The morning call., 1893-05-28
CORPORATIONS.
ELECTRIC-LlGHT AND POWER.
The Great Company That Supplies
San EranciSc0

San Francisco people, as a general thing,
have but the faIntest conception OF what an
electrical plant really Is. They are content
with ihe effects of that wonderful agent to
note the brIiIaney of its illuminating power or
TO wonder al The manifold conyenlences that IL
is possible TO experience from its action; but
the inquiry. how this agent is drawn from the
elements or by what mechanical process 1t can
be regulated and distributed is hardly given a
thought.
1t Is scarcely 10 be wondered at, for even
among scientific experts there is much that
they have failed 10 understand, aud are looking
for future developments to explain phenomena
which Is yet one of natures most inscrutable
secrets.
However, visit TO the stations of the Elec-
trc Light and Power Company of this city,
where electricity is provided for arc and in
candescent lights and power purposes, while
adding nothing TO the mystery OF the nature of
electricity, will afford uncommon pie asure 10
all who are Interested In The progress OF me-
chanical art and its application to the common
uses OF mankind.
the plant OF the Edison Light and Power
Company Is far more extensive than Is gener-
ally supposed, and The reader cannot but be
impressed both with It's magnitude and the per-
fection of It's interior arrangements. On Stew
enson street. near Thlrd. is tn Office and head
quarters Uf The company and Is known AS
station a. Beneath tile Office Is the storage
department, in which an enormous sIock of
new lamps, car bons wire ana tools are 10 be
seen. The number and details of this peculiar
STOCK is surprising TO non-expert and cannot
fan 10 extract an expression of wonder for its
Infinite variety. On Stevenson street and di.
recuy IN The rear Of the Jesse-Strett station is
the iwo-Story blick structure, 165 feet 'front.'
and SO feet in depth, in which electricity for
supply OF the arc lights and power Is produced
Ii Is hele where the mystery OF the prOdnc-
lion OF electricity begins. The observer sees
scores OF dynamos revolving at an enormous
speed. and cylinders covered with copper wire
revolving against pulleys partly composed of
The same metal ana the observer Is told that
from the magnetism that Is Inherent IN copper
when thus manipulated is evolved electricity
This station Is driven by Steam power aud was
the hfst and greatest depot of the company for
long time, and was al one time thought to be
annie for requirem' nts for many years, but
IN This there was miscalcuaion; as the con-
Irol OF electricity became perfected aud the re-
suits improved so the demand increased and
additional facilities became necessary and STA
tl0n was established.
Station is located on Townsend street. near
Third. aud Is brick structure OF great size
and fitted with all the latest improved m chan
ical devices Tor producing electricity for power
and are lights
Stil with station added to the plant The re-
qnirements OF The service promised TO exceed
even the libeI al supply which could be geCer-
ated ut both stations and b, and then the
company determined to make one more eXten-
sion OF a size that would suffice for the ordinary
rate OF increase Of the demand for years TO
come and the erection OF station g was deter
mined upon.
Station C adjoins station on stevenson
street and Is OF exactly the same dimensions
on the ground as the latter. II Is TWO stories in
height. constructed OF brick and is surmounted
by a brick chimney which is said to be the high
est west of lhe Rocky Mountains. The plans
OF Inc building have been carefully calculated
Tor all requirements aud contingencies and are
perfectly adapted fer the purposes. No orna-
mentaiion OF the exterior has been attempted
and aside from It's admirable proportions and
SIZE would fail TO draw more than passing re-
marx, but when once inside the visitor would
not fall TO be ast0ulsheG at the view before him.
Station consists of one part devoted 10 the
Doier-i0om and one for the engines aud dyua.
mos. The bollerr0om at present contains
seven immense boilers divided into sets which
are OF 25O horsepower each and are built ex-
pressly for particular purpose. They are all
upright, and eventually the number will be In
creased To twenty eght. The boiler-loum is
admirably arranged SO as to admit the econom-
ical handling of fuel and access on all sides 10
The boilers.
From the boier.room to the engine-room is
an easy transition. aud here is where the mind
Is, Is lost tn wonder at the superb specimens
an,day aa,s,pdlsy. AT present there Is one
2xl00 kilo wait engn capable of
afoiding electricity to 1900 incandescent
lights ana one engine OF exactly double tile
| capacity and power. Besides these there is
being erected another 2x20O kilo watt engine.
while still o hers have been ordered, which are
Will be five OF the 2x200 kilo wat engines,
and with the one 2xl00 Kilo wait Will give an
ultin lie Capacity OF Al 900 incandescent lights
Tor station alone
These engines were designed and built by The
Edison Electric Light ana Power Company at
thelr East rn works and are of triple expansion
marine type and drive the Edison inutipolar
| oynanos direct. Notwithstanding theif i'm
mense size they run al high speed without jolt
ana scarcely a perceptlb noise.
| Connect d with station Is the great marble
| switchboard, by which, III manner not unlike
tnat OF Tue telephone system. The volume and
sieadiness of all the incandeseent circuits in
| the city are regulated.
| SO imperfect description OF this wonderful
! plant must suffice, ither Is there space TO
] more than refer 10 tile thirty miles OF under
| ground circuit which has been In operation but
a limited time, but which Is being rapidly ex-
tended. Only personal inspection viii ade
| qaaiely convey an idea of the enormous ex-
! pendlture which has been necessary In order