goubert's
famous feed water heater and a separator of their own device are used.
1901 "Ottumwa,
Iowa, Franchises," Western Electrician 29:67 (August 3,
1901)
For years the question of the granting and securing of franchises has been
a most debatable one, but there have been some granted to the Ottumwa
Electric and Steam company of Ottumwa, Iowa, recently, that not only are
very profitable ones to the city, but very exacting of the company. The
company does a general railway, lighting, power and heating business, and
is the only company of its kind in the city, which has a population of
about 20,000 people.
The heating system. is of steam, and consists of about three miles of
street mains, with pipes of various sizes. It was installed in 1889 by the
American District Steam company of Lockport, N. Y.
In the steam-heating franchise the rates now in vogue shall be the
maximum, and they shall be reduced in ratio to the decline in the price of
coal.
Under both the lighting and heating franchises, all municipal and city
buildings (excepting the school buildings) including the new Carnegie
public library, shall be heated and lighted free.
1954 "No Halt in City Steam Until Gas Supply Adequate," Ottumwa Daily Courier, August 29, 1954, Page 1.
1955 "ISU to Discontinue Steam Service Here," Ottumwa Daily Courier, August 17, 1955, Page 15.
1955 "Next
Winter Will be Last for City Steam," Ottumwa Daily Courier,
August 17, 1955, Page 1.
Approximately 125 customers served by 150 meters will be affected.
1955 "Council
Approves ISU Steam Shutdown," Ottumwa Daily Courier,
September 21, 1955, Page 23.
Discontinuance of steam service for heating purposes in ottumwa after May
31, 1956, was approved by the city council Monday night.
© 2024 Morris A. Pierce