146 Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



and the fireman must climb over coal to reach the second boiler. 

 A third boiler is in the machine room. 



The boiler plant at the propagating houses furnishes heat for 

 the propagating houses, conservatory, and zoo. Small boiler 

 heating plants are also installed in the stables and administration 

 building. 



With a central heating plant, properly equipped, a very con- 

 siderable saving could be made by purchasing a lower grade of 

 coal. In addition, the services of three firemen could be dis- 

 pensed with, which alone would efifect a saving of $1,620 per 

 year; other economies also might be effected by the use of a 

 central, well-arranged, high-grade boiler plant. 



It has been stated by the park officials that it is their inten- 

 tion to install such a plant the coming year. There does not ap- 

 pear to be any necessity for a new building, however. The 

 proper arrangement would be to center all the mechanical equip- 

 ment under the propagating house, and center all power and heat 

 developing equipment in the present power house. Part of each 

 kind of equipment is now located in each of these buildings. 



The heating plants in the fieldhouses are equipped with fire- 

 box locomotive type boilers. High-grade bituminous coal is re- 

 quired to prevent a nuisance from smoke. With different equip- 

 ment, it would be possible to reduce the expense for fuel in these 

 buildings. The saving would not justify a re-equipment, but 

 the error should not be repeated when new buildings are hereafter 

 equipped. 



BOULEVARD LAMPS 



New lamps have recently been installed on Sheridan Road 

 and the downtown portion of Michigan Avenue by the Lincoln 

 and South Park Boards respectively. Although both of these 

 thoroughfares are now better lighted than other streets in Chi- 

 cago, there is a considerable variance between the two as to 

 cost and style of lamps and posts, and the degree of illumination 

 and cost thereof. Inasmuch as steps will undoubtedly be taken 

 by the several Park Boards to secure better illumination on other 

 boulevards, a table is here included showing a comparison be- 

 tween the lighting of Sheridan Road and Michigan Avenue. 



