Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-05-30
WORK is IN GOOD SHAPE
Progress on New Power Plant is
Very Satisfactory.
POLES FOR LINE HAVE ARRIVED
Turbine Wheels Are In Position and ONLY
Dynamo Needed 10 Fully Equip Power
House at the Dam.



House at the Dam.
Work ON the new plan of the Mar
tinsburg Electric corporation has as
sumed definite aud satisfactory shape,
and the officials are now preparing 70
vigorously push the project to compile
ton within the next few months. This
much was learned this morning, in adj
dition to manv OF the important de-
tails of the plant at dam No. 3 and
the line connecting Ii with this city.
OPERATIONS In the new power house
along the Potomac were begun over a
year ago. and 1t was confidently be-
lieved by those in charge that ii would
be in working order before this. But
one difficulty after another has been
encountered. and the delays have been
most annoying and frequent. The OFF,
cials say Ii seemed to be almost inn
possible to plan any movement with
any degree of certainty as to 1t being
carried out according 10 the snecifica-
tions along which they were working,
and TINT the difficulties which they
have been compelled TO combat have
caused changes and postponemonts
which have carried the work over I'M
Til rIle present time. The chief diff
Guilty seemed to lie ia securing the re-
quired machinery. there being three
changes made in the plans for the dy-
namos alone. This has been overcome
at last. however, and the dyanamos are
now in course of construction aud
will be placed in position in about
three months.
With the exception of this part of
the machinery the power house at the
dam il already equipped The three
large turbine wheels are in position,
and tests which they have been sub-
iected TO have proved them Of tho
most satisfactory make. The wheels
are of S25 horse power each. their COM
bined power being sufficient to oper-
ute system using 10000 i6-candle
power ipcandescent lamps. They will
develop what In technically known az
450 kilowats. or power enough to on
crate two or three systems the size Of
the one in this city.
The power house at the dam has
been put in first-class condition Very
little labor was required to place 1t in
shape. The walls are of the most
massive construction. in places being
Is feet thick, and Ms the building
rests upon the solid rock. there Is lit
tie danger Of it being damaged by
freshets. The dynamo will be so
placed that it can be hoisted TO the
roof of the building inside, II neces-
sary, out of the way OF any reason
ably high water which might come. Al
high water would. OF course, cause
the power house at the dam to sus-
pend, it is the intention of the com,
pany to keep the power house in this
citv in first-class shape to meet all
emergencies OF the kind.
The poles for the connecting line be,
tween the dam and this city have ar.
rived, and will DO hauled along the
route immediately. There are more
than ZOO OF them, each about 80 feet
in length, although few are OF near
ly twice that length. The actual work
of constructing the connecting line
will be begun in a few days, when
the poles will be erected. just when
the work of stringing the wites will
be begun will be determined by the
officials later, but ii is thought that ii
will be commenced Immediately after
the work OF erecting the poles is COM
pleted.
| While the officers of the electric
company have not lost any time III
pushing the project. there has been
no undue haste. 1t is a big and ex.
pansive undertaking to complete the
new plant. and they determined not
to sacrifice its efficiency to haste In
construction. 1t has taken longer tt
construct it than was at first antici
pated. but it will be first-class II
every detail when completed. While
no positive prediction is being made
by those in charge as to when thev
will be ready to turn on the current
in this city. it il pretty well under
stood that the latter and last act o