The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-05-21
ABREAST OF THE AGE.
One Of the Best-Lighted Cities in the
Country.
Something About the Electric Light
System of Sacramento-The Capt.
tai Company's Plant.

System of Sacramento-The Capt.
tai Company's Plant.
The city of Sacramento, in keeping up
with the march Of progress and improve
ment. has not been hampered by a
silurian lighting corporation. The city
is lighted throughout by arc lights placed
at the intersections of the streets, so that
at-all seasons of the year, and in all kinds
Of weather. the streets are abundantly
lighted. All the stores, hotels, ETC., also
use the electric light, both arc and in
candescent.
The Capital Gas Company, under the
energetic control of some of her leading
citizens, has demonstrated its ability to
light the way in a most acceptable man
ner, notably by establishing here one of
the finest electric light and power plants
in the country. It is situated on the river
front. adjoining the substantial brick
retort-house and coal shed OF the gas
works.
Entering the gate at the corner Of Front
and L streets, the visitor is pleasantly
impressed by the appearance of the
3
building and surroundings. The large,
square building on the left, with its lofty
brick stack, contains
THE ELECTRIC PLANT.
The engine-room is large and well
lighted, being 40 feet long and 60 feet
wide. with a ceiling 20 feet high The
roof Is surmounted by a wire tower and
also cupola for travelling crane. 4
wide platform running from end to end
OF the room i'll front has upon it the ma
chinery for repairing electric lamps,
meters and dynamoS; also the Office OF
the engineer, supply department, and
the main switchboard to which all the
wires are led from the tower. and by
which the various circuits are placed un-
der immediate control. The platform is
built directly over the main line of shaft
ing, whlch rests upon solid cement
foundation. IN fact, nearly the entire
large basement is taken up with heavy
cement foundations for the engines and
dynamoS on the floor above. The boiler
room, with its cement floor and fire-proof
roof, takes up a space 40XS5 feet in the
rear.
THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Consists of dynamoS having a capacity of
go arc lights, 100 OF which are OF 200
candle-pOwer, standard Brush type; 200 of
200 candle-power, standard OF the Thorn
SON Houston system, and twenty OF 5, 600
candle-power, Brush. The incandescent
system in use is the Westinghouse alter
mating current, having n capacity OF 800
sixteen-candle-powe lamps.
The Keith system ofpCwer distribution
by means Ofmotors is used, the capacity
being 5U-hOrSe power, which is dlstrib-
uted over the city by motors ranging
from one-half to eight-horse power
Power is also furnished 10 operate the
street cars of the Central Street Railway
Company. the electric current being gen
Grated by three Edison railroad genera
tors of a combined capacity OF 325-horse
power.
In the large dynamo room are situated
the dynamoS and generators for furnish
ing the lights and power above described
These are belted to q counter shaft I2O
feet long, furnished with clutch pulleys,
so that any machine can be thrown in
and out of service at any time without
interfering with the others.
THE POWER PLANT.
Power is furnished to drive this coun-
tershaft by three steam engines of tie
most modern and economical type, one
being vertical triple expansion engine
marine type, of 400-horse-power, one a
right-angle compound condensing Corliss
engine of 400-hOrSe-poWer, and one con-
densing Corliss engine of 200-horse-
power.
In addition to these are three high
speed Arlington 4 Sims engines OF q
combined capacity Of 150-horse-power,
and one compound condensing engine of
100 horse power, connected direct to dyn-
amos and used as q reserve.
The steam is supplied to these engines
at pressure of lao pounds, and is uener-
ated by a battery OF six Babcock q Will
cox boilers. The fuel used is principally
Walsend Australian coal The water
4
feeding the boilers is taken directly from
the Sacramento River.
THE GAS PLANT
Has been greatly improved and its ca
pacity increased to keep pace with the
growth OF the city. The retort-house is a
acknowledgements brick building,
$50 feet long and 90 feet wide, with an iron
truss roof covered with State. 1t contains
fourteen benches OF retorts OF the most
improved pattern. An engine is used 10
drive the eNhauster, which assists the gas
in its passage from the retorts and con-
densers to the washer, scrubber and the
purifying departments. The surplus gas
is stored in three large gasholders, each
having capacity Of 60,000 cubic feet.
The coal-shed in the rear OF the works
is fireproof, having q corrugated iron
roof. Its storage capacity is 7,0J0 tons.
Adjoining this shed is large and we'll
appointed blacksmith and repair shop.
The company has built several neat
cottages on the Front-street side of the
yard tor the use gifts employees.
The offices are IN a handsome two-story
brick building and contain, beside the
clerical department, the large station
meter and testing apparatus. James G.
Pierson is the Superintendent and Man
ager of the entire plant. The company
is fortunate in having for its chief execu-
tive officer Bernard L. Steinman, a man
of great energy and enterprise, and one
OF the most public spirited citizens of the
city.
'Don't like your place? Why, /
thought you had first-class situation .
Boy OF all work-it's all well enough ex-
/ cep: in the morning. There's hardly any
passing at that time, and YOU can't
imagine how discsuraging it is to wash
the windows, sweep the sidewalk and
shake the mats, and not soul going by
to get the benefit OF your labors.-Boston
Transcript.
Shelf is always the unmarried man
who knows ali about women. He-Yes:
T have nntina6 that 70 N, n \,