Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-03-10
DANvLLE, MONTOUR COUNTY. FRIDAY,
LIGHT PLANT
IN OPERATION

The history of electric lighting ia
Danville entered upon new epoch
last night when the municipal plant
went into commission and for the first
time the streets of our Borough were
Illuminated by the new type OF ONE
hundred hour arc lamps.
During yesterday the final prepara-
tions were made. The arc lamps,
eighty iu number. had all been tested
and these were hung in their respsc-
tive positions about the streets. The
inoandescent lights. twenty four in
lumber, were also placed in position
at the points designated.
While work was in progress oil the
street system force of mechanics was
employed in installing the new steam
separator at the light plant, which had
just arrived. This was very success. |.
fully inserted in the steam pipe few
feet above the valve chest of the ell Il.
Rine aud by divesting the steam of all
water viii add very much to the eff
oacy of the high speed engine employ
ed.
There was good deal of curiosity
manifested to see how tho new plant
would operate and wh'n the lights
went OIL last night there were few
eyes in town that were not Lent u on
the lamps. The general suct es' Of the
plant, however, had been Lreviou'ly
demonstrated bv exm riInrnt.
II was not claimed for the munich
p.l plant that tie lights would estah-
lish a new record for brilliancy. The
obi, ct rarier was to secure a greater
number of lamps Ito secure II more
general diffusion of light throughout
the borough-snd to secure Tie result
at a diminished cost. Whoth'r CJun-
Gil has laid it's plans we'll auh wiii ac-
complsh its object it will takr IL !;ttlp
time to d monsrrate.
Arrangements are being made t. ni =
crate the municipal plant with min
imum of help. Iu point of facI th re
is but one additional man empI' y3d
and he is tile Borough electrician. Thc
engineers at the water works Will have
charge of the engine aud dynamo al d
the street system with its hundred
hour lamps, which require leplenish-
ing but once week, Mr.. Jones, the
electrician thinks, he can attend to
himself.
Yesterday Snperin tendent George
NJ. West had a force of men emplo' d
dismantling the street system of the
Standard Electric Light Company,
which previously held the contract for
lighting the streets. The Standard
Electric Light Company owns 125 poles
and these together with the fixtures
will be removed during the next four
months, which is the time limit allow
ed.
Electric lighting in Danville dates
from 1887. The year previous the Ex-
celsior Electric Light Company es-
tablished a small plant on the present
site. of the warehouse of Welliver's
Hardware Company. This company
sold commercial light and in 1887 in.
stalled few arc lights about town. on
Mill and Market streets.
On September 80, 1888. the Oonsum.
ers' Gas Company equipped a plant
and assumed contract for lighting
the town. This plant continued in op-
Grafton until 1898. when the Standard
Electric Light Company was organic
ed and with a thoroughly remodeled
plant and up to date system of alter
mating current entered upon the con-
tract of lighting the town.
During many years past George M.
West las been in charge as Superin-
tendent MIR. West has brought into
his position all the requisites that 60
to make successful manager. Court
eous. obliging and just to the patrons
he has ever looked after his employ ers'
interests and impressed all as possess.
ing a vast store of technical knowledge
coupled with much experience which
ena bled him at all times to accomplish
the best results with the facilities at
hand.