Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-24
sAvANNAHs ELECTRIC LIGHT.

-
The Company Increasing the Capacity
Of it, Works-II5 Lamps in Use,
Reached by IS Miles OF Wire
The directors OF the Electric Light and
Power Company authorized an increase
in the capacity OF the works yesterday by
directing the purchase Of another engine
70 drive the two dynamOs, which, after
oct. I. will furnish the light at the Ocean
Steamship wharyes.
The company is now better equipped
and the plant Is under a more systematic
and thorough management than II has ever
been since the company was organized
After the Namacraw FIRE in october. last
year, when the works were burned and
great deal Of the COmpany's property vas
DESTROYED 1t was thought doubtful WhetneE
they would ever be rebuilt, an0 IoT I1us
time il was a question whether tne elec-
trio light was not a thing Of the past IN
Savannah. At that time the !sten va
rrusatisfacr0ry in its workings the Hght
gras detective. and its distribution was so
une01Ial that many parts Of the city were
fr-,-ss-fs-.tiv LIGHTED. and in some localities
vrhara Eght was the most needed
there was none at all. There was strong
prejudice against any system OF electric
iir6tiu-. and a general desire 10 20 back
nauv had not then eXteTed into iull con-
tract with the city. and was operating IN
der q SORT Of provisional contract until the
workings &C the system hau
f.aen satisfactorily demonstrated nearly
three months. AfleT the IRE the CITY was
lighted for several months with napntna-
TTa contrast between the two lights was
thus clearly shown. The people sene-alI!
were convinced that the new wa!
was the best way, and after some tlze
the company decided 70 rebuild and rees-
tablfsh The works with an entire new
plant. The services Of the present ecm-
ratant and experienced superintendent
Mr. Eeck. were secured. land the work
was pushed ahead, 50 that the city was
again lighted within about three nonI1s
after the works were destroyed i ne
system was adopted y the CITY, anu
permanent contract entered into.
When a MORNING News reporter en-
tered the works last night Superintendent
Keck was engaged IN his once, but couT-
raruSlv slowed the NEwS man the lutrI-
cate workings Of dynam0s, coils and car
hons. and explained the movements OF the
subtle fluid from its generation TIL II
mounted the tall towers and, banning
darkness. shed its light into almost every
corner Of the city
1--WE are now burning is lamps" said
Mr. Keck. and the dynamOs you see at
work are sending the current over >
miles OF wire.'
The reporter was standing near the lar
gest Of the two dynamOs, which was gene
rating light for Ga lamps. The
blue streaks Of lightning played
about the machine as the huge
engines almost uOiselesslv, yet
with enormous power. sent their latent
force into the miles Of wire cOiled and re-
coiled through which the lightning is pro-
duced. Everything about the works was
i'm c0mplete order. The engines, with
their huge fiywhCels, equalling IN power
more than one hundred horses. moved as
quietly as a sewing machine. The broad
.relts carrying their power 10 the dynamos
I Travelled swiftly around the pulleys and yet
without the slightest jar. Everything
worked like a charm. The tremendous
power and speed in the generating ma
chinery filled the air with a buzz, but be-
y0nd that there was no jolt. A nick Ell
{ balanced on edge on the cylinder Of the
engines stood as though 1t were on par
/ l0r table.
The present machinery, while
adequate for the work which
/ i regvired Of it now, Will not
/ he adequate a year hence If the system
increases in popularity as rapidly as 1t
/ has within the past year since It was
| re-established. The portions OF the
| generating machinery liable TO
/ breakage and destruction are du-
plicated, and the duplicate IS kept
/ in reserve so that il can be placed IN posi-
/ ton as soon as the breakage occurs with
out the loss of more than an hours time.
The new engine, which viii probably be
working by Oct. /, will be Of 30-hOrse
power and viii drive two dyEamos, fur
nishing light for the circuit OF lamps
at the Ocean Steamship wharyes- TIE
| dynamOs have "A capacity OF SIX lamps
each. The plant was in use for the same
| circuit before, but has been completely
\ 0Verhauled. and will alter oct. l be run
| iudependent OF the regular city circuit.
/ The light at the wharves is now being
/ furnished by the regular plant.
''HOw many lamps are in use under the
/ city cOntract!' asked the reporter.
1--WE are now running 10" replied the
Superintendent. 'IhiTty-hye are mast
| lamps and the others on the towers. The
\ rest are private lamps"
| After a visit through the entire building
/ in which the works are located, from the
! Superintendent Office to the boiler room,
/ where the three giant boilers with their
] slaring furnaces stand towering
I above the firemen, TO the coal
| ward. from which from - to - tons OF
/ coal are shOyeled every month into the
/ furnace Jaws. Here everything was as
I -
| elsewhere. The Superintendent proudly
! remarked that there were no works he
( had ever visited shat could compare In
/ completeness Of equipment with those
/ Of the Savannah company.
The system is being increased through
| out the city, and several new lamps have
/ recently been placed in localities where
! more light was required. Forsyth Park,
/ which owing 10 the dense foliage Is
/ lily lighted affOrding thieves and foot
/ pads an opportunity to rob and
/ assault women and children who pass
| through its walks and avenues after dark
without fear Of detection, mas for long
/ time needed additional light, either by the
\ old naphtha lamps, which have been sug-
| gested, or by an electric lamp placed low
/ enough to light the walks underneath the
/ foliage. Superintendent keck viii at once
/ have placed in the centre Of the Enclosure
| by the fountain a lamp so arranged as to
I reach all Of the walks Tadiating from 1t.
/ other lamps viii be placed in localities
where they are needed. The city Is now
/ thoroughly lighted, and it is doubtful
whether any one can be found who would
be willing to 90 back to the old system Of
lamps, with their dull, yellow and uncer-
tain light, liable at any time to flicker and
20 out, and at thebest penetrating not
more than a few yards into the darkness,
beyond which there was no light at all.