Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-03
THE SCHEME ENDORSED.
Clarksville's Opportunity for
Pushing to the trout.
The Leaf Chronicles Suggestion for
Utilizing the Water Power of Red
River for Operating an Electric
Plant Strikes With Force.

Sew raj days ago the LEAF CHRoN
ICLE suggested the feasibility OF util
izing Red river for operating an elec
trio plant by putting a strong dan
above backwater mark, by which
tremendous power could be secured
for operating such plant incessant
ly. The plant would have to be To-
Gated some five or ten miles above
the city and the electricity conveyed
hither by wire, which would not en-.
tail a loss of three per cent. in that
distance.
Since the article was published we
have met with congratulations on all
sides. Men of business and enter
prise, who have given thought to the
best schemes for starting ,ur city on
the highroad to prosperity, endorse
it heartily and say it is the way out.
DR.. Beaumont says he has been
trying for years to direct public at
tention to the importance of utiliz-
ing the immense water power of
Red river, but people would not con-
slider it because they have thought
the back kwater from the Cumberland
would seriously interfere, but the
LEAF CHRONICLE has at last struck
upon plan to overcome every Oh
stacle. M. q. Pitman also gave his
opinion that this was the most prac-
ticable scheme that has ever been
suggest d. Alex. Gholsun and many
others express the same sentiment.
C4pt. Gracey says it is the thing !;
that il will not only furnish The city
all the light wanted from sundown
to daylight for the same money now
expended for half lighted city, but
will furnish power for operating the
street cars at greatly reduced cost,
and run every blacksmith shop and
manufacturing enterprise in the city
at reduced cost. He says it is no ex-
pertinent. Electricity is coming in
to use every day, supplanting other
means of fuel and light. Tie great
locomotive factories are now using
electricity for welding iron and other
purposes. The heavy tires on car
wheels are welded by putting the
two ends together and applying elec-
trical force, which quickly brings the
iron to a white heat, causing the
ends to weld without burning the
iron. Capt. Gratey thinks it would
cost about $40, 900 to put in a good,
solid stone dam across Rcd river that
would jast for all time, but wooden
dam could be put in for comparative
ly very small cost, and that the
plant could be operated for the cost
of the water required to operate a
machine in the city.
This presents an opening for for
tune to some enterprising capitalist,
and we shall be greatly surprised if
somebody does not take hold OF it
very soon.
But why not the city of Clarks-
vile? We are paying out about $2,-
800 year for light, for half lighted
city for half of the night, and this
sum would pay the interest on $780,
600 in bonds at 6 per cent, and also
the cost of operating the plant. Then
the patronage coming from indi-
viduals, manufacturers, street rail
ways, &C., would range from $4,000
to $4,000 a year. Nashville owns her
waterworks, from which the prin.
cipal revenue of the city is drawn.
Clarksville can afford to own an elec-
trio plant for the revenue, and relieve
the merchants of heavy privilege
tax, and throw open her bridges, pull
down the fences and light people in
by day and by night to trade with
us. Such an enterprise as this would
light not only the city, but every
street, and the country for miles
around, and the cost of operating it
would be two or three men and the
wear of machinery. What say the
City Board to this? Why not?
=-------------------
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