Smyrna times., 1907-03-06
COUNCIL REvOKES ORDER
FOR 15O HIP, BERRY BOILER
LEAK SPRINGS IN RECONSTRUCTED CHAR
COAL BOILER AT ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.

COAL BOILER AT ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
Councilman Grieves Authorized to Make Trip
TO Robert WetheriIl and Company at Ches-
ter, to Couatermaud the $500 Order.
In the nick of time, just as the
Smyrna Town Council was about to
sign contract for the installation of a
new $50 horse power Berry boiler at
the Electric Power Station, the Berry
boiler which was reconstructed OF
charcoal iron year ago sprang leak,
and upon discovery was found to be
badly pitted. This startling and dis
appointing state of affairs was dicover-
ed last Wednesday afternoon by Sup
erintending Engineer James III. Wilso N
and the result of his investigation was
at once phoned Chairman Grieves of |
| Light and Water Committee. While |
verbal order had been made with Rob
ert Wetherill & Company, of Chester,
the papers in the case had not been
signed. President Reynolds at once
called a special session of Council
which was held Monday evening. All
the members were present except
Councilman Robinson aud they listened
attentively to the discouraging report
made by Mr.. Grieves. He showed
that the super heating tubes and the
boiler shell above the water line were
pitted, the tubes to such an extent that
two new ones have been put in by Geo.
W. Taylor. Despite the fact that these
are constructed of charcoal iron they
show signs of giving away to the chem
ical action of our town water the same
as the steel boiler which broke down
several years ago. Mr.. Grieves said
the Light and Water Committee had
discussed the question at length and
were ready to suggest that the order
! for the $50 horsepower Berry boiler be
!, countermanded and that the question
of purchasing boiler be held up for
further consideration. The Committee
also suggested that the feed water in
thC 4ubhAO Q OO bahCA AiOlA bLO 11llA dCC
back of Webb's Mill instead of using
!. the we'll water. This could be done al
: an expense of $3.50 provided permission
: could be had to use the mill race wat er
tary Grieves wrote to Mr.. John @. Cor
bitt, of Odessa, owner of the mill fol
his consent, In this event a cisterI
would have to be built at the race ant
- new pump installed for pumping il
. into large tank.
n There was not a member of tn
Council who was not impressed with
the gravity of the situation. They ha'
r every reason to believe that the Berr
boiler since it was overhauled and re
"a constructed of charcoal iron was jus
/ the thing that Smyrna needed and i
IL ordering a new Berry boiler the
Id thought they would be fixing the plar
u in shape for many years to come. Thi
s. opinion was borne out by the Boile
oh Inspector and Engineer L. Chaulkle
y, Hatton and W. @. Spruance Jr., VIII
RS advised Council to put in boiler bui
a of charcoal iron as it was their opinio
s. that it was the best boiler adopted fC
ID. our plant. 1t was only few weel
n ago that the Boiler Inspector visite
er Smyrna and pronounced the boiler
IL fine condition. The opinion now pr,
he walls that Smyrna must have a hor
he zontal return tubular boiler built
ay charcoal iron or water tube boile
all This however, will be entered into a
the vIsedly by the Light and Water Cor
'rn mittee. Upon motion of Conncilmi
riff Hudson and second of Councilmi
nd Stoccly, Mr.. Grieves was authoriz
ra- to make trip to Chester, Pa, al
en- countermand the $4,000 order wi
his Robert Wetherill & Company, to ia
along with him one of the pitted tub
and to learn something about tn,
". horizontal return tubular boiler. N
,o,l Grieves went to Chester yesterday
low lay the matter before the Company a
ua to gain such information he could
tba help the town out of its dilemma.