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Chronological List of District Heating
Systems in the United States |
Topeka had two separate district heating systems. The Topeka Steam Heating Company operated from 1886 to 1889 and a second system started by the Topeka Edison Company ran from 1897 to 1985.
The Topeka Steam Heating Company was incorporated on July 15, 1886 and began service later that year. The company was reorganized in 1888 and bought by H.N. Castle in early 1889. The firm asked for a receiver in late 1889 and apparently shut down around that time.
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Topeka installed an American District Steam Company exhaust steam system that began service in 1897. The company was renamed Toledo Edison in 1905 and became part of Kansas Power and Light in 1927. The company wound down their steam service in the 1970s and served their last customer early in 1985.
References
1887 "A
Big Enterprise," The Topeka State Journal, March 21, 1887,
Page 1.
The Topeka steam heating company.
1888 "The
Steam Heating Company," The Topeka State Journal, September
19, 1888, Page 4.
The plant of the Topeka Steam Heating company has just been sold to
Messrs. H. N. Castle and J. H. Leonard of this city, who will at once put
on a force of fifty men to thoroughly over-haul tne entire system, taking
out the small pipe, replacing it so as to increase the carrying capacity
three fold. They will add steam traps and will lay all the pipe to
accurate grade given by experienced engineers. The pipe placed on rollers,
will be boxed and isolated by mineral wool packing. Work was begun
this morning and it will be pushed vigorously forward to have everything
in readiness by the first cold spell in October. A large number of our
business houses have contracted for the heat and the new concern
guarantees that entire satisfaction will be given its patrons this winter.
1889 "Bond
of H.N. Castle," The Topeka State Journal, January 29, 1889,
Page 8.
H.N. Castle is now the sole owner of the Topeka steam heating company. The
said steam heating plant has its engines, boilers and buildings located on
the alley between Fourth and Fifth streets and Kansas avenue and Jackson
street, and consists of four one hundred horse power boilers with all
equipments and mains and pipes along the streets and alleys designated by
the franchise.
1889 The
Lance, December 8, 1889, Page 7.
If all other evidences of winter were lacking, the fact that the Topeka
Steam heating company has asked for a receiver, should induce people to
lock their coal-house. This receiver request always comes with cold
weather.
1897 "A
New Enterprise," The Topeka State Journal, June 24, 1897,
Page 5.
Heat to be supplied from a central station.
The economy and efficiency of the steam heating system are insured by the
fact that the Edison company have taken hold of it and will operate it in
connection with their excellent lighting and power system. They will
charge customers at the rate of 25 tents per foot of radiating surface for
the entire season. This is a trifle more than one-third charged by the old
Topeka Steam Heating company, which was a failure.
1897 "Edison Company's Steam Heating System," The Topeka State Journal, October 5, 1897, Page 5.
1901 "Steam
Heating From Central Stations," by Charles R. Maunsell, Proceedings
of the National Electric Light Association 24:371-382 (May
1901). Includes map of the Topeka steam system.
Page 382: There was formerly in our city a steam-heating plant very
similar to that described on Mr. McCabe, and when we put in our present
plant it was necessary to take up the old pipes and throw them out of the
way, so as to get our plant installed.
1902 "Five Years' Operation at Topeka, Kansas," by Charles R. Maunsell, Proceedings of the National Electric Light Association 25:473-481 (May 1902)
1905 History
of Shawnee County, Kansas, and Representative Citizens, by
James Levi King
Page 378: All the buildings in the central portion of Topeka are
supplied with steam heat through underground mains from this company's
steam heating system, this branch of the business having been in operation
since 1897. The company propose to extend this branch of service as the
demands and growth of the city require. The plant is located at No. 722
Van Buren street and is one of the interesting sights of the capital city.
1906 "The
Edison Illuminating Company," The Topeka Daily Capital, July
29, 1906, Page 36.
The Heating Service
1964 KPL
in Kansas: A History of the Kansas Power and Light Company, by
Edward Gene Nelson
Page 62: Topeka steam heating franchise
Page 194: The steam-heating system at Topeka completed the list.
1975 The
Kansas Power and Light Company, by Balfour S. Jeffrey
Page 10: The Edison Company also began a steam heating business to
conserve and utilize the exhaust steam.
1978 Report
on Kansas Legislative Interim Studies to the Legislature,
Volume 2
Page 1168: Kansas Power and Light Company advised the Committee
about the utility's plans to get out of the steam heating business as soon
as its current customers can convert to alternate heating methods. A
required switch to fuel oil from natural gas is forcing the change in
policy. At this point, the company has no specific schedule for
abandoning the steam generating plant.
1985 "Local
Steam Plant to Close Down," Topeka Sunday Capital-Journal,
April 14, 1985, Pages 43 & 45
© 2024 Morris A. Pierce