The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-11-06
BY Way of Explanation.

Editor Gazette: 1t is not Of
ten that we rush into print, but hay-
ing read an article i'm the Billings
Times attacking the Water and Light
company we do not care to let ii go
unnoticed.
To those who = not familiar with
an electric light plant we will give a
few facts, and nail that democratic
campaign lie to the cross. The article
referred to is u in regard to shut
ting off the lights on the night of the
Clark democratic rally.
Last Saturday we told Mr.. Rowley
that the next day we were going TO
take a piece ont of the new bell that
runs from the large engine TO the line
shaft. His reply was that if it was
necessary now was as good a time as
any. The belt was taken off Sunday
morning, and the cid one was pEt on.
We did not get the belt in question re
paired until Tuesday evening. 1t
takes about twenty hours for the ce-
menf to dry on a heavy belt sixteen
inches wide, hence we could not use
the repaired belt until next day. Cur
engines CONSIST Of one 2G0-horse pow
err. beifed TO the line shaft, and one of
lG0-horse power coupled direct to the
line shaft. 1T requires about $50
horse power TO pull the load. When
the larger engine gets it's full Load we
cut in the small engine TO help out.
About 6 O'Clock Tuesday evening the
belt on the large engine gave way, do
SyaY naa.GSdaa4a tla Aaasaa1a Esna .asana
OF flying belt struck one of our men.
another piece hit a heavy double door
making kindling wood OF it. A large
trailsoIn over the front doors was
mashed out, pieces of belt, splipters
and glass were scattered all oven the
engine room.
After the accident wye were left
with a l00-horse power engine to do
$50 horse power work, and how q 100
horse power engine can be made to do
the work Ut a 250-holfe power is be-
yond my engineering ability. How
ever, the brilliant Times and its ire
liable informant might be able 10
give ns a few pointers. The only
thing that WE could do was to cut
down the load to the capacity the
little engine could carry, AS the load
decreased on the lines we conld cut IN
others, and by 1880 WE had every
thing going but the street lights,
For q little further information Of
the Times, we will say that MI the
different circuits are controlled from
the power house, and that the manager
had nothing to do with the lights GO
ing cut, The Times is also informed
that every man in the employ OF the
Water Power company, my
self included, il a democrat, with the
exception of one, and he is at present
ont OF the state,
We have voted and worked for dem
success for years, and we take
the article referred TO Az q personal
insult, and when il comes to dirty
business and low tactics We will yield
to the Times and certain other demo
Gratis, From DOW until the 9th of
November we will do everything
honorable TO defeat the democratic
We do not care to affiliate
with men who will take advantage of
IN accident ~ besWircH MeH who are
To make an honest living for
themselves and families,
Democratic arguments must certain
y be getting scarce, to use such hog
wash and call them arguments,
The WMes had wanted information II
fHeW where fo get IT, Its article will
not help the Democratic ticket and
lffer the 9th af November the demo-
mat party In this section will be
lRder 4 shadow and win look Rs Lone
'pme M n bunch Of timothy on q val
lptt Respectfully, :
", IT, Smith
Engineer Billings Water Power