The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-26
A CONCERN.
The Electric Light Works Improved to
the Extent OF S1l, 900 Remarkable
Progress In Ten YeArs-The Gas Works to
BE Improved.

the Extent OF S11 600 Remarkable
Progress TN Ten YeArs-The Gas Works to
BE Improved.
One of the most progressive concerns
in our city is the Wilmington Gaslight
Company. Whenever science
| the company promptly takes advant-
age Of it to improve both it's electric
light and gas plants. 1t is always
among the first to put in the most mod
ern improved machinery, and since
the new year began has made improve
| ments exceeding $11 900 in cost.
The electric light plant has just put
in a O0-hor power monocycle dyna-
mo with a capacity for 1900 mean
descent lights. 1t can also be used in
furnishing power TO motors. Mr.. II. p.
| Loring, Of Philadelphia, representing
| the General Electric Company. OF tina
city, has been here several lays put
| ting in the new machine. 1t was tested
for the first time on Monday night,
and the test was completed last light.
All the lights in the city were turned
on and the machine never felt It," as
the phrase goes. The test has been
highly satisfactory. All the lights in
the city were only g. half load for 1t.
The dynamo makes 835 revolutions a
minute and it's EXETER 1,SOO revOlu-
tons a minute, which shows the as
tonishing speed at which it is whirl-
ing. To show how modern this new
dynomo is, we learn that 1t has not
been on the market a year.
Mr.. LOring has also put in a new
double pole-doubie throw switchboard
with a marble front. BY his switch
board the circuits throughout the city
can be thrown in a half second onto
any one Of the three incandescent dy-
~, ~ TN p1crt HnrafOfOra in
switching from one dynamo to the
other, the lights throughout the city
would necessarily be out five seconds.
Now the change bill be almost instan-
taneous. The necessity for switching
from one dynamO to the other Is made
by the number of lights to be supplied.
For instance at 4 o'clock in the after
noon 600 ncandescent lights are turn
ed on, one of the small dynamOs can
furnish these, but by 6 o'clock when
perhaps three or four times that
number are to be turned on, 1t is nee
essary to swithch to the big dynOmO
On this new switchboard there are two
indicators, or clock-Iike devices-one to
indicate how many lights are burning
throughout the city and the other to
indicate the intensity with which the
lights are burning. There is also a de-
vice for testing each circuit to see IL
the wires are intact. By turning a
thumb screw, the superintendent can
tell whether there is a break or ground
anywhere along the wires.
Mr.. Loring leaves today for Hub,
where he goes to inspect the electric
light plant recently installed there. He
will return here in a few days to see
that everything is working all right.
The electric light plant has also been
improved by the addition of a new 300
horsepower automatic cutoff, cross
oOrn Mound Rail onpina r. has ono hiph
pressure cylinder Of sixteen inches di-
ameter and sixteen inch stroke, and a
low pressure cylinder Of tw~enty-eight
inch diameter and sixteen inch stroke.
1t has two driving wheels eighty inches
in diameter n a rim surface Of two
feet. The driving wheels make 240 rev.
olutions a minute. The floor space occu-
pied by the engine is ten feet three
inche by thirtenn feet four inches. The
steam pipe is six inches in diameter
and the exhaust pipe fourteen inches.
The engine is capable of 100 pounds
pressure on the high pressure cylin-
der. The machine runs as smoothly as
a top, and was tested the last time
last night, preparatory to being turned
over to the company. Mr.. Charles
Sterling, an expert from the estab-
lishment of Crook, Horner & Co., Bal
timOre, has been here installing the
new engine. It was supplied by tina
company.
In addition to the new machinery
just put in the company has built a
brick annex, 35x20 feet, to it's
power house, to be used as a machine
shop on the first floor and a storeroom
the second story.
There has also been added a new
arc light switchboard designed by Mr..
John w. Reilly, the superintendent.
and also a 35O-horse power heater, de-
signed by Mr.. Reilly and made by
Messrs. Burr & Bailey, OF this city.
The switchboard was made by the
company's own machinists and electri-
clans.
The improvements to the electric
plant cost over 81, 900 and is but
evidence Of the progressiveness Of the
The new dynamo gives the
company three incandescent dynamos
and five arc light dynamos, capable Of
developing 1850 ~incandescent lights Of
candle power each, and It's arc
lights of 1000 candle power. The new
gines, with an aggregate Of 635 horse
power. There are three boilers OF 125
horse power each. capable OF develop
ing 375 engine horse power.
The growth OF the electric light plant
may be judged. when we state that
when it was started up in 1886 there
were only IS arc lights and, no mean
descent lights. In 1889 when the present
company bought out the plant their
capacity was 800 incandescent lights
and Is arc lights. compared to 1850 in
candescent and $50 arc lights now. All
the new machinery was placed by the
company's own machinist, under the
supervision Of the superintendent.
We learn that the company about the
Of April will also begin to renew its
entire gas plant.
Before concluding we must thank
Superintendent Reilly and Messrs.
Loring and Sterling o courteous at
tentiOn.
Savannah, Ga, April 26. 1896.