The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-21
WILL 1T MATERIALIZE?
Project for a New Electric Light
Company.
THE POWER TO COME FROM GREAT
FALLS AT GORHAM.


Great Saving to Users of the Magic
Fiuid-Consultation With the City
Committee on Lights Last Evening-A
Proposition to BE Submitted to the City
Shortly to Light the Streets.
Is Portland TO have a new electric light
company to compete with the company
which at present lights the city streets
and furnishes arc and incapdeseent lights
to a large number of firms and private
citizensP
Ii is very possible that such may be the
case; In fact some prominent citizens
told the PRESS last evening that there
was no question but that at no distant
date, company would be soliciting
business from the people of Portland to
supply them with electric lights of all
kinds and at very reasonable prices.
From time to time, in the last few
years rumors have been rife in regard to
the establishment of competing electric
light company, but nothing tangible ha
resulted, but if all accounts are true the
present movement, which is said to have
plenty of capital behind 1T, means bust
ness.
1t will doubtless be remembered that O.
few years ago the large plant of the
United Indurated Fibre company, at
Great Falls, Gorham, was destroyed b
fire. and was never rebuilt, the business
of the company being transferred to
Lockport, N. Y, where the business is
now carried on. Since that time the fine
and valuable water power, at the point
has been running to waste. 1t is this
power that certain capitalists now pro-
pose to utilize to send the magic electric
current some fifteen miles or more, with
which to furnish lights to the citizens of
Portland, and it is claimed this can be
done at profit, and the lights sold at q
considerably lower price than Is now
charged for them.
The water privilege itself, is good
one. At the point where it is proposed
to construct the power station there is a
minimum flow of about 40, 600 cubic feet
a minute, and 25 foot head. 1t is
claimed this will give an actual horse
power of about 1900. With the unayoid-
able losses from generation and In transit
to Portland the current would probably
roach the city about 1900 horse power
strong. Some idea Of the lighting capacity
of such current can be gained from the
fact that one horse power will feed an
arc light Of 1000 candle power, or about
10k af ho oiv l.
incandesoent lights.
The plant for the manufacture and
transmission OF such a powerful current
would, of course, be very expensive one,
but it is claimed that the great saving of
the water power over steam, for generat-
ing the power would enable the company
to cut the present rates for electricity
very heavily.
jesse Peterson of Lockport, New York,
has been in town for day or two in tho
interest Of the promoters of the new
lighting scheme He was given hearing
before the committee on lights, Alder
man Pagan. Councilman Mayberry,
Stone and Flaherty, last evening relative
to furnishing power for lighting the city
streets and public buildings. The matter
of expense was thoroughly discussed and
Mr.. Peterson was requested to furnish a
bid for supplying power for tho city.
This he has agreed to do and will report
to the committee within week or two.
If the expectations of the promoters of
the enterprise are fulfilled they will be
able to furnish the city with lights at a
profit, at figure which will make big
saving in the amount the city is now
compelled to pay.
The committee looked into the matter
of the amounts paid in other places for
electric light, somewhat at their meeting
last evening.
Portland now pays about $3.50 per year
for each arc light 1900 candle power;
$50 per annum for 65 candle power inoan-
descent and $50 per annum for 80 candle
power incandesoent. Rumford Falls pays
$50 per year for 1000 candle power arc; Sc
per year for 16 candle power incandesoent
and So per year for 80 candle power in
candesoent. In Gardiner, Me-, the city
pays $75 for 1000 candle power arc lights.
Everybody will await with keen in
terest the proposition which Mr.. Peterson
has agreed to make to the committee in a
short time.