The age-herald., 1900-08-05
MORE THAN DOUBLING PRESENT CAPACITY
Consolidated Electric Light Com pany's Extensive Additions to
 its Plant Nearly Completed.

Birmingham, and will be models of their kind. Of the dynamos now in operation there are sixteen arcs, two long distance alternating, eight 110-velt and seven 5oo- volt In the new building there will be one $50 kilo watt of 800 volts, one 400 kflo watt of 125 volts and nine return tubular boilers of 150lhorse power each.
 A great quantity of piping for operating stations is now being installed, together with heaters, pumps and steam headers
 Notwithstanding the high quality of cleo tric power machinery the wear and tear of it is very great. and 1t must be constant ly renewed Only those having prac-
 tfcai knowledge of electrical engineering or
 the financial side of the business could
 form an idea of the large percentage ot
 earnings required to be set aside for better ments.
 What It Supplies The Consolidated Electric Light Company supplies current for the operation of Birm- ineha extensive trolley ear service. 1T
 supplies electricity for lighting the streets, homes and mercantile houses or BIlnins. ham, Pratt City, Ensley and Woodlawn. It furnishes during the summer an alternating
 pesidenue current for the operation ot eiec-
 tric fans in homes, stores and offices ana this branch of the business is ever grow ing.
 The plant of the company, already nneiy RONiUOFU. VIII afteT OCtoBef 1lcAe h1i 'N4 mass that found in any city in the Soutn, and It will outrank in modern appliances
 the plants in operation in many of the large cities of the East It will not only rehect ] high credit upon Birmingham. but 1t VIII | be regarded as a marvel in the develop | ment of electrical economy and applied l science.
 Municipal and Commercial Business
 The city of Birmingham is now using for its streets only TT arc lights, but the Con
 soIidated Companys proposed new con
 tract nending in the Board of Aldermen, reduces the price from 's10S to $S0 per light per year This offer will be accepted and the city will increase the street lights to 225 at once; probably 250. It will only be a question of two or three years when the
 citizens will demand an increase to 300 lights. In fact, number of the aldermen
 favor 300 now. Every street light does valuable police duty and the taxpayers see in 250 to 300 acrs the best sort of economy. No city in the south, with perhaps single exception, will be lighted so cheaply as Birmingham, and there will be no excuse, say representative citizens, for not having
 fully supply of arc illuminators in the streets.
 The Consolidated Company's commercial price Is also very low. The service, too, Is excellent and the company's liberal policy is thoroughly appreciated. But as ex- tensively as electric lights are used in Birmingham homes and places of business | at present, the conpanys business prom
 ises to increase rapidly after its new ma-
 ohinery. is in operation. It is safe to say
 that it will increase fully 50 per cent. within
 the next twelve months. There are now in | use over 14000 incandescent lights and near | iy 900 arc lamps. Twenty or twenty-five thousand incandescents would not be too great number for a live community like Birmingham to use.
 The officers of the Consolidated Electric Light Company are: Robert Jemison, presi-
 dent; F. D. Nabers. vice-president; J. M Bradley, superintendent, and F. IT. Arm
 strong, secretary and treasurer
 The work of construction now in progress
 is being superintended by o. A Bridges
 representing the electrical engineers. Stone & Webster, of Boston.