Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1902-05-02
LIGHT AND PHONES.

The New Company Ready to Com
mence Work-Heating and Power
Plant May Also be Installed.
A. B. Kerlin, representing the
company which is going to put in
a water works system and new
telephone and electric light plant
at Devils Lake, arrived Monday to
arrange a number of details in
connection with the work about to
be undertaken.
The new company will be known
as the Devils Lake Improvement
company, and will be Incorporated
under the laws of this state with a
capital of 100000. The incor-
poration will provide for the oper-
| alton Of telephone exchanges, toll
systems, electric light plants,
and water works. Mr.. A.
B. Kerlin, who has been active in
establishing telephone lines in the
northwest, is president of the new
company, and he will likely make
his home and headquarters in this
city. The vice-president of the
company is G. W. Baumback, the
we'll known capitalist and banker
of Wadena, Minnesota. The work
of construction and permanent
supervision will be directed by G.
F. Downing, of St. Paul, who is
acknowledged to be one of the
best men in his line in the north
west. The work Of construction
will commence within 80 days and
Mr.. Kerlin informs the Inter-
Ocean that he hopes to have every
thing COMPLETED by Sept. lst,-in
[any. event not later than October
! 1st.' Orders have already been
placed for much of the material.
| The polls will be of Idaho cedar
and the first shipment of six cars
will arrive soon. This order con.
tains sixty 50-foot, one hundred
and fifty 45-foot, ten 40-foot, ten
35-foot, ten 3O-foot, twenty-five
25-foot, and one 60-foot poles.
Some of the work will be let by
contract, and bids will be called
for about May 1st. It is the in
tention of the company to use
nothing but the best and most
modern and expensive up-to-date
machinery and appliances. While
the question is not fully settled il
is altogether likely that in the
telephone plant the central
energy or common battery system
will be installed. This is the sys.
TEN in use at st. Paul and Mime.
apolis, and it furnishes a uniform
current to all phones, doing away
with batteries located at instru.
ments and insures the highest per.
fection of service. Metallic cir.
cults will be installed in the bust
ness section Of the city and the
common return in the residence
portion.
A canvass will be made tc
ascertain how much power anc
heating may be secured from bust
ness houses and residences at {
later date and should the company
receive sufficient encouragement
in this direction they will also put
!. in power and heating plant
This would be a great convenience
to the elevators, mill, machine
shops, meat markets, newspapers
and al. lines requiring the use o.
power, and public heating plant
would be a comfort and luxury
found in few, if any, towns the
size Of Devils Lake. The Inter
Ocean believes enough business
can be secured in this line to war.
rant the company in putting in
! the plant. It certainly is to be
hoped 80.
Mr.. Kerlin has great faith il
the future of Devils Lake and will
do all he can to promote the com
, mercial interests of the city. He
is well pleased with those of oul
people and business men whom he
/