Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-01-10
CHANGES MADE QUICKLY.

1t was just II o'clock, midnight, of Saturday
evening last that representative OF this paper
wended his way to the Electric Light Com
pany's building on Brkbeck street, where an
important change in the machinery was to
take place, AS noted in these columns in a pre-
vious issue. The lights were burning brightly
and the busy hum of the machinery betoken-
ed but little the lull soon to be. We found
number of workmen together with President
Fred W. Bleckley, of Scranton, to whose en-
ergy much of the success of the plant is due,
General Manager Meyers, Superintendent Orr,
Superintendent of the Water Company Fisher,
and others. The superintendent of the Subur-
ban Electric Light Company, of Scranton, w.
j. Jones, was also present, and supervised the
electrical changes Mr.. Jones, although but Il
very young man, has wonderful tact for
electrical and mechanical work.
As originally, located the boilers, two in
number, return tubulars of about 20 horse
power, are on the east side facing south, while
the first engine, IL vertical Westinghouse of
$50 horsepower, was placed in the north side
driving the incandesant and are dynamos on
the south side. The new engine, Il horizontal
Weston, l5x16 inches, stands in the west front
end of the building which is about 4Ox5O feet.
As the driving belts would not have had sufH-
was built to the west or front end of the build
ing over the engine, which projects beyond
the confines of the building us originally
erected.
Promptly at l o'clock Sunday morning the
plant was shut down and the men began work
upon the proposed changes. While some
'jacked" up the old engine others made the
necessary changes in wires, taking up dyna-
etc. EVpryt hing ianlyc
tackle, etc, had been previously prepared and
buster and more orderly crowd it would
have been hard to find. BY H. IN. the pom
derous engine was OFF the foundation and was
moved twenty feet away. Then the masonry
was cut down, floors made and anchored Sc
curely in the foundations, dynamos moved
and connected and by p. m everything was
in shape for light, the engine running smooth
ly.
1t was really feat to do all the changing of
machinery and switchboards, with their com
plicated wire connections, betting, etc, and to
do it so well that not the slightest hitch or acci-
dent marred the proceedings. The men were
tired and the genial Mr.. Bleckley, with fore
sight that showed not only business qualities
but humanity as well, had u lunch of hot cof-
fee and sandwiches on hand to which, it is
needless to add, full justice was done. The
writer and the public in general were much
surprised to find that, although advertised that
mo light for Sunday evening"" the well-laid
plans of the promoters rendered possible the
successful completion of the work in about half
the time expected Mr.. Bleckley, accom-
panied by Electrician Jones, left for Scranton
next morning.
Mr.. Spoor, of the Weston Engine Company,
Painted Post, N. ", was here on Tuesday
noting the workings of the new engine and ex-
pressed himself us much pleased with its be-
havior. He hopes to furnish another engine
in the near future for the southwest front, as
it is the intention of the company to get an
additional engine as soon us space and founda-
tions can be prepared. Some idea of the work
tan be obtained when we state that the engine
has floor space of l44xS7 inches and weighs
complete 20 600 pounds or ten tons.