The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-08-03
Public Utilities Of Henderson.
BY J. II. BRlDGERs.

BY J. H. BRIDGERs.
The first venture of the town was a
public water supply, and the proceed
ings OF the early town fathers, between
1910 and 1860, show that q goodly
portion of the public revenues were
used in maintaining the public wells,
and enlivened the debates OF the
evenings.
There is still Oh the statute be- r"
of the town an Ordinnce ag.
throwing water near a public III,
punishable by thrashing.
The next effort of the town at
public utility was carried on as FRI
vate enterprise by the late James d:
Malone, who served the town and
people SO faithfully for many years,
the sprinkling of the business portion
of the streets by means OF combined
advertising and sprinkling wagon
In the spring of 1885 large num-
Der of lamps-oil lamps-were pur-
chased, and one placed at nearly
every corner. These were used and
lighted internationally until the 18th
day of May, 1888, when the glow OF
electric light was thrown across the
path OF The traveller by night. This
method was continued until the
spring OF 1892, when the Company
which was furnishing the light failed
to receive enough to defray the cost
OF the service, and the electric light
failed to burn. The industry was III
it's infancy and the machine designers
were as ignorant of the necessities OF
public lighting service as the pro-
gressive public-spirited citizens OF
Henderson who undertook to supply
public and private lighting from a
high voltage line.
With many changes of ownership,
the service was resumed in 1893, and
Oct. Doth, 1901, service was begun
from the new station of the Hender
son Lighting & Power Company, land
the people are generally OF the opin-
ion that the public, ald private
lighting is furnished from the most
improved apparatus used i'll the art.
The water works of the town were
projected in the fall of 1889, through
the efforts of the late Redding Perry,
Esq, who perhaps gave more time
and attention to municipal affair
than any OF our citizens before or
since. A survey way made and pipe
lines and hydrants located by a dis
interested stranger, whose plan was
adhered to. The town was unable to
build its own works, SO a franchise
was advertised, and finally landed in
the office of New York water works
promoters.
The work was begun upon plant
large enough for 30, 900 people, and
completed. This makes our water
works system easily the most effective
in the State. Thepeople by following
the franchise plan have saved the
difference between four per cent. and
six per cent. interest on the cost of
the works, besides taxes and depre
citation for the past thirteen years.
The water is filtered, and the month
ly analysis by the State Biologist
shows it free from all impurities and
harmful germs.
The patent on the telephone receiver
expired Feb. 2Sth, 1894 and March
LIST, 1894, a private line OF two in
struments was put in service between
the water works office and the pump
ing station. The above patent was
fundamental to the telephone indus
try, and the Supreme Court OF the
United States gave more space to the
report of the suit for infringing it,
than to any other cause before the
court up to that time.
The patent having expired Oh Nov.
10th, 1895, the Henderson Telephone
Company opened its exchange in
Henderson for service, which was the
second regular telephone exchange,
using unlicensed apparatus in the
State. From this small beginning
Henderson became the center of I'M
licensed telephone operation, carrying
with it lines to almost every point
between the Tar and Roanoke rivers,
with connections over the whole
county.
Our people were dangerously near
competitive system several times,
but reason prevailed and we were
spared the affection.
During the ten years of operation,
the system has been rebuilt, and the
instruments changed several times.
The lines are now being equipped with
most approved long distance instru-
ments, made under the latest patents
and improvements.
In q few days after the electric
plant was started this community
was visited by the most violent
lightning storm ''in the memory of
the oldest inhabitant," before or
since. Six or more houses were struck,
some were considerably damaged,
several people were stunned. The
Tom Richardson tobacco factory
was struck by lightning and burned
that night. This was a noted build
ing, because the owner was large
plug tobacco manufacturer prior to
the Civil War, and was free negro
and man of wealth in that day.
A large number of people attributed
the natural lightning to the manu-
facture of the artificial lightning, and
termed it a work of the devil, and
demanded that it should cease.
However, all soon became accus-
toned to the light, and there is per-
haps no enterprise of public nature
from which every one receive. as
much direct benefit and corr IT as
from the lightning of the streets.
The sewer system of the t>u; va
completed in the fall of 1J0., ;tl.,i
the use of it is becoming general
The cost was $4,000, and COM
prises about 10 miles of sewers, for
house sewage only.
Attractive as Our Homes.