Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-07-15
THE POWER STATION.
Work Well Under Way for New
Structure.
The Present Lighting Service the Best Pos
sibic Under the Circumsiaeees.

Probably the Kennebec Light and Heat
Co, since 1t began the extensive operations
incident upon the erection of its new
power station at the Kennebec dam, has
come in for more anathemas by those de-
pendent upon the company for light and
power than could be contained within 4
volume of the size of Websters In
abridged.
OF course IL is an aggravatiOn to have
ones light go out without warning for
an indefinite period, or to have the motor
refuse even a flutter of the armature in
response to the most pressing demand,
and is a condition of things that is apt to
provoke forcible remarks on the part Of
persons of uneven temperament, who
think only of their own troubles ana
never stop to consider that there are
those at the other end of the line who
have also their troubles.
That the last mentioned people have
their troubles is easily assured by a visn
to the station, where they are at pres
ent engaged in the difficult problem Of
tearing down the power house, putting In
a new foundation. and building a new
and larger house, and in addition to all
this, keeping the machines that generate
and distribute the electric fluid in opera
tion at the same time. The Journal thinks
that visit to the station and view of
the mixed up condition Of things would
silence the most persistent kicker, ana
create within him wonder that the com
pany should be able 10 run the plant
al all.
Work Is progressing fast as possible.
Is men being employed at present, put
ting in the brick piers under the station
which serve as foundations for the diff
ferent machines. This work necessitated
a large amount Of excavating beneath the
floor OF the station, which was of neces-
sity slow. But this part Of the work is
nearing completion, and from now out
better progress will be made.
Two of the alternating machines are IN
position. and the pier for the third is
nearly completed. The fourth pier is no;
yet begun. These piers are feet high
and 10 feet square at the base, with
taper toward the top. where they are
feet square. Some $1,000 brick have al
ready been laid in this work.
The foundation for the station will
probably be completed, today, and the
masons will begin laying brick. Monday.
Out behind the station. where the 45O-
horse power engine will set, workmen are
at work cutting out the stone abutments
of the dam, preparatory TO putting in the
foundati for the engine. This abutment
is solid masonry. and had it been in the
right place, would have made the best
possible founda tion for the engine, but 1t
was not, and must be removed.
The main line of shafting, which, by
the way is the cause OF the intermittent
electrical service and consequent grum-
bling, is mostly in position. though more
than one third Of il is idle all the time.
II is expected that the center section will
be completed tonight. 1t is the shifting
of the coupling Of this line of shafting
that has been the cause Of the frequent
shutdowns at the station. During the
dav steam is used TO keep the dynamoS
in operation, and at night both the en-
gine and water wheels are used, the lat
ter supplying the power Ior the two
alternating machines which furnish the
current for the incandescent lights The
arc lights are furnished partly from the
station and partly from Gardiner.
Though everything is in more or less
confusion at present, it can be readily
seen that out OF it will grow in few
short months one OF the finest power sta
tions in Maine with much more room and
better facilities in every way for supply
ing the public with Electrical service.
Superintendent Williams said, Friday,
that he hoped that the necessity or ire
ouent shutdowns would soon be a thing
OF the past, and also that the service
given at present was the best possible
under the circumstances.