The Republican journal., 1896-04-30
Light and Power for Belfast.

The Belfast Light and Power Co.. which
owns and manages both the gas and electric
lighting plants of the city, is greatly improv-
ing both departments, and making extensive
changes in the electrical works with view
to giving the best possible service to its
patrons at the least possible cost The work
for the past two weeks has been chiefly in
levellng up the gas pipes to prevent COL
.ections OF water and consequent stoppage
of the gas, and in changing the voltage of
the incandescent electric lamps The lamps
hrst put in were of 80 volts, and these are
being replaced by others of 1O4 VOLTS and
the wires changed accordingly. Another
change is in reducing the number of trans
formers on Main street poles, from Is to 9.
which will make a large reduction in the
number OF wires in that section and still
give an increase of capacity.
But the principal improvements will be
at the works on the East Side. The power
is obtained from two horizontal turbine
water wheels, of $50 and rs horsepower,
and 125 horse-p power steam engine with
l5o horse power boiler. These can be used
separately or together as desired.
The electrical machinery consists of two
50O-light alternating dynamos, to furnish the
incandescent lights, one of which is at pres
ent doing all the work, but the other is
ready for instant use in case of accident or
emergency. There is also reserve DYNAMO
OF 800 lights capacity, and ready for use at
any time. There are two 30-ight arc ma
chimes, one furnishing light for the streets
and the other for the stores, &c. There are
"a lights on the street circuit and Is on the
commercial, leaving capacity for 81 more
arc lights with the present machinery.
The proposed Improvements consist, first
in thorough repairing of the dam, and put
ting in a new smoke-stack 80 feet high on the
boiler house. At present there is counter
shaft to which belts run from the water
wheels and engine, 1t is proposed to do
away with this counter-shaft and belt di
| rect from the wheel shaft to the dynamos,
making connections with an improved
"grooved friction" The pulleys on the
main shaft will be larger than at present,
and will extend below the floor, but will be
securely boxed, to guard against the neces-
slty OF stopping in case of an extremely high
tide. At present, when there is very high
tide the water gets into the wheel-pt of the
engine room, rendering it necessary to take
Off the belts and stop the machines. With
the new arrangement and metal sheathed
boxes for the wheels to run in, no water can
reach the belts or wheels.
Another improvement is in changing the
gate-start and governor of the water-wheels
from their present location on the second
moor to the dynamo room, making them in
stantly accessible, and thus insuring a
steady light.
The proposed plan has been examined by
Two practical men, well versed in electrical
machinery, and pronounced practicable
The changes. they say, will make gain of
from 25 to 35 per cent in the power, the
present arrangement of the counter shaft
alone causing a loss of 15 per cent.
The various departments of the work are
in charge of practical and faithful men in
whom the company and patrons can place
the utmost confidence. The general super
| lntendent is q. FL. MaXtield, who for sever
a. years past has held similar positions in
Watervlle and Fairfield. The outside cleo
trical work is in charge of James H. Dodge :;
the gas works,R, G. Barton and o. X. Ryder,
| and the East Side plant, Thaddeus Wood
and Edmund Stevens. w II. Bray is assist
ing in the wiring.
Within the next three weeks every arc
light in town is to be thoroughly overhauled
and cleaned, which must result in improv-
ed lights.
| At meeting of the directors of the COM
pany last Friday it was unanimously voted
to replace all the poles on Main and High
streets at once.
Ihe contract to make the changes in the
works on the East Side, as above described,
has been let to Hinckley & Egery of Bangor,
and work was begun Monday.