The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-15
ANDERSON'S ELECTRIC PLANT.

r
and Power Company-The Plant at
Portman Shoals CompIete--A Big
Success-lts Cheapness and
Convenience.
Very few people outside OF Anderson
have any idea OF what has recently been
accomplished in the development ana
advancement of electrical energy in this
city by the Anderson Water, Light and
Power Company, and the influence TINS
almost Unlimited power will have upon
the future history of this entire section.
sCheapness of production is one OF the
stern demands of the times, particularly
III manufacturing industries, and cheap
ness OF power to propel the machinery
used is the great desideratum.
at Portman Shoals, on the Seneca
river, nine miles from Anderson. an cleo
stric plant has been completed which is
designed to generate an electrical energy
Sot s, 900 horse power, as occasion may re-
sauire, and the plant is now generating
and successfully transmitting to this city
a.000 electrical horse power, the greater
. portion of which Is distributed among
important mechanical industries and
used in lighting the city. The dam and
power house of this plant are as substan-
tial as granite and good masonry can
make them, and the electrical apparatus
Is Of the latest improved designs,
com mparatively simple, and the plant as
completed should involve very small
expenditure for maintenance. In the
dam are inserted five sspenstocks" or
fumes with turbines, the shafting OF
which connects directly with the gener--
ators,. saving the usual loss OF power
resulting from the use OF shaiting ana
betting, shus transforming the entire by
draulic power into electric energy.
Only two Of these fumes are being used
at present, the others being held in re-
serve to be put in motion as the power is
contracted for BY manufacturing indus
/ tsies.
or the 2, 600 electric horse power now
being generated and transmitted, the
Anderson Cotton Mills take about 400
horse power, . considerable quantity ID
:sised ID operating the water works, DIV.
ing ssrge power pumps, consid cradle
/ fausntity distributed to various other
smaller industries, and SO much as is
necessary used to run the arc and incan-
descent lights Of the city.
The cost Of this electrical power as COM
I pared with steam is at least % per cent.
cheaper, and when it is considered that 1t
can be delivered at any place designated
i 10 tle manufacturer, enabling him to
locate l,is industry with reference to rail-
road facilities, taxes, healthful locality
I and the like, the advantages Of this won
darful power over steam must aaoress
itself to every thinking manufacturer.
Anderson has the power. The plant ls
e,mplete. The enterprise is 9 success
Thirtv-six thousand spindies and twelve
Z hundred looms are being operated here
/ N the Anderson Cotton Mills by this
electric energy, as we'll as many smaller
industries. Cheapness and convenience
Is the very essence Of this enterprise, and
Anderson now wants to see manufactur-
inp industries spring up on every side
There is no city ID the South which can
offer greater advantages. Situated al
the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains, IN
the famous Piedmont region, with pure
air and water, delightful climate the year
round, and with natural advantages sell
dom equalled, Anderson oilers all tna'
the most exacting could demand.
That the development Of this great cleo
trical power plant and the natural adj
vantages offered by Anderson mus
eventually surround this city with man
ufacturing industries, there. can be nc
doubt. and we confidently believe that IL
less than decade the population OF this
city will double. But we would REMIND
those of our citizens who have been sue
cessfnl in their business enterprises thai
the prompt and rapid growth OF these
ne-y Industries will depend largely. very
largely. upon the encouragement anc
impetus they extend to them. By shl
we mean not such encouragement as ends
with words, but substantial encourage
ment by the investment ofdollars. Every
new industry started will benefit every
citizen. They will furnish work for ou'
people and prosperity and happiness vii
most certainly follow.
Before closing this article few words
{. concernipg Mr.. VIC. Whitner. the NOV
ING spirit in the electrical development o
this city, cannot be inappropriate. H'
was born and raised in our midst, and nj
family is one OF the most prominent IL
the State. He was born Sept. 8, 1864
and, as will be seen, is still a young man
1t was he who took the initiative step ant
laid the foundation for this great enter
prise. In 1890 he established the Ander
son Water Works and lit the city will
75O incandescent lights, generating th
electric current by steam power. In lS9
he conceived the idea to utilize som
neighboring water power to operate tn
electric light plant and the water works
Mr.. Whitner was Convinced at the tim
that the transmission OF electric powe
was success, and was in favor of prr
chasing Portman Shoals on Seneca river
10 miles distant, and developing it. Bu
his associates did not agree with him, no