Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-03-02
BARTON VILLAGE ILLUMINATED

| this town. Dating from the time when an
excellent system of water works was put
in the progress has been steady, and, for
Vermont town, rapid. The building OF
the large Peerless mandatory, the erec-
ton of the Harding tub factory; the en-
! largement and increase of the buildings
and the business of the Percival Manufac-
turing Co.; the erection of large number
| of dwelling houses; the change in the 10
cation and the building of a new depot; the
addition of two new business blocks, and
| the smaller Improvements buildings,
! together with the putting up of fine no
tel, show something of the advancement
made. For some time past it has been felt
that the time had about come when an
electric lighting plant must be put in.
About a year ago the project took form in
the appointing of a committee of three,
who should thoroughly investigate the
matter, to report at later meeting. The
committee consisted of @. E. Percival Geo.
II. Davis and J. w. Murkland, men well
adapted to the position and who began in
vestigations at once. They thoroughly
canvassed every project, water power, sys-
tenn of lighting, ETC., and made report
In the course of their investigation they
examined a water power one mile east of
West Charleston village, known as Punk
EFT Falls. They saw at once, whether for
electric plant or for other purposes, here
was power of great value, and they Sc
cured it at very low price. At the time
they made their report it was plain to be
seen that their judgment leaned toward the
Charleston power. They estimated that
the cost of system, the power plant built
on the Clyde would cost not greatly to ex-
coed $4,000. The village meeting voted
to put in the plant, the Plunkett site to be
used for the power station. The trustees
were empowered to bond the village in ac-
cordance with an act of the legislature and
to proceed with the work. Preliminary
rangements and delays prevented the COM
mencement of the work till midsummer
Meanwhile part owner of the power sold
his rights to the Village, giving the corp
grafton land on both sides of the river and
the entire power. The water power site
is probably the best in the county; the
stream is quite large, the flow of water
comparatively uniform and the conditions
such, the work well done, that there would
be little danger from fresehets, ice or 9TH
casualties. 1t was determined to use the
entire fall of water, which measured rs it.
This would require penstOck Hume of
about 800 feet in length and tail race |
dug from one to ten fit. deep, 200 ft. long. |
The side which the f1ume had to be |
laid was ledge for about 600 feet, which |
had to be blasted off and out sufficiently |
to lay the fiume above and out of the way |
on the water.
The plans made, Geo. w. Buzzeu of this
village, an experienced millwright and
mechanic, who was capable of doing all
sorts of work, was engaged to superintend
the work of putting in the power plant
This was the heavy end of the whole job.
To remove the ledge and dig the wheel
pit, race, ETC., a steam drill, derrick and
other apparatus was purchased, and the
job, its magnitude considered, was cheap
ly done. The old wooden dam was torn
out and very heavy stone dam of rs feet
in length was laid. A power house of suf-
ficient size to contain the water wheel, the
dynamo and other apparatus in the pit and
lower story, with a tenement over head
for the motos man was built, also a good
barn. A road was laid out and run to the
highway, nearly half mile. The power
house stands entirely on ledge founda-
ton and the support of the wheel, ETC., is
as solid as stone, cement and iron can
make it. The wheel is of the James LET
fel make, constructed specially for this
place, warranted, and is as good can be
produced. 1t is rated at about 500 II. P.
The fiume is made of heavy plank, tongued
and grooved and is very heavily irOned.
The whole water power plant, SO sfar as
can now be determined, is as strong and
perfect as it could be made. Nothing has
been sighted and no expense has been
spared where it was needed to do a thor
ough job. The wheel runs silently and
without jar. 1t is belted to a dynamo of
1000 or more lamp capacity, with an end
less rubber belt, 10 inches in width. The
whole running of the machinery is APP
parently fauItless. So far the wheel has
been tested with load of HOO lamps, re-
quiring only small gate opening.
The trustees, E. G. Collision, Ell. T. Sea-
yer and E. F. Dutton, have had the gen
eraI superintendency of work here, which
has required much time and good judg
ment. Mr.. buttons health having failed
during the summer, the work has been
done by Mr.. Collision, out of doors, Mr..
Seaver looking after the business matters.
Citizens in Island Pond desiring to light
that thrifty village purchased 100 horse
power, to be taken from the dynamo, pay
ing $500 year therefor. iThey have run a
line of wires eleven miles, perfected their
system, and start up very satisfactorily,
using at present some 600 lamps. The
trustees employed Ernest Gonzenbach,
who has had five years experience in cleo
trio business, to put up the wires and
other apparatus, both out of doors and in.
His work is pronounced by all who have
examined it to be most thorough and ex-