Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-28
CHANGES IN POWER PLANS
BIDS RECEIVED BY WASHINGTON
TRACTION COMPANY.
Alteration. to Be Made In Plant of
the United States Elec-
trio Company.

Bids have been invited for the proposed
alterations in the plant of the United States
Electric Lighting Company at 14th and B
streets. SO that the capacity for producing
| electric power can decreased to such a
point that some Of the plants which now
furnish electricity for the operation of
the street railroads and for the electric
lighting companies controlled by the Wash
ington Traction Company can be aban-
doned According to the pans that are to
be carried out. the interior of the building
occupying the entire sixty-three feet front
of the square between 13Ia and 18th streets
is to be changed, SO as to make it prac-
tically one structure. Partition walls are
to be taken out and new ones put in and
at the same times the roof on the eastern
section Is to be raised.
Other changes Of this character will be
made. and when the work is completed, at
an estimated cost of some SOC. 900 the space
for the machinery will be rearranged and
additional machinery will be provided, SO
that the amount Of current that can be
produced will be much greater than the
present plant is capable of.
This enlargement is made necessary by
reason OF the fact that the plant was
originally designed merely for the exclu-
sive use Of the United States Electric
Lighting Company. Since it's completion,
however. that company, as we'll as it's COM
petitor in the electric lighting field the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company, as well as
all the street railroad lines In the District,
with the exception Of the Capital Traction
and the line to Mount Vernon. have passed
into the control Of the Washington Trac-
ton Company. More than year has
elapsed since the purchase Of these prop
critics. and yet the original purpose of es-
tablishing one electric power plant to fur
nish the curren- needed to operate the sys-
tenn has not been accomplished. Various
causes have practically made such course
49, he
beginning is to be made which will lead
eventually to the desired results.
Plants Marked for Abandonment.
In consequence of these changes which
are to be made in the United States cleo
trio plant it will be possible within the
next four months. when the plans are COM
pleted, to abandon all the power stations
now in use with the exception Of that of
the Potomac company and the one at tue
foot of Az street The machinery from the
plants which are to be given, up-the z
street station, the one at Brigh.wood and
the Columbia line station-is to DE removed
to what Is to become practically the CEN
trail power plant of the system q. 14th and
streets. and there set up and used.
1t Is expected that there will be no
change in the sources of the electric cur
rent that will be used by the Washing
ton Traction Company for the next two
years, at least. At the end of that time
the plans of the Great Falls Power COM
pany, it is believed. will be carried out.
and that concern will be able to supply a
current produced by the over of :hs river
at the Great Falls. When this proposed
water power plant Is finished then what
may be termed the auxiliaries to the CEN
trail steam plant of the Washington Trac-
ton Company-the Potomac aud the Az
street stations-will In turn be given up,
and only the central station will be re-
tanned. This latter. however, will be in the
nature of reserve. as 1t 10 estimated that
all the current headed by the Washing
ton Traction Company can be produced at
the Great Falls. 81