The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-22

| ship. Immediately after the acquiring oil
| this property the tramways also came
| into the possession of the city and the
| question arose whether or not to make
one generating system serve for all pur-
| poses The opinions of experts welo
| called for 1t was the consensus OF opln 7
! Ion that a pressure of 900 volts would en-
| able the same plant to be used for light
! Ing and traction, and that there would ~
| n distinct gain as regards first cost, man
agement. economy and surplus power,
attained by combination. 1t was, there
fore. decided to erect two large power
stations. so located as to supply power.
and light to the entire city sites were
1 selected at Punpfieds and Lister Drive.
Station at Punpfelds.
Tho illustration shows the front ele-
walton Of the station at Pumpfields, and
| 1t Is handsome specimen of q STRUCTURE
| designed for power purposes. The great
| engine room Is a delight to those who
| love the thrill which comes with an eN-
| hibitlon of vast power under perfect con-
troll. The size OF the room is impressive
! but the massive machinery Is more So.
grhe walls are faced throughout w
| glazed brick and tile, and l will remark
! in passing that In this art the British
| far exceed us. The beautifully blended
effects OF ivory-white, golden and teapot
browns, surlnounted by green-gray arches
and PIERS forms an effect one would not
look for in an engine room.
Without going into details, IT Is sufti-
cient to say that this plant and its du-
plicate at Lister Drive are as we'll
G,,f hala
of money and the use OF mechanical and
engineering skill. A, Bromley Holmes,
city electrical engineer, had charge OF
this work, and he did not hesitate TO go
outside of England for the latest I'M
provements. There are dynnmos from
Germany, electric motors from America,
condensers from France. and other de-
vices from all the wide world OF lnVeh-
ton and genius. There are many larger
plants In the world and there may
be finer ones, but Liverpool has no rea-
son to be ashamed of her municipal power
generating stations.
Each station has capacity OF .o,ooo
horse power, but so great has been the
demand made on them that new ones are
needed and some have already been con
structcd. England has learned to use
the refuse swept from the streets for fuel
Several small power, stations deriving
fuse are now in successful operation, and
| it is expecter that the total supply from
| this source will reach 10000 horsepower,
| A few years ago Liverpool spent large
| sums o fmoney for the purpose OF throw
| ing this material and its stored up energy
| away. l am informed that we have some
| such system In this sgreat country Of ours
Il mean the system of throwing things
! away.
| w.t. ~ ~ ~
| troll of the private company Its output
] was less than 100000 units. II is now
ten times that amount 1t must be con-
4 ceded that this Is Il healthy increase
in business In period of less than seven
years.
!. Reduced Cost One-Half.
When the city purchased the undertake
Ing from private interests tho rate
charged was Z 10 pence per unit, and
for power 5 pence per unit At the pres
ent time the rates are 4 pence for light
4 ing, 9 pence for street lighting, 2 pence
for power up to 5000 units per quarter
and 1 IL pence thereafter. The charge
Z for tramways Is IL pence per unit. In
4 other words, the price has been more than
cut in half, and this has been done de-
! spite the fact that the price of coal, oil
4 and every item of expense has decidedly
4 Increased since the city took control OF
] the plant.
/ Liverpool has Invested s75Oo,ooo in her
electrical plant. The profits for the year
ending on January l. 1908, were in round
figures 100000. After meeting all charges
and setting aside n liberal amount for
| renewals and depreciation. The electri-
! cal department made contribution of
| $4,000 to the tax fund. 1t also paid $1,000
| as It's share of tho taxes. The amount
| written off for bad debts was less than
| $500
AT the present time 1t Is likely that
| Iiverpool's investment in its combined
! tramway and electrical plant will reach
/ s200oo,oOO | have gone somewhat into de-
| tail in these matters for the reason that
| Liverpool Is an example Of what 1t Is
possible to accomplish IN a short time
/! 1t is only scant seven years ago tina
4 the city OF the Docks essayed this stu
4 pendous experiment In public ownership
\ 1t is only fair to observe that the benefits
. derived from reduced rates and Improved
services far outweigh the direct money
profits As the interest charges decrease
steadily year by year 1t Is the settlet
4 policy of Liverpool to vet further de-
crease the price OF tramway tickets aio
the rates fixed for light and power, rms
Is rendered obligatory by a clause pre-
cluding the payment Of more than GER
tain amount to the relief Of taxes,
downright, 1901. by Frederick upham
Adams)
retary for the Mission Board OF the Uni