The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-12-27
EClfaSl'S Electric Lights.

September goth, the Belfast Electric company
was organized in this city, with capital stock of
S3oooo to furnish light and power for Belfast and
vicinity. The local rroplictors II. F. Pierce,
Hiram l.. Pierce and Percy c. Pierce. The system
to lie used is the Thomson Houston, and the COM
pany expect to make Il trial next Saturday even
ing.
! Monday = Journal representative accompanied
Mr.. Percy G. Pierce to the power station at the
mouth OF "o0se river to inspect the plant. The
water IN the pond has been raised four feet above
it, former height, which gives additional power
The water NOW flows within one foot of the road
bc'l OF the bridge on the Searsror road. One of
Rodney Hunt X CO.'S improved turbine wheels of
l31 horse power, manufactured at Orange, Mass,
furnishes the power The machinery is placed in
the building: formerly occupied gyist mill.
Here are also stationed the three dynalnos that
generate the electricity for lighting purposes.
Two are for are lights. each with capacity of
thirty lights, and one alternating dynamo of 800
incandcscent light power. The dynamos are
machines for genaralizng electricity. The arc
machine consists of sphere revolving between
two npligt-. The revolving sphere is an electric
lnagEit-c"i per vine wound on iror. From each
dynamo two copper wires are extended to any
| lcngth, forming circuit Six Wires, strung on
re'ts run from the po"tr station, by way of the
lower bridge, to the central station in iierce's
block, corner Of Church and Franklin streets, one
ilc distant. The dynamos may be compared to
pumps ami the wires to pipes. The power of
the water wheel .ets the dynamos in motion and
generate, the electricity, which is forced along the
wires precisely IL pump forces water through
pipe. The electricity thus formed may be used fer
either li2ht or power. The loss Of power over the
wire. bctn cen the two stations is said to be only
one PER ctnt. The company has erected 200 poles
and when fully wired viii have used thirty miles
OF copper ire The poles erected along the prin-
| cipai streets Will lie painted green. Nine hundred
| feet of cable goes under water at the draw Of
thu lower bridge. The expense incurred is large
/ The incaHdt,Ccnt dy namos cost 81 1000 while the
! two arc light dynamo cost S2,5oo each. The
copper viii cost about 800 per mile and the water
| wheel 5llGf. There is much other machinery Of
minor importance hut all helping to swell the cost
| Of an electric plant.
II is estimated that ole are light of 1900 candle
power viii cost ->oper year, and one incandcscent
li&it of sixteen candle power so year. The car
Gens u. the a.c light viii burn out in ten hours,
when they have 10 be renewed. These carbons
cost ipur cents each ana furnished by the com
pany.
The ojlt iI,u-o, the Belfast Opera House and
the 'liI,- store of hilgolc < Wilson have been
| wired tor axe lights, While the business places Of
J. Waterman. Yield x Carter \. Clement, Henry
| staples. MiNer x Marshall, NJ. Il. knovlton, Iii
| Coo X, II W. Clifford and y. W. nelano have been
wired fer incanle=ccnt lights. Tie company will
exhibit f.ur are lights in Custom House square o1
At auno other favorable point in the city.
7 i,t,il