Hobart Senior High School - Memories Yearbook (Hobart, IN)

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THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT OF HOBART. Q a Q CD |N APRIL tenth, nineteen hundred thirteen, L had t lie pleasure of visiting the Hobart electric light and water plant situated on Georgiana street between Third and Fourth. Superin- tendent (). L. Shore kindly showed me the machines, explain- ed the operation of the system, and gave me a large part of the statistics I have used in this article. In the summer of eighteen hundred ninety-seven the residents of Hobart decided to solve the problems of illumination and water supply by arranging for the construction of their own electric light plant and water works. The plant consisted of a 250,000 gallon Worthington pump, three miles of eight, six and four-inch mains, thirty-five hydrants and a combined brick and metal standpipe 125 feet in height, with a 60,000- gallon tankage capacity. The mains, laterals, and hydrants had 60 pounds pressure to the square inch. The plant was operated by a 100 H. P. Ball high speed engine; the incandescent dynamo was 37M K. W. capacity, and the arc machine was a 40 lighter. In January nineteen hundred ten a new unit 175 K. W. alternating current generator was directly connected to a 300 H. P. Corliss engine. In December two 6x18 feet return tubular 150 H. P. high pressure boil- ers were installed; 057 square feet floor room was built in addition to the boiler room. A new switch board was put in which is a three panel, marine slate with necessary instruments. At the same time the coal storage capacity was increased to 400 tons. In May, nineteen hun- dred eleven, a new smoke stack 105 feet in height was erected for the plant by the National Fire Proofing Company. The plant now employs regularly, a superintendent, two engineers, and one lineman. The daily output is about 650 K. W. hours, and the pumping of 50,000 gallons of water. This plant at present supplies 85 PI. P. in motors in factories, and lights 18 series alternating current arc lamps, sixty-six 3-light boulevard posts, eleven 100-candle power cluster lamps, besides stores, offices, public buildings and private resi- dences. To the school boy or girl the item of chief interest is the placing of two 5-liglit boulevard posts in front of the school building, one post in front of each of the two main entrances. This piece of illumination, if it does not light the way to learning, is at least alluring to all friends of education when a school play or oratorical contest is on the stage. We may say these lights dispel ignorance, for ignorance is akin to dark- ness. (Z b u b 20

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THE DAWN. |N THE quiet of the morning twilight, a young girl followed a winding path through a woodland where the leaves were yet a pale green. Beside the way a fallen tree trunk, over- grown with gray lichens and scarlet fungi, sheltered a bed of yellow violets just opening their first buds. Farther on she paused and leaned over the edge of a placid pool. She dropped pebbles into the shadowy depths and watched the widening ripples sway the slender green blades on the opposite shallow margin. She listened a moment to the song of the rivulet which led away over a flat white rock, over smooth round stones and yellow sand. The path led to the very top of a hill where a twisted apple tree held out low sweeping branches and filled the air with sweetness from its white-pink blossoms. She pushed aside the fragrant clusters, swung herself up on a low bough and leaned against the trunk of the tree. Before her was the river, indistinct through the hovering mists, and all the land seemed sleeping. As she watched, the first gleams of dawn barred the sky with silver. Suddenly the mists dissolved and the sky glowed with shimmering shafts of pale mauve and gold blended with rose and green. The iridescent tints flamed into Oriental crimsons, burned for an instant and then slowly softened as the sun, a huge golden bubble, floated above the horizon. “O, you pink-white apple blossoms! Did you see, too? We share the joy of beginnings,— the dawn of the day, the freshness of spring, fhe awakening of life. The sunsets are glorious, and the moonlight is full of sweet dreams, but this — this is the ecstasy of living! Little apple blossoms, is this not God’s promise of a sweet renewal of life — an endless, more abundant life?” RUTH S. THOMPSON. 19

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Q P a Q P Phis splendid and essential plant now furnishes at the minimum cost of actual running expense, ample fire protection, convenience and domestic water supplies and brilliant illumination on the streets, in houses of business and in residences. Hobart is the owner of this approved, modern and efficient water and light plant. Such a plant is not possessed by any other town of equal size in the middle west. The town has a fire department of thirty-two members. They have 1,500 feet of hose, three hose carts and hook and ladder wagons. This apparatus is stored in different parts of the town and the members practice every week. Last year the town board, encouraged by the citizens, decided to construct a better sewer system. After the plans and specifications were drawn up by the town Civil Engineer, Walter (i. Black, bids were received and the town board awarded the contract to V. Graziano Co. The work was started in the fall of nineteen hundred twelve and is now nearing completion. The system consists of six miles of main sewer pipes and laterals to every house. Plans for a new water system which will cover the area now em- braced by the sewer system have been drawn up by the Civil Engineer. The present mains will be left as far as possible and used as laterals. Plans are also being prepared for a filtering plant to be constructed of reinforced concrete, whereby water can be filtered ninety-nine per cent pure. A most potent force in the upbuilding of all things that tend toward the economic and civic betterment of our community is the Hobart Com- mercial Club. The fact that it has more than one hundred members and holds its meetings at least twice a month in the High School Audi- torium is evidence that it is a live wire. Our municipal officers are active members. Especially did the Commercial Club assist in the establishing of the boulevard lighting system, and t he Club has been an ardent supporter of the Town Board in all municipal advancement. Thus, with an incorporation embracing seventeen square miles of territory, our people realize the possibilities of our modern municipal system and appreciate the importance of the tremendous strides already made. RALPH KRAET. P Ci P 21