Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-06-21
THE BIG ELECTRIC PLANT
ATTRACTING WIDESPREAD MITES :
EST THROUGHOUT VHE COUNTRY

No. ) Ready For Operation by tine
B~egtnntng OF winter-A Penn
s~ylvanian's Version of
The nnouncemen OF the project 10
harness Dam No 5. on the Potomac
river for the purpose OF furnishing
power for generating electricity fer
Martinsbnrg and nearby towns has ex
cited considerable unrest throughout
the valley and in the adjoining states.
The promoters Of the project did not
nropose 30 lose any time in carving
their plans to G mpletiun. They saw
by the time cold weather sets in they
exnect to have tne plant completed, the
line constructed and everett ing IN
readiness for beginning operation,
The first steps to be taken will be
the work Of dammin9 the water back
so ms 20 get at the turbine wheels
that are ut present in nosition. At
ter nscertaining their condition the
other work will be pushed right for
ward. The plans include the adiitiop
of another machine to the electric
plant 10 this city to furnish motor
power when the plant at the river
cannot be used. The paint here will
be fixed so as 10 be u duplicate 0 the
plant at the river.
Mr.. Nevin II. DetrieK, a renorter
on the Chambersburg Pubic Opinion,
we'll known in this city for his versa
tile and urbare writings, has the fol-
lowing cconn OF the pronosed pow
err plant TO he erected at Dam No. 8
in his paper this morning
lone OF the most gigantic engineer
ing schemes ever ATTEMPTED in this
part of the country will be the har-
Messing OF Dam No. 3. on the Poto-
mac river, near Wiliiamsport. for the
purpose 0 generating electricity, The
plant when il IL in operation will be
second only in size and tlength to
the immense Niagara Falls power
plant.
The company which will operate
this big plant is the Martinsburg
Power company. made ND of Martins
burg, w. Va. PhiiadelDh1a and Bel
AIR. Md capitalists. The present
Martinsburg electric company viii be
consumed bv the new eompanN and
the officers will be as of old. The
o....Io.t - 4l,e nAtnnonu 10 nr NJ
d. Baker of MartinsburR and the SUI
perlntendent Is ii. b. Shoemaker for
merlv of Chambsrsburg and for many
wears the engineer in charge of the
machinery at the old Tavior works.
The Belalr capitalists represent the
directors of the defunct uulp mills
which formerly operated ut the point
where the new power plant will DO To-
Gated.
Dam No 8. is about IL miles from
M~artinsburg. Across the river ex
to nds a wall of masonry 100 feet
long with a 24.foct head and a foil OF
22 feet of water. There are in place
there three immen SO turbine wheels
which were formerly used by the pulp
miiis. These wheels will be utilized
in the power plant.
Work on the plant will be immedi-
atelv begun The present steam pow
err plant in Martinsburg will be dis
-san.led at once and in its place will
be erected an emergency station.
Engineers began Monday to Law off a
10 hoe from Dam No. 8 to Martins
Dag
~. shoemaker the superintendent
f.taS Las IS very well known III
Cii.u, ersburg. his ola home. He IL
~ vcplneer VI more than ordinary
ability and is recognized as an cleo
triual authority. He ia enthusiastic
over the new scheme. He saws the
plant wall be able to furnish power to
not on,v Ma~rtiDsburg. bat Hagers.
town. WillIamsport. Hancock. He'd
gesvllie, SheDherdstown. Inwood aud
probably as far as Winchester.
IL Is the intention of the o%rvanizefs
Of the new company 70 conine ~ eli
power not alone to street lighting bn
thew aver that within a very short
time there will be IN operation a
street car system in several OF the
towns in their radius. IL IL suggest
ed. that there is every probability tnal
it will be an ACCOMPLISHED fac'. thai
a trolley line will be tuilt from Mar
tinsburg 10 the Potomac that the riv'
er will be bridged at a suitable point.
aud that a 5unstion will be formed
with the Hagerstown system ut Will
transport.
In line with other trolley tall
throughout the valley it might be
; - -~1lsns that Dffhfn a fau