Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-16
CATAWBA POWER COMPANY.

DR.. Gill Wylie, of New York, who
was elected president of the Catawba
Power company last Friday, passed
through Charlotte last Saturday on his
return to the north, and while in the
city talked with The Observer about
the proposed enterprise. The Obs0r-
YER, of Sunday, contains the following
as the result of the talk:
A year ago the organizers of the
company purchased over 1000 acres of
land in York county, S. c., within q
few miles of Rock Hill. The property
extends quite distance on either side
of the Catawba river. DR.. w. Gill
Wyle stated yesterday that the work
would shortly commence on the build
ing of dam across the river at Indian
Bend, which is six miles from Rock
Hill, two miles from Fort Mill, two
miles north of the Southern railway,
and II miles from Charlotte. The riv-
er at this point is 440 feet wide, and
affords a solid rock foundation for the
dam, which will be % feet at the base
and II feet high. At Indian Bend
there is fall of eight feet, which the
dam will increase. to 1S feet. By buy
ing easement above their property on
the river the company expects finally
to make the fall about % feet.
With the 18.foot fall it is expected
that the company will be able TO sup
ply minimum of 5000 horse power
and maximum of 4, 100 horse power.
This current will be transmitted to
Rock Hill, Fort Mill or Charlotte; to
whichever of these places offers the
best contract to the company. While
here yesterday DR.. Wylie saw several
prominent business men in this city
and offered to supply the 5000 horse
power to Charlotte for $25 per horse
power. AS the dam is II miles nearer
to Rock Hill than to this place, the
cost of the power to that city will be
probably 50 or So less on each horse
power, and it is likely that Rock Hill
will buy the entire power supplied by
the company.
DR.. Wylie frankly stated that an
electrical enterprise of this nature is
exceedingly profitable. He is one Of
the largest stock holders in the Water,
Light and Power company of Ander-
son, s. c., which was organized in 1898,
and was the first company in the south
10 harness stream 10 obtain electric
ity. This company, he said, delivers
5000 horse power to Anderson from
Portman Shoals, distance of 10 miles.
At the time it started operation there
were 10000 spindles in Anderson now
there are 100000 spindles there, the
increase being due almost entirely to
the superior facilities for manufactur-
ing created by his company.
Continuing, DR.. Wylie stated that
the cost of the 1000 acres of land in
York county, together with the cost of
the dam, the power house, the hydrau-
lie and electrical machinery, would be
about $4,000. Immediately after
electricity is generated the company
will receive an income of $4,000,
which he expects to be increased to
$50, 900 inside of 10 months. The ex-
pense of running the plant will not
exceed $4,000. The organizers are as
sured of the success of the enterprise
and expect to increase the capital stock
of the company to 100000 within
years time.
DR.. Wylie left for New York last
night. His brother, Mr.. W. H. Wylie,
who will reside in Rock Hill, and will
have active charge of the company, is
the electrical engineer in charge of the
power house at the insane asylum in
Columbia.