University Daily Kansan
Thursday, August 23, 1973
9
Water Powers Flour Mill
When Spring Floods Came, the Generators Stopped
BY PRISCILLA KAUFMAN
Kansas Staff Writer
The standard easterner's impression of Kansas as all cowboys and Indians and barren prairies is obviously outdated. However, it is inevitable that Kansas prairies have always created an insur-
urance plan for water wheel-powered electricity plants.
The number of water power plants, once a common source of electricity around river towns and cities, has dwindled in all areas of the country because of modern methods of electricity production. In Kansas, where the supply of water power plants has always been scarce, the number has dwindled to one.
Lawrence is the home of the one remaining functioning water wheel power plant in Kansas. The Bowersock Mills and Power Co., located at 546 Massachusetts St., has been in existence in Lawrence since the mid 1800s.
THE COMPANY today runs seven water wheels 24 hours a day. The wheels are located below the Kansas River Dam, where the water from the dam falls into cups on the wheels, causing the wheels to turn, generating electricity. The power serves the Bowersock Four Mill located near the same site near the Kansas River Dam.
The Bowsocker Mills and Power Co. began to prosper in 1877 when J. D. Bowersock, a successful merchandise and grain businessman, came from Lawrence to attend the school of law whose父亲-in-law James H. Gower purchased the bonds of a power company that owned the dam across the Kansas River. Weather and financial difficulties earlier had combined against the power firm, which was washed out the dam, the company failed.
When Bowersock arrived in Lawrence he immediately undertook the restoration of the dam. With the partnership of his father-in-law and a man named J. W. Houghtleton he entered the flour milling business at the present site beside the Kansas River. He
took sole control of the firm in 1879 after the deaths of his two partners.
IN THE 1933 flood the Bowersock Flour Mill and water power facilities were washed out. Soon, however, Bowersock began restoration of the plant. About this time R. W. Anderson, Kan., bought a bull interest in the business, and the two men worked as partners.
In Bowersock's later years and after his death in 1922 Jackman became full owner of the plant, even though retaining the Bowersock name. Until this year the manager of the company has been a descendant of R. C. Jackman.
Signs of Unuse Abound
The Kansas Fibreboard Co. of Lawrence took over the plant this summer.
7 Water Wheels Run Constantly to Power Last Plant of its Kind in Kansas
DURING THE early years of the plant's operation, unlike its present facilities, it did not serve only the Bowersock Flour Mill. Power was also distributed to several businesses between 6th and 7th streets on Massachusetts St.
KU Follow Through Gets $550,000 Grant
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Office of Education has awarded a $548,077 grant to the University of Kansas to continue its Behavior Analysis Model for Follow Through Program for the sixth straight year.
The program accelerates learning and achievement of children in kindergarten through the grade, using computer-based instruction, students reading and mathematical progress.
Paid membership in the University of Kansas Alumni Association is 20,996, the largest in the Big Eight Conference and larger than the membership at many of the larger schools in the Big Ten and Southwest conferences. KU also ranks high in the number of student students it voluntarily pay dues according to KU's Alumni Association.
Alum Members to 20,966
Bowersock, who was a vital power in Lawrence in the early 1900s, had interest in a theater, bank, garage, ice plant and paper company in the one block area. These businesses, largely controlled by Bowersock, were able to buy their business quickly from Kansas Power Co., which owned the Kansas Electrical Power Co., now called Kansas Power and Light Co.
At one time the Kansas Electric Power Co. also bought some power from the Bowersock Co., as they could purchase it at a smaller expense than they could produce it. Water power was the cheapest form of electricity because of the free water river as a source of power rather than the more expensive needed for other electricity production.
IN 'RECENT years there have been no major mishaps such as the 1903 flood. However, the water wheels, which cannot run if they are overloaded, low, have had to be stopped occasionally.
25c off Big Boy With This Coupon Good thru Sept. 30, 1973
According to Ed Bungardner, former secretary of the corporation, the most recent instance of this sort was in last April when the plant had to be closed for almost a month due to high water. Bungardner said the company did not change its annual years that the plant had been closed.
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The plant has been forced to close because of low water only once or twice in the last 50 years when there were improvements of the dams on the river.
Kansan Photos by Carlos Lisson
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