Many of the older buildings in downtown Portland were heated by steam piped from a plant located more or less under the west end of the Marquam Bridge. The plant was inefficient, became outdated, and closed in 1985.
One side benefit of the steam plant, appreciated only in inclement weather such as today's, was that the distribution pipes ran beneath many of the streets of downtown Portland. The steam pipes would melt the snow and ice on the streets above, freeing them for travel without the aid of salt or plow.
The plant's site has been filled with offices and condominiums and we can't replace the steam plant at a convenient location. It did occur to me yesterday, as I edged my way along the icy sidewalks, that when the construction crowd gets its next bailout, it should allocate a few of the dollars to put steam pipes underneath the sidewalks that connect City Hall to the Mausoleum Club, not only as a tribute to the age of steam but for the convenience of the businesses looking for public funds.
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