The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-29
ELECTRICITY IN A MONASTERY
Carmelite Monks Have the Finest
Kitchen in the World.

A most interesting application OF
electricity to heating and cooking, as
well as to lighting, has been made in a
new Carmelite monastery. The total
amount of electric power used, which
is derived from the Niagara falls, two
miles off, is 100 horse power. OF this
amount % horse power is devoted to
lighting, cooking and heating water,
the remaining rs horsepower heating
the lower floor of the building, consist
ing of eleven bedrooms, reception room,
office and dining room, with corridor
In the corridor, which is 120 feet long
10 feet wide and Is feet high, nine four
horsepower electrical heaters have
been placed. Each bedroom-10Xl2X1
feet in size-has an electric heater of
four horsepower, with switch for ad-
justing the heat. 1t is believed that
the kitchen of the hospice building is
unequaled in the world in the COM
pleteress and character of it's electrical
equipment, which, while having sufIic-
lent capacity to cook all the meals OF
the residents and visiting pilgrims at
the hospice, supersedes all other kinds
of fuel commonly used In kitchens. such
as coal. gasoline, or oil. There are
three electric ovens and an electric
combination range, having a heating
surface of six square feet. Each square
foot has its individual switch, and can
be regulated to full or half heat, as
desired. The oven capacity consists OF
two small ovens and one large oven,
The large oven will cook four large
roasts at one time. In the buffers
pantry, whore the tea and coffee are
made, are three five e-gallon urns and n
chafing dish, all electrically connected.
One urn is used for tea. another for
coffee, and the third heats the water
for the tea and coffee urns The water
for laundry and bathroom purposes is
electrically heated in a iO0-gallon boiler.
a smaller boiler of 15O gallons capacity
being employed for heating water for
kitchen use. Both boilers have a pa
inch covering Of asbestos to economize
heat. The cook in charge OF the kitchen,
who has had many years experience
with coal and other fuels, pronounces
electricity far superior in every way TO
them ALL 1t not only increases the act
ual efficiency of the kitchen to a re-
markable extent, but makes the results
to be secured absolutely sure-n fact,
brings down cooking TO an exact sci
ence. At the formal opening and bless
Ing OF the hospice dinner was cooked
for $50 persons i'm two and one-half
hours. The door of the large oven is
fitted with thermometer, which indl-
Gates the internal heat of the oven, so
that the cook knows to a nicety when
to put in her meats or other articles OF
FOOD. There is none Of the smell COM
mon where gas is used, and none Of
the ashes and dirt left by coal As soon
as the meal is cooked the heat is turned
or and the kitchen becomes as cool as
any other part of the house In the
small ovens bread can be baked in
eighteen minutes. The total lighting,
cooking and heating of the building
takes 20 horsepower, which, at S25 a
horsepower, costs the hospice 1925 a
year The fact that such low rate
can be made is strongly suggestive of
the extended use of electricity for do
mestic nurnosos ~ lare a~t- Nlishr7erts