Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-03
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
EXPERT SsELgY MEETS Iag COMMISSION AT
TEE CITY FALL.
Is Outside estimate hr a 40O-Light Plant 10
GLIDING Building and Double CaPscity 81
gines-Employed to Make Plans
and Specifications.

The City Electric Light Commission
met ~ the Office of the Board OF Gas
Trustees, last evening, with Mr.. John
A. Seeley. the electrical expert for the
purpose of hearing from him such pre-
lmiuary information as he could give
regarding the proposed street lighting
plant. and OF making some definite
terms looking to the preparation OF plans
and specifications, upon which bids for
construction could be based, that the
exact cost of "a plant might be ascer-
tanned.
Chairman Farrell introduced Mr.. See
ley, aud stated. ia preliminary way,
that the gentleman h;rd been in consul
tation with himself aud other members
of the Commission during the day; that
TWO or three proposed sites fOT build
ing had been visited and an opinion
passed upon them, aud that the visiting
engineer had studied the map OF the
city and gone over good part OF the
ground. that he might the better be able
10 talk iuteiligeutly To the Commission.
Mn Seeley then addressed the Com
mission, saying az the outset that he
represented mo- electrical company OF
system. but was ready % prepare plans
and specifications. aud tell the city what
she ought % do ia the premises. The
city could then make decision for her
self IL the city should 90 Oh with the
erection of a plant, after giving the
matter mature consideration, he would
,unerintend the construction Tor nye
Der cent. OF the cost; If the city decided
not % 20 on. ne would charge $40 iol
/ the preparation Of plans, writing mp OF
specifications, visits here, etc Tie
said:
THE matter of electric lighting has
made great progress recently. A good
many mistakes have been made in the
past, which were now being rectihed.
/ As an instance. the practice formerly
was % belt high speed engine directly
10 the dynamoS, and If the engine broke
down the dyndmOs were out Of the night.
Now low speed engines are belted 10
/ lines of shaftiug, one at either end, and
+ the dynamoS are attached TO the shaft
ing by clutch pullcyS. II one engine
broke, the other was started, ana the
.vstem went ON. II a dynamo is
burned out, il is simply disconnected,
without disturbing the remainder of the
I plant
As to- the question Of cost he said;
..If Won want to put in other than a
6rst-class installation, you will throw
the machinery away in three or -four
wears: but if you have the best at the
outset. il will last | understand you
are figuring upon 4OO-light plant, hay
iu, located upon the city map 300
lights. That means "a iO0-light plant,
allowing small margin. That could
Doe rum with two POO h. p. engines,
hint 10 has been suggested that il would
be better 90 put in two 400 b. p. engines,
So hat In case OF miShap TO one the
other could run the plant With 200 h.
Do. engines. In case OF accident, but little
over one-hall the lights could be- run
until repairs were made. OF course
the smaller engines could be had fol
much less money, but there Will be The
drawback ! have spoken or
"On the question Of pole-line' | may
say that 10 would not require very long
circuits. but you have u long city
There would bee short circuits run from
a trunk line. each alternate lamp be
longing TO different circuit. So tina
inn case. say the No. circuit should b'
laid OF. instead of leaving an entire sec
ton of the city iu darkness, each alter
nate lamp only would be out. II wOul'
take. approximately. about Sevent,
miles of wire, with some 5O-fOOt pole
10 clear electric wires, telegraph wires
etc aud the rest JO-ioot and 35-too
poles.
"As TO lamps. ! would require full
1000 e.. %. lamps, with 30 10 - volt
and s.. or9 amphercS NJ each lamp
Some construction companies will tr,
10 get on but amphereS at a lamp, an'
YOU will get but loo candle power
They call such lamps 'nominally' 2,0O'
.c..p.. but what does 'uomnally in sucl
cases mean?
'Such plant, constructed in th'
very best manner. under rigid scrutiny
would cost. az the extreme outsid,
limit. about As follows: