History of District Heating in the United States

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District Heating in Topeka, Kansas

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 1984.

The Topeka Steam Heating Company was incorporated on July 15, 1886 and began service later that year.

1900H ADSCO Exhaust steam, Topeka Edison Co.Steam 1902L, 1910L, (purchased 1 Mar 1910 by Illinois Traction), 1917S, 1917R, 1919R, Acquired 1927 by Kansas Power & Light 1948E, 1962L, 1977L
Earlier system mentioned by C R. Maunsell
PNELA 21:473, May 1902, five years operation [installed in 1897?], 2-5 pound exhaust
PNELA 20:371, May 1901, Steam Heating from Central Stations
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.

References
1876

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.

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.