The Portland daily press., 1898-10-12

wafer power, e compEny 50 eQulppeu Is
still able to deliver a current. Even with
an adequate steam plant located at the
water power company dependent on q
single pole line ia liable particularly in
winter to have its current interrupted by
reason of the breaking Of poles or wires,
the seriousness of the interruption de-
pending upon the nature of the accident.
Under such conditions 1t is desirable that
q company should have second pole line
over q different route to fall back upon in
case the other line IL disabled.
The committee has found that the Cum
berland Illuminating company has ap-
pareDt1y made no provision for an auxil-
larry steam plant hey ond an intention to
ue6 the set of three boilers In the old
plant ct the Indupated Fibre company
near the power house and so far as is
been made for an engine to be used In
connection with these boilers.
The boilers are said to have combined
capacity of $50 horsepower and assuming
them to be in good condition the commit
tee does not know whether they are Of
sufficient capacity for operating the gen.
orators.
The committee understand from state
ments made of it that some arrangement
exists between the companies interested
whereby the Portland Electric Light COM
pany and the Deering Electric Light COM
pany ars to receive electricity from the
power house of the Cumberland I'lumi-
mating company over single pole line
built along the highways for about twelve
pany's staff ut Woodfords This pole
line constiS Gss a weak point In the
eauipment of The enterprise as there can
be no certainty Of an uninterrupted ser
vice so long as dependence is placed on
it alone to transmit electricity. Follow
ing tho highway the line has many curves
which are in themselves q source OF
liable 80 break on curves than on other
parts Of line. AS to the quality Of the
work ON the line already constructed the
committee does not feel competent to ex-
press any opinion as there seems to be
difference in the views Of those claim
ing to possess technical knowledge OF
the subject.
To Summarize:
The committee is unable to give the
status of the four companies involved in
the enterprise as it does not feel 1t has
been furnished With full information but
from statements made to it the companies
appear to be 80 closely interviewer that
their interests are practically identical.
The plant does not appear to be SO
equipped as to insure Its abthty to furnish
an uninterrupted current owing to In
sufioienoy of the steam plant as proposed
and that single pole line is to be de-
pended upon.
In regard to the financial responsibility
of the Portland Electric Light company
and the Gum berland illuminating oom-
pany the committee ia unable to make
any exact statement as the only infor-
nation obtained from these companies
Is that contract had been made for tn 9
construction of q pole line from Great
Fails and tho party constructing it has
been paid.
and. That sufficient capital will be
forthcoming to carry out tho proposed
plans Of the Portland Electric Light COM
pany provided it's petition Is granted by
the municipal officers.
In closing the committee desires to say
that 1t has made every endeavor to obtain
from the companies interested full infor-
nation but as not received sufficient to
enable 1t to mako any other report than
the above.
(Sfgned) W. L. SMITH,
]. B. A. MERRILL,