The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
LIGHT, MORE LIGHT
Expansion in the Use of
Electricity.
Comparison of Rates Between San
Francisco and Other Cities of the
Country-High Rates for
Coal and Labor.

some satisfaction, boast of possessing one
of the most complete plants for the supply
of electricity for light and power purposes
Of any city in the country. 1t is only within
few years that a perfect control Of this
subtitle and powerful agent has been COM
plete.
At this time electricity is acknowledged
as one of the most potent of those appli-
ances which contribute so greatly to the
comfort and convenience ofthe world at the
close OF the nineteenth century.
The great corporation known as the
Edison Light and Power Company of this
city Is growth from a small beginning,
dating back as far as the year 1879, when it
was first organized, with George ii. Roe as
president. The California Electric Light
Company was the name adopted, and the
system first used was known as the Farmer
Wallace system, which proved on practical
demonstration to be utterly inadequate to
requirements. The new company was not
discouraged, however, and discarded the
Farmer Wallace system for that Of the
Brush Electric Company OF Cleveland, Ohio,
which had proved a complete success else
where.
The first plant of the company was located
on Market street, on the site of the present
Flood building, but this was destroyed by
Gated at III O'Farrell street, which were
occupied for three years until, proving
wholly inadequate to the growing service of
the company, another removal was effected
to Jessie street in 1888, the present head
quarters OF the company. In the three
years succeeding this last removal the ser
vice proved so satisfactory and the business
OF the company increased so largely that
an outside station was secured OIL Town
send street, near Third, now known as Sta
vii ia ieF aa1 70, fur iuh ala fnT4
for arc lights and power purposes. The
stations are now three in mum Der, and are
designated as A, B and G, stations a and G
being located on Jessie street, and supply
Ing the incandescent lights and power, and
Station b arc lights and power.
These stations have all been fitted up at
immense expenditure with the latest inven-
lions and improvements of electrical
science. Scarcely anything now remains
OF the first plan, which necessarily had to
be discarded. The new station e is a mar
vel of convenience for its purpose and is
one OF the most extensive plants in exist
ence. IL covers a. 600 square feet OF sur
lace and is calculated for thirty boilers of
go horsepower each, and capable of with
standing pressure of l65 pounds to the
square inch, as well as engines TO furnish
power, and which were designed by the
engineering department OF the Edison
General Electric Company of New York.
These engines, by the way, are magnificent
examples OF mechanical art. They are of
the triple expansion marine type and drive
the great Edison multipolar dynamOs which
supply electricity for the light and power
direct
The buildings in which the machinery is
located have been constructed on the finest
principles and cannot be eXcelled. The
tall chimney is said to be the loftiest on the
Pacific Coast and is visible from every part
of the city.
At present the company is supplying
23O0 arc lights besides Il. 600 incandescent,
and is furnishing a large amount of power
The present facilities are ample for Y, 600
lncandescent lights if required.
Inc company, IN pursuit Of a policy
whereby the convenience of the public
should be Its first object, has kept a steadily
defined purpose in view, the first of which
Is the adoption and practical demonstration
OF system of Underground conduits which
have been proved to be thoroughly practi-
cal wherever introduced, but this great con-
Venlence, which 1t is Intended and as
rapidly as possible to universally adopt.
has involved an enormous expenditure
which only the future prosperity of the
company will justify. Already thirty
miles OF underground cOnduits have been
laid and the system will be further expanded
as may be required.
No improvement that electric science has
yet developed has failed of adoption bv
the Edison light and Power Company Of
TINS city. IL designs to have the best sys-
tenn in the world Its vast expenditures
have been OF late greater than its present
business lustifes, but it relies upon the fu-
ture for justification and returns.
A comparison of rates charged by cleo
trieal companies in ether cities of the coun-
try and San Francisco may dispel some iIlu
slons regarding the so-caled excessive rates
which our citizens have to pay. The table
below will bear careful INSPECTION. II
must also be considered that while the local
company has To pay Sc per ton for coal
Eastern cities pay hut 81 80 to 81 per ton.
and while the same labor here costs So per
day, at the East 1t costs but 81 to 81 %. A
careful consideration of these rates will
justify the time spent III studying it.
Commercial Arc Lights-Rates Per Week.