The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-10
USE OF ELECTRICITY
1T is RAPIDLY DIsPLACING STEAM
IN MANUFACTURERS.
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES.
AMONG. THEM CLEANLINESS AND
ECONOMY OF SPACE AND POWER.

ana Heat 10 HelrlSeratlnB FOOu
and Heating Curling TonEs-Its
Popularity Fast Growing I'm sa-
vannah-One Rice Mill Now UsinE
Motors AgEreEnting 2OO-HOrse
Power-Fire Fighting Apparatus
on $. A. l.. Terminals Operated by
It-Printing Presses the First Ma
chimes in Savannah to Begin Its
Use.
The wonderful advance that electric
ity has made in all the uses of life can
hardly be appreciated by those who
have not given the matter special at
tention. Everyone is accustomed, of
course, to the variety. size and number
of lights that are used for practical as
we'll as decorative purposes, and cleo
trio fans are, of course, equally ia
miliar, bft electric currents are used
for hundreds of other purposes of
which very little is known.
One of the earliest applications of
electric power in Savannah was to the
driving of printing presses. and now
practically all of the printing in the
city is done by this means. In the
newspaper offices not only are the
presses operated by this power but it
is used as well for driving the linotype
and stereotype machines used in the
preparation of the matter.
Advantages as Motive Power.
Among the greatest advantages gain
ed in using electric power is that it
can be subdvided into units of any
convenient size and applied wherever
required instead of applying it to any
one place and coupling other parts of
the machinery by long lines of shafting
and belts which consume and waste a
great deal of power and which is the
system used where an entire plant is
run by one steam engine. A good ex-
ample of this modern tendency to sub
divide power is shown in the plant of
the Savannah Rice Mill Co., where are
installed some six motors ranging in
size from 10 to SIS horse power and ag-
gregating over 200 horse power. The
entire mill is operated by these motors.
A unique use for electric motors is
an application at the Seaboard Air
Line terminals on Hutchinson's ISL
and where fire protection on all of the
wharves is furnished by an immense
tor. The water used for ordinary con-
sumption is furnished by a small
pump driven by a 7hhorse-power mo-
tor, which maintains a pressure in
small tank. This is done automatical-
ly, the motor being controlled by va
riations in the pressure of the tank,
starting and stopping many times every
day The fire protection is also en-
tirely automatic. 1t is arranged so
81 t.. Il
Of the fire stations about the termi-
nails the large pump is instantly start
ed automatically, and maintains high
fire pressure as long as required.
Another interesting use for electric
ity is in a marble yard on York street,
where an electric motor drives an air
compressor. Pipes run to various
points about the yard where rubber
hose is attached, and compressed air
used for driving portable pneumatic
tools for cutting stone.
Several fertilizer factories are run
by electric motors, and the tram cars
on the elevated railway at the Savan-
nah Guano Works are drawn by cleo
trio motors. These cars are used for
hauling material from the wharf to
the factory.
Used 10 Cut Wood
A recent application of electric mo-
tors is to the saving of wood. During
the past year or two many of the local
wood yards have been equipped with
motors for running circular saws. This
has proved to be a great convenience
to the woodward men as they are al
ways able to promptly saw an order
for wood.
Several small machine shops are
driven by electric motors, and the
broom factories also use the same pow
er. One of the interesting industries
where electric power is used is in a
shop on the Louisville Road where tin
and paper cans are made. The differ
ent machines for punching and press
ing the paper and tin into the neces-
sary shape are all driven by electric
motors.
Nearly all of the passenger eleva-
tors in the city and many of the
freight elevators are driven by cleo
tricity and even making ice and re-
frigerating machinery is driven by the
same power for the same current
which produces electric light will, If
properly directed. produce intense cold,
and is used for preserving food p:o-
ducts. Bicycle shops use ii Tor much
of their repair work, and horse clip
ping and grooming machinery is run
in the same way.
Its Miscellaneous Work.
1t is likewise used for operating GER
tain medical apparatus for a hot air
blower for drying hair. for sewing ma
chimes, of all kinds, fans for blowing
hot or cold air, as we'll as for
exhausting hot or cold air
pressure blower for iron foundries, slot
machines. sausage machines coffee
grinders and hoists for unloading ships
and handling cotton in warehouses.
Another use of this power is for the
charging OF storage batteries used for
the telegraph photograph, telephone.
automobiles, fire alarms and police sig
nails
Again. it is used for dentists's lathes
and engines. watchmakers' lathes and
polishing spindles. feed choppers, meat
choppers, laundry machinery, ice
cream freezers grinding scrap metals,
medical apparatus, wood splitters and
mineral water carbonators and even
for curling iron heaters.
The advantages claimed for electric
ity as a motive power is that II causes
no untidiness of premises, it's machin-