Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-07-18
WORK OF ELECTRICITY.
The Local Plant One of the
Largest on the Atlantic Slope.
THE MANAGEMENT IS EFFICIENT

WILMINGTON People Arc Good Customers
and Use Light FreelJ-A Few Words
About the Capacity Of the WILMINGTON
City Electric Company's Plant.
The present management Of the VIII
mington City Electric Company has
made the electric light plant here. in
point of equipment and efficiency, one of
the most perfect on the Atlantic slope.
lt has done this with comparatively little
support from the municipal government.
In fact the company owes its success
in business TO the indefatigable energy
and capability of its officers and agents,
who have succeeded in convincing the
manufacturers merchants and private
citizens that electricity is the cheapest,
safest, most brilliant and most satisfac
tory illuminant Of the present age, and
in giving their patrons every attention
possible and endeavoring to make the
service both safe and efficient.
The capital stock Of the company out
standing is $240, 600. besides a bonded
Indebtedness Of 500, 900. The company
has paid six per cent. dividend since its
reorganization under the present manage
ment seven years ago. At that time
there were ], $50 lamps wired TO the line (,
the equivalent capacity connected TO the
line su the present time is over %. 900
sixteen candle-power lamps, and the
finances Of the company are in better
condition than ever before.
The plant con pares fevorably with
those of the large central stations Of the
country, being abont one quarter as large
as that of the Pbiladelphia company
and one sixth the size Of the New York
station, which are the biggest in the
country, although the patronage of the
plant BY the municipality is very meagre
compared with that of other towns OF
the 200 arc lights strung throughout the
city only thirty three are paid for by the
municipality, showing that the service is
almost entirely supported by private
consumers, who appreciate the value Of
a good light and the efficient service Of
the company.
The great service OF electricity to the
public is to raise the standard Of illumi
nation. Where coal oil and tsllow we're
once admissible illuminsnts, no one now
can tolelat them when electrical service
can bs had of the character which the
people of Wilmington enjoy. Our people
appreciate this and are good customers,
burn electric light freely. and put in
plenty of it. We zee here the stores,
saloons, hotels and churches as we'll, II
not better Illuminated, than anywhere
else in the country.
The local company has three systems
in service They are the Edison, arc
and alternating current The arc system
is used almost exclusively on the streets
The Edison system territory Is between
Adams and French aud Tenth and Front
streets The business beyond that is
done on the alternating current system,
which is the long-distRnoe transmission.
That embraces all the lights outside ol
the Edison system, but, as a matter oi
fact about sixty per cent. of the total
load is Edison
A visit TO the company's place on
West Fifth street is edifying to person
of a mechanical turn Of mind. AS he
stands and watches the big wheels re-
volve and the blue sparks fly he is con-
strained to admit hat If the science oi
electricity is yet in its infancy he would
not like to be the man to attempt tC
put swaddling clothes on the precocioul
youngster