Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-11-09
'SHEPHtRDsTOWk'S LIGHT
Martinsburg Man interested i
Purchase Of Plant.
PLANT TO FURNISH POWER
New Owner Of Plant Has Arranged
For Continuous Current When
Plant Here is Finished.

FidHt FICte - FWlSHcus
The electric light plant OF shep-
berdstown, which was recently sold
by the town council to a private COM
pany win continue to be operated for
the present.
Mr. John A. Liyers. of Lancaster.
Pa. and Mr. II p Thorn, the lumber
man OF this city. are the principal
owners Of the new company. They
have made an arrangement with the
Martinaburg Light and Power Co, 10
furnish them with current as soon as
the plant in this city Is completed
/ The large fly wheel to the big en-
CINE at the plant In this city has at
last been placed in position. The man
who was sent here by the manufac-
tdrers to put up the wheel "bucked
on the job and then threw up his
hands and left. After some delay the
company turned the matter over to
| Mr. Jacob Keiter. an employe of the
/ electric ght company
/ Mr. Keiter is no expert but he ac-
coniplished with very little trouble
| what the experienced man was afraid
to tackle. The work was done prompt
Ily and there was no hitch or accident
and Mr.. Keiter is being complimented
on the way he managed the placing
of the big machinery.
The work of getting the engine and
generator in shape is now going on.
and will soon be completed
The Shepherdstown Register this
week says:
| The electric lighting plant owned
| by the corporation of Shepherdstown
was sold by the town council last
Saturday for $4,000 cash. Mr.. Livers
at once took possession and is now
| running the system. having placed his
engineer Mr.. Carter. in charse. Ne
gotiations for the sale had been pend
| ing for some time. The difficulty of
| securing an engineer to run the plant,
and the fact that the property was in
need of extensive repairs. impelled the
council to make the sale. which we
believe meets with general approba-
ton. The plant cost $4,000 ShAn it
was established some six wears ago.
Part of this Indebtedness had bean
| paid the outstanding bonds amount
| ing to $4,000. which will all be taken
| up by the cash received The bonds
were held by the Jefferson Savings
bank. which agreed to give them UP
at the same price it paid for them,
with accrued interest
Mr. Livers will form a joint stock
fpresent he will use the system Just
| as he bought it. but within the next
Imonth or two he expects to g his
Icurrent from the big new power
Iplant now about completed in Mar
|tinsburg. The poles have been erect
| led and il will only be short time
|nntil the wires are strung Ultimately
Lit is intended to get power from the
|pant now being constructed at Dam
mo. A. Mr. I.ivers viii reconstruct
the line in Shepherdstowr After
|connection is made with the Martins
burg plant an aI-night and all-day
|seryice will be given. At present the
lights are on only from sunset until
midnight. This will be great con
|Nenience, and if electrical power is
|needed for industries of any sort it
can be obtained.
The franchise that the town coun-
eli gave Mr. Lvers runs for thirty
years, but Is not exclusive BY its
terms the new company is not per
united to charge any higher prices
Ethan those which We're charged by the
town He is given authority however.
Ito charge at the meterrate, md me-
tiers will be installed for all consum-
Twill be as at present. ten cents per
kilowat, while the town gets rate of
five cents for public purposes-street
lighting. etc. The franchise seems to
be hedged with ample restrictions and
the interests of the public and con
|sumers have been protected as far as
possible. Mr.. Livers promises to give
the best service that can be provid-
| ed, and We have no doubt that he win
do so, as he has had considerable
Experience in this line OF work.