Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-08-21
ELECTRICAL WAR
Continued from page ~

the Union Gas Y Electric Co. busted.
This left Oakland in darkness so far as
electricity went and also left the Oak
land Electric Co. without any available
power with which to run generator.
This brought the two companies to-
ecther again. and judging from all that
has been heard the sparks flew some.
You see, about two weeks before the
accident to the dam the MeSsalonskec
Electric Co. had secured the contract
for lighting the streets of Waterville.
Now just drive a stake in the track
and wen go off to one side bit to
take q look at this element of the ease.
Got your stake solid? All right here
we 60
The city of Watcrviic had q contract
with the WaterVille & Fairfield Rail
way K Light Co. for lighting the
streets. This contract will expire Aug.
80. 1901 The committee of the city
government began negotiations for 4
new contract along in the spring and
We're at IL off and on for some two
months The competition had been re-
moved by the purchase of the Union
Gas x Electric Co. ana all rates were
higher. The committee had tuSSlc
with the company over the rates and
couldn't seem to come to any agree
ment 1T all. There was some talk Of
acetylenc gas ana an order relating to
this was introduced into one of the city
government meetings.
But there was apparently no inciinn-
ton to consider this seriously. The old
companies We're evidently resting So
cure in the belief that they at last had
the dipper by the handle. But that par
ticular dipper was o kind of loving cup
and the biggest handle was on the off
side The McsSalonS,xee Electric 90. be-
ing young. was Just sprv enough to get
hold of that big handle quickly and
quietly ana strong enough To hold on
Consequently when the old compan MES
woke up they didn't have any dippar at
all. That meeting of the city govern
ment is a memorable one in the annals
of electric history in Waterville.
Well. the contract was given to the
Youngsters. The old companies die
what they could to block the scheme In
the little time that they had but failed.
and the Youngsters carried of the cup
even # they didn't have any Juice"
just chen with which to fill il.
You eee. Waterville had just got a
taste Of what competitioness rates
meant and was looking around with
hungry ewes for some water power that
could save them. When the young
companies appeared on tre scene il
was just like he prodigal son for them
and the fatted calf Was straightway
killed for their special benefit. The con-
tract WAS made out in due form. a bond
was furnished ana in due time the
young companies Will be sending juice
into the city and over its street light
ing system
Where's that stake Oh. yes. there 1t
is. We had just got To the dam aCCi-
dcnt-beg your pardon. the accident to
the dam.
Well you can imagine that the old
companies did not feel very friendly
toward the youngsters when they had
the street lighting contract in their in
side pocket. But ii was all in the way
OF business If it was tough chewing.
When the dam busted" Oakland was
left in darkness.
The young companies proposed to the
old companies that they have q Cener-
ator which they did not use moved at
the NtliIIIg COMPANIES 'Nl'fllfNt ~ IAN
! land ana set up on the power which
had recently been acquired by the old
companies. This power by the way. is
the ore which the old companies pro
posed To use for lighting Oakland
should il be granted location for
| poles Eut the Old companies wouldn't
hear to it nohow.
Then the Youngsters started in to get
a place TO set Il generator on the other
! end Of the dam. But the old companie;
> were wide awake by this time and got
that end of the dam first. Then the
matter hung fire and Olklandites Swore
considerably about the lack Of lights
as they stumbled home from the club
and the fear of burglars waXed strong
/ in tho land
But il does not seem to matter much
who buys on who sells or how many
electri~ light companies get n monon-
DIV on il there seems to always be n
great sufTiciency of water power in
Oakland.
! SO the Youngsters began to proWl
ABOUT under the mills and among the
wheels to see if they couldn't find an
old water power that someone had mis-
placed or lost Perhaps after the COM
peting companies get settled doun Oak
land will have a Rummage sale of ma
ter powers. But one was found that
was capable of about 100 horse pawer.
was in the possession of the Dunn Edge
Tool 90. Perhaps il was bit mildewed
or shop worn but il would do and the
youngsters straightway made con-
tract for it for a period Of 10 years.
Then they bought generator and
set it up where it could connect with
the water power. Then the lights We're
hitched on and Oakland was once
more happy-that is. all but the night
hawks who had been telling their wives
that they lost their way home in the
darkness and that was why they were
so late-Dut the ma ajority was happy
That horse power was a lucky find
in another way. 1t is capable Of light
ing Watervills as well as Oakland. and
another generator will be installed and
used for this purpose until the proposed
rlant can be built and the young com
panies are solidly fixed on their feet.
The companies had kept about ever
in the race thus far. Perhaps moth
eaten water power or two had beer
overlooked but it will be found later
without trouble. Up to the time of tho
negoti1 tions for the Holt power house