Evening journal., 1902-07-14
WILL HARNESS
RUSHING WATER
Local Capitalists Interested
in Big Project
SUSQUEHANNA MUST WORK
Will Furnish Power and Light for
Wilmington, Philadelphia, Chester,
York and Baltimore
SUSQUEHlNNA MUST WORK

The DuPonts. Of this city, arc men
toned IN connection with the capital
lists. who propose to harness the Sus-
quehanna river, for the purpose OF |
making that waterway furnish electric
light and power for the use Of Will
mington. Philadelphia, Chester, York |
and Baltimore
Vast is the scope OF the plans or the
lSusquehanna Electric Light and Power
which is TO harness the great river that
drains 26.000 square miles OF territory
and utilize its enormous energy FOR
furnishing light and power to these
cities and great capital is represented |
by the company.
The first authentic information con-
corning the great work, which Is to be !
completed within two years from July
! l. last,were obtained yesterday the only
detail withheld being the exact lots Of
ground on which the power houses are
to be constructed. This information isl
denied because all the purchases have
not yet been concluded.
The Peach Bottom rapids, from al
point Just below McCan's Narrows, to
considerable distance beyond Como
wingO bridge, is TO be the scene of thel
Development On the rock ballastedl
islands of the rapids three enormous
power houses are to be built and each
is TO generate $4,000 horse power.
S. Davies Warfield at the Helm
The syndicate which is 10 push for
ward this great undertaking has at its
head S. Davies Warheld, president Of
the Continental Trust Company, of Bal
ffrar,.o rTbfc orr,,ponrr Mill thaI
bonds in conjunction with the houses
Of Alexander Brown & Sons, Of Balti-
more. and Brown Bros, Of New York
IL is said the DuPonts of Wilmington,
and the Widener. Whitney and Elllins
group of financiers have pledged them
selves to be responsible for large blocks
of the stock and bonds.
A remarkable phase Of the enterprise
is that the syndicate begins operations
with a certainty OF customers for more
than two-thirds Of the $4,000 horse
lpOwer that can be generated in power
house No 1.
IL is said that Philadelphia and VIII
mington are prepared to enter into
provisional contracts for power. and
that these will be signed within the
next sixty days.
Machinery Plans for Concern
In each OF the three power houses
there will be installed ten 5000 net
horse power electrical units. For each
unit there Will be three pairs Of as"
turbine wheels.
The second development Will COM
lprise a dam across the lower end OF
Peach Bottom pool from the west
IshOre. The surface OF the island will
be raised, and dykes will prevent an
Overflow Of the harnessed waters. From
the upper end Of the island a stone
filed crib 5000 feet long will be con-
structed to connect with the eastern
bank. Here the same kind of power
house. with its appurtenances, will be
built
Power house number three will be
built about half mile below ConOwingo
bridge.
The electrical fluid is to be trans
mitted 10 the cities named on over
head wires and supplied to customers
in the manner fixed by the various
municipal authorities.
] Perhaps such an array OF great ex-
lperts in hydraulic engineering was
never before engaged to pass upon the
feasibility of a plan which has attract
ed the attention of promoters for near
ly sixteen years. The men willing to
put up the s12,0OO,0O0. which it is es-
timated the 10000 horse power de-
lvelopments will cost, spared no ex-
pense to obtain expert opinion. Among
the experts who signed the report, are
Dr. Coleman Sellers, OF Philadelphia,
president of the Niagara Falls Power
Company, and Clemens Herschel and
John Bogart, consulting engineers on
1.-THE Niagara works.
What They Expect to Accomplish
Here. briefly, is what the Susque-
hanna Electric Light and Power Com
lpany expects to accomplish.
To compete with gas for lighting
purposes, and with coal rs a producer
Of power through steam. The COM
pany declares its ability 20 furnish
electrical power at a less rate than
steam, even though the price of coal
goes down to one dollar per ton.
Power will be furnished, to put It in
another way, as cheaply as in Pitts
burg with its cheap coal and natural
gas.
The company, as an illustration Of
how it proposes to reduce cost Of light
ing, stands ready to enter into a con-
tract with the city of Baltimore to sup
ply its arc lamps at S22 per year. The
city now pays $97 per year.