The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-25
NEW POWER PLANT
RAPID TRANSIT COMPANY. TO
SPEND LARGE SUM IN I'M
PROPONENTS
BUILDING MORE LARGE CARS
Power Station, Three SubstatiOns,
New Equipment and Addi-
s1Sns VIII Cost About
$I,35O,OO

The Rapid Transit company has ar
rived at the conclusion that it has not
enough power to run it's present system
of cars up to the standard, and has de-
clded to erect steam plant at the dam
near St. Anthony falls, which is expected
to facilitate matters during the season
of the year when the low water makes it
impossible to get as much horse power
as is desirable.
The officials of the company say this
departure, together with the other i'm
provements that will be made during the,
year, will necessitate the expenditure Of
fully 81, $50, 900. The steam plant will have
capacity of SEQ horse power and it is
expected that it's erection will be the first
step in a complete change of the present
street car power system Bids for its
construction will be opened tomorrow,
and it is expected that the cost will be
in the neighborhood of $7O0, 600. The work
will be begun as soon as possible
1t is also said that the company is con-
templating the erection of three power
substations-one for this city, one for
Minneapolis and one for the Saltwater
line These stations will each have a
rotary transformer, and a power storage
capacity of 5000 horse power, furnished
from the steam plant. These will be used
for furnishing power during the hours of
the day when the street car traffic is at
the highest point. Tie location of these
plants has not been decided upon as yet;
in fact it has not been decided whether
they will be erected this year or not
Vice President Goodrich of the company,
is quoted as saying that the steam plant
will be put into active operation as soon
as possible; as the company has decided
that it cannot take any more chances
with the varying water supply.
Tunnels for Wires.
The street car company will pattern af-
ter the telephone company in the matter
of tunnels for its wires. The plan under
consideration is to have a system of tun-
nels through the sandstone to carry the
feed wires through the business districts
Of both cities, much the same as the tel
ephone company now has in this city.
One of the Improvements which viii
meet popular approval is the addition to
the number of cars. For this purpose the
company ccntempl2tes the expenditure of
$500 during the present year Ten cars
Of the tnterurban type are now in the
course of construction in the company
car works at Thirty-first street, Mime
apolis and it is expected that the first of
them will be ready for use within six
weeks. For the remainder of the year
the officials hope to be able to turn out
a dozen large cars each month. The ad-
dition of these cars will neceSsitate the
extension of the different car barns iii
both cities, and large sum will be spent
for this purpose.
A new experiment in illuHinated street
car signs was begun last night The
sigrs are of two kinds, one with white
letters on dark background, the other
with black letters on a white background
The style that is more easily decipher-
able will be adopted. They will be placed
on both sides and ends of the cars, and
will be much needed Improvement
Vice President Goodrich says he Is
aware of the fact that the equipment Of
the company In the matter of cars is not
what it should be, but says the shops
viii be rushed to their fullest capacity to
meet the demands OF the traffic in the
two cities.