The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-03
is 1T PRACTICABLE?.
The isolated Electric Light Plant
Company Of This City.
GAS ENGINES To- Be USED.
Mr.. Carhart Explains the System which
Others Say Is Not Economicai-The
Necessity OF Floating Stock Questioned.
An Open Market Supplies Apparatus.

An Open uhrkct supplies apparatus
Within few days there was made pub
lie in this city, scheme TO organize a
company for the purpose of establishing
isolated electric light plants for business
houses, manufactures, halls, dwellings,
ETC., the owners aud lessees Of which were
to illuminate their premises at greatly
reduced cost. The plan, as then disclosed,
was to secure subscribers who would put
in sufficient capital to enable the company
TO install their plants at an early day aud
enter at once into a lively competition
with the existing electric light company.
The practicability of the scheme has been
seriously questioned by electricians, capi-
talists and business men Tor reasons that
will be apparent TO the layman and the
would be investor when the plan is fully
set forth.
The promoter Of the scheme is Mr.. +.
A. Carbart, formerly connected with the
Holmes Burglar Alarm Company of this
city, and at present engaged ~ the eiec.
trical out-fitting business. Mr.. Carhart
said to NEWS representative 1.-The
plan was to operate the isolated plants
with gas engines. There were five such
engines now in the field, the Otto, the
Rollston, the Sintz, the Charter and the
III.
CINE he would select he had not yet de-
cided.
II was the intention of the company he
was about to organize, to establish isolat-
ed electric plants for lighting and power
purposes, and it was intended to set up
and run dynamos Of from 30 to 200 incan-
descent lamp capacity, requiring engines
of from 3 to 25 horsepower. He had figur-
cd on plant for so lamps, which would
require all engines OF horsepower. The
equipment Of such plant, including wir-
ing of the premises, would be not In ex-
cess of 81 80.
The cost of running such plant he had
figured down closely. The engine would
consume from Is to Is feet of gas per
horse power per hour. At the rate now
charged for gas In the city, viz: Sl.30 per
thousand feet, and allowing 40 feet of gas
per hour, the cost of operating the engine
would be 1850 cents per hour. The use OF
a gas engine would not, he said, require
the employment of skillful help. Once a
week the engine would require cleaning
and occasionally the oil.cups would need
TO be filed. After the gas had been light
ed the engine would start up and run and
care for itself.
The plan was to sell outfits but In time
plants might be leased to meet demands
from those who desired a few lights only.
Thus, a number of householders in one
block, or four or five small store-keepers,
might be connected with one plant TO be
established in one house or store and TO be
cared for and inspected daily by an en-
ploye of the present company.
Mr. Carhart was asked If there was any
necessity for establishing plant for the
company, inasmuch as IL was proposed to
purchase the engines, dynamos, wire,
amps, etc, in the open market with the
mch plant would not, under the circum-
stances, be required. II isolated plants
we're TO be set up and leased, as suggested.
hen stock company would be formed
and chartered. 1t was proposed to give
purchasers thirty-days trial and to con.
vince them tina. by this plan store could
be electrically illuminated at cost OF two
thirds the rates now asked.
Mr.. Carhart's plan has been carefully
snalyzed by others, who say that 1t Is inl-
practicable In the first instance they say
That as it is proposed to purchase every
thing to be used from manufacturers al
ready in field characterized by sharp
competition, there would be just as much
sense to ask capitalists to subscribe to
such q scheme as there would be to organ
ize stock company to set up front door
bell connections, or to back up tin-dfppcr
supply company.
engines In connection with electric light
ing was open to objection and at once.
There must be the conversion of coal into
gas, and the gas into power. Now" said
Mr.. Thomas, the superintendent OF the
Narragansett Company. IL there was any
economy whatever in such plan do you
suppose that our company would have
gone to the great expense they did in set
ting up the large battery of boilers we
have at our Elm street station Would
we be shoveling coal all the time and max
ing dirt and litter If we could use gas, and
run our engines You don't suppose that
al
les are setting up expensive boiler plants
for fun and TO spend money that could be
saved by adopting another system. Mr.
Carhart's plan to start up an engine and
then go away and leave IL to care for itself
will not for moment commend itself
either to the prudent business man or the
careful house-owner. Machinery never
did, never will care for itself until the per-
petual motion device is produced. l have
heard of four places where Mr.. Carhart
proposed to set up an exhibition plant.
In one the premises were altogether too
small to permit of any such an exhibition;
in the others, after Investigation, il was
decided not to enter into the plan. Can
didly, believe that the whole scheme is n
stock -jobbing affair which would reach
that stage Of organization aggressiveness
only TO warrant those who Were behind it
10 knock at the door of the Narragansett
Company and make overtures to unload
their goods. just AS the Citizens Gas Com
pany once imposed on the Providence Gas
Company, and just as it was proposed two
years ago TO spring the Addicks gas
scheme upon the public. There are at
present several isolated electric plants in
operation In this city. Do you not sup
pose that II the owners could dispense
with boilers and steam engines for such
purposes and substitute gas engines that
they would not do so Mr.. Carhart's fig
ures are misleading, the proposed service
Is chimerical from practical, economical
standpoint and his whole scheme, includ-
ing that of forming stock company is