The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-12
Proposition to Erect a Mammoth
Electric Plant for That Pur-
pose Across the River.
ADVANTAGES CLAIMED FOR IT.
Vice President Dupont of Transit
Company Believes the Plan
Feasible and Desirable
Objections Urged.

an electric plant Of sufficient power to run
the machinery Of the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition and supply light for the build
ings and grounds. the plant to be used after
the Exposition by the st. Louis Transit
Company or such other company employing
electricity as should desire 1t. The ques-
ton as to the feasibility Of the plan IL an
swered by A. B. Dupont, second vice pres
ident Of the st. Louis Transit Company,
who says 1t Is, and that such plant would
be very desirable. NJ. L. Holman. general
Electric Company. .disapproves Of the
plan. and does not think any company
operating in st. Louis could secure any de-
sirable advantage by having Its plant To-
Gated across the river.
From the standpoint Of economy 1t is
claimed that across the river water could
be obtained free, in addition to the saving
OF 30 cents per ton toll now paid for bring
ing coal across the river. In these two items
have to be laid across the river in protec.
tive castings. or strung through tunnel
under the river, but this expense. it Is
the permanent value Of the plant. Power
could be transmitted to the Exposition uI,-
der high tension and then reduced; The
eoag ooM the pan
produce power on this side Of the river. It
is figured. at least Is per cent cheaper than
from a plant In 81. Louis. Persons ,. I'd.
consider the point of economy the principal
one. and they have no hesitancy In stating
positively that they consider It practicable.
Several mines are located from twenty-five
to fifty miles from the river.
A plant Of from twenty to thirty thousand
horsepower. which. 1t Is said, would be
to supply motive and lighting power, could
be erected for three-quarters Of million
dollars. Guido Pantaleoni. manager Of the
pany. says the plant used to move the ma.
chinery in the Chicago fair and illuminate
the White City cost about 100000
That the st. Louis F Fair win Be ,e srea N
be much more machinery on exhibit, hun
dreds more Of moving exhibits. and there
will be more light. It was learned at the
teal manner to show machinery Of any kind
was to give 1t life. Working machinery Is
more impressive thE the mere intricate.
cago fair one light to every twenty-five or
forty square feet was considered angle;
now electricians figure one incandescent
III he pan Of the
position Company to bulb the trees Of For
est Park. to light everything inside and out
side even more brilliantly than the average ase
square feet. The facts Of the yastsr scope
Of the Fair and this increase In illumina-
ton may make the cost 1f Plant sn,5. OF sun NM
Holman believes such plant would cost
several millions. To adequately meet the
demands Of the Exposition. the plant would
complete In every detail.
In regard to the plan for such PLANK
across the river. MT: Du Pont said: ,,,,
be desirable as property Of the Transit
Company. The Transit Comgany's plants are
from tho standpoint Of economy.
ut will take An immense plant to run the
Worlds Fair. An incandescent Light take.
S %if saHe fully aIye 500 horse power plant
run the Exposition. There would be grea1
saving In putting the plant across the
Chicago Fair, and equally or moro brilliant.
ly lighted. I do not know what would bt
the cost Of such plant. but IT would b<
1--WE VIII buy anything we need. It would
could secure the plant at the right price
mSna aSesa az The ran.t are
and there is no telling how much more
power we may need.
81 should object to plant on the Fail
Grounds on account Of the volumes Of
smoke that cannot be helped at certain
times. and which no smoke Consumer car
1.-The plant would cost too much" said
| Mr.. Holman. .'and as I understand 1t. Il
| fs not in the province Of; the Exposition
Company to spend 80 much money on thu
basis Of a speculation: This is TO be a st
Louis Fair. and we have no right to e
| into Illinois. OF course. II q private com.
pany wants to put up the plant and furnish
the power and light, that Is another ques
] ton.
"The plan is not feasible. considering the
| time needed to build permanent plant, and
| the property In Illinois would not be desira-
| bic for use by st. Louis company. dc
| not consider that It could be operated
| cheaper. H
"The General Electric Company and the
Westinghouse company are the only COM
panies able to supply the machinery for
such ~ plant; They are behind On orders
| pany to do now Is to borrow machinery
under construction for use In various parts
of the country and bring It here. put It up
temporarily for the s Espositioa and then re-
81 consider the plan feasible. certainly
practicable. but I should desire to see such
a plant built right in the Fair Grounds. "
said Mr.; Pantaleoni; The power behind
rition should be made one of the exhibits
| Such a plant would be incomparably more
| practicable. more attractive, more desira.
Bile. as an exhibit: than any. amount Of
First. there could be shown how coal Fl
handled Then would come the condenser
dynamos. pumps and all instruments.
1.-THE plant would be very desirable
river where water Is free and fuel cheaper. y
F. E. Jacobs, contracting agent Of the
Imperial Electric Light. Feat and Power
Company. expressed the opinion that, how
would be on account Of the saving in water
and fuel. there probably would be no sale
| for the plant in ct. Louis after the Fall
to the electric light companies here, fol
plant sufficiently equipped to take care q
their business,