The Van Buren press., 1897-08-28
AND IT WAS LIGHT
Van Buren, and Vicinity Celebrates
One of the Great Events In
It's History with
MONSTER CELEBRATION.
Everything Passed off Perfectly
The Weather was Fine and the
Crowd Immense.

The event which has been the topic Of
conversation for weeks past has come
and gone leaving behind as reminder
F pleasant memories of an enjoyable cele-
F bration, a monstrous attendance and
lastly. one of the best electric lighting
systems in the Southwest. Darkness
has been dispelled. the old smoking
gasoline lamps are thing of the past
and our stores are no louger encountered
with the hot. illsmelling coal oil lamps,
which during the warm summer eve
nings turned the stores into veritable
+ furnaces. In their place are the arc
and incandescent lights giving forth an
agreeable light with none of the draw
backs of filling lamps and cleaning
chimneys.
The plant is owned in its entirety by
Mr. R N Johnston, the finances for
the construction of it having b been
furnished conjointly by him and his
father, P. NJ. Johnston. of st. Elmo,
III. the latter transferring all his
interest to his son, who will become a
permanent citizen of Van Buren and
manage the plant himself.
We herewith give brief description
of the plant as furnished The Argus by
Mr.. W A Fuller, the constructing
engineer.
1.-The value of anything must be
assessed by its completeness, its general
adaptibility and its power TO supply the
power for which it was builded, or
called into being. Wednesday in com
pany with Mr.. Johnston, owner, and
Electrical Engineer Fuller, who con-
structed the plant, we were shown
through the power house. engine and
dynamo rooms, and other parts of the
building and listened to their minute
and interesting description of the
different parts of the plant. The build
ing itself, without entering it, spoke of
the thoroughness and solidity of the
interior construction. Located on the
river front, corner Water and Webster
streets, the building itself is fit
companion for the other buildings on
that street devoted to the different
manufacturing enterprises. 1t is 30x75
feet, built of brick and finished in keep
ing with the purpose for which it is in
tended. 1t is, as far as possible, fire
proof. The roof is constructed of fire
proof material, the floors all being of
concrete and as smooth as marble.
Starting to make tour of the power
house we entered first the boiler rooms,
where two large boilers with fire burn
ing in their furaces were generating
steam that was to furnish power for the
big engine III an adjoining department.
The two boilers of 100 horse power each
were made by the John Rohan boiler
works st. Louis, Mo. But one will be
used at time, the other acting as a
relay in case an accident or breakdown
was to occur. Adjoining the boiler
rooms is the coal bunkers, constructed
as part of the building with concrete
floors, into which the fuel is thrown
directly from the cars standing on the
Mo. Pacific tracks, laid alongside the
building.
Passing from the boiler room to the
engine room glimpse of flying belts,
- 81. ,Niatnnc Of rayo1Itipar 1Tiua
wheels, of great engines and dynamos,
with polished brass mountings; of
marble switch boards with labyrinth
of wire and levers, presents an interest
ing sight to the eyes of the visitor.
THE driving power is supplied by a
Russell & Co. s engine of a 150 horse
power This part of the plant was
designed expressly for the Van Buren
electric light plant by Mr.. Fuller, who
best of all understood the needs of such
an engine. The machine is set on a
foundation bed extending feet below
the surface, and is as solid as stone and
cement will make it, which with anchor
plates and templets make it as firm as
if of solid stone. The size of the drive
wheel 72x16, and alone weighs 1880
| pounds, the entire engine weighing IA,
600 pounds. The engine is supplied
with clutch pulley for arc machine
mounted on engine shaft.
Passing from the engine room to the
great arc dynamo, or machine, we are
lost in the attempt to realize the power
and possibilities of the inanimate form
of massive castings and miles upon
miles of coiled wire.
This machine is of the following
dimensions: Kilowatt capacity 15a
No. of arc lights, As; II. P. required
"a; revolution, 1100 weight of
machine, 2265 lbs. The machines are
what are termed Multipolars, and differ
widely from the old bypolar machine in
general use. These are OF 10 light
power, but under the supervision OF
Mr.. Fuller were wound to 40 light
power, thus giving increased power
and brilliancy.
There are two incandescent dyna-
mos, and are of the same high grade as
their arc machines. The switch is OF
pure white station marble, with al
connections made on the back. The
plan Of this switch board is Mr. Fuller /:
and is nearly in line with those used by
him in the electrical exhibit at Chicago