The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-26
CITY'S ELECTRIC LIGHTIN G
indianapolis Company Claims the Most
Complete Plant in the Country.
Underground and Aerial Wires-New Power
House on Kentucky Ayenue-The Power
Jul Engines and Dynam0s.


blaze of electric light. To some who have
waited long and expectantly for this light
reform. the news may be received with
some degfee of doubt. Those who do not
believe In the prophecy may. however, be
convinced of it's truth by going down Ken
lucky avenue. below the first track CROSS
ing. and viewing the splendid new edi!ice
which Will soon be completed for the home
of the new plant. The new electric light
plant. which is being built by the Indian
apoiis Light and Power Company, is sim
gular for number of reasons. In the first
place. it will exceed in excellence and ap-
pointment any other like construction in
the United States. Its machinery is all
of the latest approved invention and style.
with an eye to the durability and fitness
OF its apparatus. 1t will be one of the
most valuable improvements ever made to
this city as a whole or part.
About nine months ago the Board of
Public Works contracted with the Brush
company. afterwards consolidated with the
Marmon-Perry company, for tho city's
lighting on the moonlight schedule for q
period of ten years. and at once set about
locating the lights over the city. This was
IN August, and 1t required about three
weeks to do the work. This gave the COM
pany an exact idea of what had to be done,
ond the members Of the company at once
set out on tour of the States to find the
best and most improved machinery. How
we'll they succeeded will be seen by visit
to the works or by waiting for final results.
The matter of accomplishing the work in
VOWED. of course. Is a large expenditure of
money. much more on account of the COM
paDy being compelled to lay underground
wire. This kind of wire costs many times
more than aerial wire. in addition to the
cost of digging the trenches for it.
The land where the building IS being
constructed was purchased long before
and work begun on it last May. The main
building covers space $50 by 100 feet, and
the boiler room is 30 by 100 feet. The roof.
Ing is OF asbestos, paper. tin. ETC., and Is
proof against fire. 1t is stated by Mr.. John
Martin, the brick contractor, that there Is
more brick In this than any other building
in this city. The floors are also ire proof.
The basement takes In the entire
length of the building, all the founda-
tions coming up through 1t TO the
first floor This department contains
the shafting for arc appearances. This
shafting Is OF an unusual make, being six
inches in diameter. two lengths of which
the entire distance of the room, cut
into sections. so that one. two or three or
any combination of dynam0s may be- run
at a time. The belts are SO arran ged that
none are seen on the first floor. The main
drives from engines to shafts will be noise
less rope traDsmlsslons. The condensers
are all In the condenser pit below the base
ment, and extend the entire length of the
building.
Under the condensers is a four-fO0t WE'LL
thirty-five feet deep. to supply water
when running light. In connection with
the condensers. The pumps In the con-
densers are on level with the water sup
ply. and all wires from underground dis
triets coming Into thls suoscructure run TO
one switch board In such u manner that no
wire seen on the first floor. including
the dynamo and engine foundations the
bricks used in the substructure are two
million. Outside the buildings is q man.
moth well, connected with the basement
by tunnel. This we'll ~ twenty-five feet
in diameter. the brick curbing extending
downward forty five feet into the ground.
On the first floor are thirty-twO Brush arc
dynamos of sixty-tive arc lights each, that
furnish all the power for the city
as well as commercial work. All these dyna
mos are connected with or TO marble
switchboard on the first floor. The flrst
floor contains oil engine apparatus. arc and
incandescent dynatnOS which are connect
Ell with shafts below. The steam dynamos
have capacity of 400O0 incandescents.
The power plant combines 5000 horse
power. With all this intricate machinery,
the HI6b loot Is lE66 lIOul ODetIuCtlOu, ali
under one roof so that men in charge of
machinery Can see every machine under
their supervision. travelling train runs
the entire length of the building. arranged
so as TO pick up any piece of ma hinery
and shift the same 10 any quarter of the
building.
The six boilers are ell of che best make
water tubes and contain 240 tu hes each
They are go arranged that explosions are
impossible, as they have already stood 230
pounds bydrOstatic pressure and will carry
only about $50 pounds steam pressure. The
smoke AMI gases conducted through an
underground pipe to the stack outside,
which is the largest in the State. with an
outside diameter of 10ls feet and $50 feet
hiah. built in the shape of an octagon. Gas
will be used for fuel. The engines are SO
large that their revolutions will not be
over 20 per minute. These engines
average sixty tons each. The lamps will
he of the best make, less O great deal of the
usual weights. trappiEgs. ETC., which ac-
company them. The posts are OF very cost
lv steel, small with extra strong arms.
There can be little doubt but that the
system OF lighting will be the most COM
plete OF any at present employed
In the United States. while the
plant will be one of the
most expensive in use at the present day
according To its size. The city will soon
appear as il has never appeared before. and
will be void of dincy streets or absolute
darkness after midnight. at an expense not
any greater than has heretofore been met
Tor much poorer service.