Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-11

As result OF months Of careful CON
si Iteration of how To give the people
of Wilmington the very best street car
service possible. the directors of the
Wilmington City Railway Co., at
meeting this morning, awarded con
tracts for now equipment, which will
cost about 800, 900, the orders being
placed as follows
Addition 10 the powerhouse, on the
north side Of tho Brandywine, at the
foot Of Buena Vista street, making it
two.thirds larger than at present.
81 T. Oliver. who are now rebuilding
tho Southwestern line for the Interstate
Railways Co.
A battery Of four 400 horse power
boilers-The Hene Boiler Co. of
Phmnixville, Pa
Two additional generators, one 800
and the other 600 lSilowatt capacity
General Electric Co. of New York City
and Schenectady, n Y. These genera
tors will have direct connection with
two reciprocating engines.
Two engines, to drive the genera
tors Robert Wetherill & Co., of Ches-
ter, Pa.
Twenty new cars, fully equipped
| 10 summer cars and 10 winter cars 10
TO be built 10y the American Car and
] Foundry Co.. at the local plant, and
10 by the j. G.. Brill Co. Of Philadel-
phia.
In addition 10 awarding the above
/ contracts it was decided to proceed to
build, as soon as permission is given
by the Street and Sewer Department,
two extensions Of the system, as fol-
| lows;
One, connecting with the Vandever
avenue and Claymont street line and
the Riverview line, and giving direct
service TO and from the new shops OF
the p., b. q w. Railroad Co., al
Todd's Cut with a complete system
i'm that section Of the city. which j.
developing rapidly.
Another to the works Of the Lobdel
Car Wheel Co., in South Whining
ton, connecting with the South vii
mington line.
John A. Rigg, president Of the com
pany, in discussing the company'l
plans with a reporter of Every Even
ing, said IL was the intention of tn,
company TO build these extensions thi
spring IL the consent Of the authori
ties is obtained in time TO do so.
The contracts for new equipment
outlined above, call for immediate
work and delivery as soon as possible
One of the new engines and also on
of the generators is TO be delivere
in about three months and five and a
half months is the limit of tim
allowed for the completion and deliv
cry OF tho remainder OF the equipment
Mr.. Rigg said work will be started o.
the addition TO the powerhouse as 500
as possible, and the building will b
ready to receive the first now ongin
, and generator when they are in shar
to bo installed. The company own
. all Of the river front along the mort
, side Of the Brandywine between il
present plant and the lower end
Grubb's wharf, having purchased IN
latter wharf some time ago, and IN
|, extension Of the powerhouse will, ,
4 course, be in an easterly direction
y The remainder Of the ground will
t utilized, as at present, for the storag
Z of coal.
u The now power equipment will moI
n than double the company's capacit,
Z At present the power is furnished b
"a 1000 lSilowatt generator, steam bein
produced by "a battery of boilers aggr,
eating l,SO horse power. The add
N tional electric machinery will ad
power TO the extent OF I, 400 kilowatt
and the boilers will add 1900 hors,
power of steam producing energy, thu
N making the aggregate ., 400 kilowatt.
k instead of 1000 as at present, an
3, 400 horsepower of boiler capacit,
+ instead of l,S0O, as at present.
kilowatt is equivalent to / l-3 horsi
power
The addition Of this equipment wi
III place tho company in a position
cope with all emergencies. H. is tl
intention 90 have one engine and ger
orator idle all the time. two beir
sufficient TO operate the system. IN
Isl machines will rest alternately an
stoppage for repairs will not be nece
sary. This viii also mean a concel
n traitor of the electric power at q
al one plant, where it is now distribute
p among three The additional cars wi
also enable the company TO add TO q
= service on any of the lines at any tin
when more are needed, and il will al
be possible 10 hold cars in roserv
subject TO immediate call The con
pany operates about 30 cars repularl
:. but there are times when more a
Il required. 10 has many more than
y cars, but as some are frequently o
of commission undergoing repairs, a
are not available at all times.
o.. The new cars Will be similar to q