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


necessity. The Anderson Cotton Mills,
through Mr.. J. A. Brock, the president,
sieniGed their willingness to use electric
power instead of steam. Other indus
tries did the same and the company un-
dertook the enterprise, determining to de-
velop the water power at Portman Shoals
A meeting was called and Anderson
subscribed to $4,000 OF the bonds pro-
posed to be issued. The company was
reorganizsd as the Anderson WATER
Light and Power Company, with DIR. ..
M. Orr as president and quite number
of our leading business men as directors.
In short time, through the efforts OF Or.
Orr, Mr.. W. J. Roddy and W. G. Whit
ner, $1,000 was raised outside OF the city,
and work begun with the above results.
Just here it is not Inappropriate to say
that DR.. Orr showed his faith in this en-
terprise from the very beginning, dong
everything in his power to convince our
people that the development of Portman
Shoals was what was really needed 10
give Anderson new start and make it
great manufacturing center. The inter-
est he manifested, and the work he did
among our business men certainly played
an important part in bringing about the
success which has attended this great en-
terprise.
DR.. Orr was ably assisted by Mr.. II. S.
Hill, representing the Farmers and Mer-
chants Bank, and Nr. B. f. Mauldin,
representing the Bank Of Anderson, who
were appointed committee to solicit the
subscription of $50, 900 to the bonds pro-
posed to be issued and which the COM
pany determined to raise from the peo-
ple of Anderson before soliciting outside
subscription. The work accomplished
by these gentlemen was remarkable, and
had they been working for their respec-
tive banks, or for any individual enter
prise, they could not have displayed
greater energy. The $4,000 was SUBJ
acribed in an Incredibly short time, which
clearly indicated that the enterprise was
promptly endorsed by the business men
of Anderson, and this prompt endorse
ment had much to do with the success Of
floating the 100000 Of bonds outside of
Anderson.
Mr.. Whitner is justly entitled to be
called the pioneer in the use OF high volt
age machines and in long distance trans
mission.
The plant established at High Shoals
was the first long distance transmission
power plant established in the South and
the electric generator then used was the
first alternating current machine in the
worldto be built and operated for an
| initial voltage Of {, ,0OO volts. It was con-
sidered impracticable to operate this type
lofdynamo at so high voltage. The al
ternating current was comparatively new
and high voltage was an experiment and
considered dangerous. Running the
machines at low voltage and using step
| uptransformerst to obtain the high voltage
| required was considered the only practi-
| cable method, and when Mr.. Whitner
| visited the electric manufacturing COM
panies with view of having this machine
built, isviews were regarded by many
as rather previous. The Stanley Electric
Manufacturing Company, Of Pittsfeld,
Mass, fully agreed with Mr.. Whitner.
however, and encouraged him to use this
voltage. They built the machines, and
since that time the building Of generators
| of high voltage has been adopted by all
the manufacturers. When the plant at
| Portman Shoals was established Mr..
Whitner decided to use generators giving
| II 900 voltage, land they are now being op-
Grated successfully and with perfect safe
ty, and this is the only plantiu the world
where alternating current generators are
operated with Sc high q voltage as II ,00C
direct on the generators and switch
boards.
This is magnificent electrical plant
| There is none better in the world. The
power is abundant, convenient, clean and
cheap. and manufacturers Throughout:
the country now using steam power OF
establishing new manufacturing indus
tries should investigate the advantages
and inducements held out to them by the
city of Andersen and the Anderson
Water, Light rnd Power Company.
| By substituting electrical power fol
steam power the Anderson Cotton Mills
make saving Of $4,000 per annum
which is considerable dividend within
itself and clearly indicates the advantages
the development of this electric power
enterprise offers to manufacturing in
dustries 1t has been necessary hereto
fore in the building of cotton mills in oul
midst for our people to offer special in
ducements, but with showing like this
where $4,000 is actually being saved
annually by the Anderson Cotton Mills
the inducement is permanent and shoulc
be of itself sufficient.
Attention. Cotton Growers!
When the County Convention adjourned