Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-12
DISPOSITION OF The POWER.

DR.. w. Gil Wylie Of New York city,
president Of the Catawba Power COM
pany, and Mr.. William s. Lee, Jr,
chief engineer of the company. were
visitors in Charlotte yesterday, says
the Charlotte Observer, Of Friday.
They wish to ascertain IL Charlotte,
or Charlotte people, desire to purchase
several thousand horse power which
they are able and willing to transmit
from their plant, near Fort Mill, s. G..
Charlotte people are already familiar
with the location and purpose Of the
Catawba Power company's plant. The
company owns several thousand acres
of land near Fort Mill, and with the
object Of generating power, has built
across the Catawba river an immense
dam which, over all, Is nearly 1000 feet
in length. The fall will be twenty y-five
feet, and will enable the company to
sell 5000 primary horse power all the
year round, and 5000 or 1000 addition
al horse power for eight or nine months
IN the year.
A small quantity of this power will
be delivered to Fort Mill which is four
miles distance, and to Rock Hill, which
is six and a half miles off, and the
company will place lines to these two
places in the near future.
By the end Of the year the company
will be able to transmit its full power,
and the question that DR.. Wylie asks
now Is, Does Charlotte wish to have
any of this power?" He says that this
town can get the power by accepting
a reasonable offer, or by making use Of
unusually good opportunities to buy
power at a much cheaper rate than 1t
Ia purchased at present.
81 can bring to Charlotte" said DR..
Wylie, three or four thousand horse
power. To do this will need NUM-
cipal franchise, Of course. would pre-
fer to have a franchise for municipal
lighting for 20 or 10 years, but we
might get along with contract for
five years. The longer the contract
the better it will be for the city. And
will furnish power at a cheaper cost
than the present rate, and am perfect
ly willing to stake my chances of
bringing the power here on an open,
competitive bid for the municipal con-
tract. If I get the contract for the
city lighting shall be able to sell, in
addition, power in small units to cor
porations or individuals.
II now have an offer from outside
here If I bring the power here. The
new plant will use from 1000 to 1000
horse power.
"You see, we are not confined to this
market. We can sell the power In
Gastonia, which Is about the same dis
tance from us as Charlotte, or we can
dispose Of more power in Rock Hill
and Fort Mill. Pineville wants power,
too, and If possible or practical, we
wish to bring the power through Pine
vile to Charlotte, and furnish this city
with the three or four thousand horse
power. Our reasons for wishing to
come here are obvious. Charlotte Is a
large town and growing town, and II
we come here we can dispose Of the
power in larger quantities. We don't
wish to scatter the power If we can
avoid It.
1T is up to this city to take action.
We have a plant that has cost us
100000 or more. 1t will be perfectly
equipped and ready for operation In
five months. We can easily begin,
this fall, the work of placing our lines
into this city. We will make a long
time contract to furnish power at a
cheaper rate than the present one.
Now, does Charlotte want the power?
We are prepared to make contract.
We would like to know what the city
wants to do"