The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-24
ELECTRIC PLANT
RUNS PLANTATION
How 1t Was Installed on
Farm Near FincaStle, Va.
SURPRISES THE NEGRO HELP
Water Wheel which Formerly Ran
Mill Provides Power for Dynamo.
Domestic and Outdoor Operations
Much SimpIifed-Heat and Light
Supplied in the House.

A private electric plant had just beer
installed in the Southland and the planta,
ton buildings were wired for electri,
lights and electric heating devices, say:
the Electric News Service:
A shiny nickeI-plated coffee percolatol
was brought out or the front porch and
placed on a small table and connected
10 one Of the lighting fixtures. Wher
ali was ready the old negro Nanny
was invited TO come and inspect the new
device.
The old wOman's pipe was filed, and
as she smoked she was shown the new
device, but no explanations Of its mys-
ferrous powers were added as the current
was turned on A few minutes later the
aged negress began TO look quickly under
and around the table
'Fo' de Lawd. honey. VIII dat steam
comm frum"' she exclaimed when tie
percolator began 70 boil. Dat dish am
yoodoo shure to boil dat way widout nc
fab"
NANNY" Is Convinced.
Il was several minutes before her
alarms were Strengthened out and she
was convinced the boiling was not the
work OF spirits. When she was handed
a cup Of steaming. aromatic coffee she
refused both sugar and milk. saying:
All jus want de pure Tectric coffee"
And then they went 20 the laundry,
where ''Mammy's" daughter Julie was
looking doubtful al the new electric
iron.
Go ahead. Julie, - said the mistress.
But muh ihOn ain hot" she an
swered.
Yes. it is, Julie Try it and see
Julie tried the iron and was aston
iShed 10 find that il was "sissing'' hot.
few minutes later when the mistress
called Julie she answered. Law. unissus
An hasn't time All has ter run dis
here ihon; Use feared it might get col. "
This is the story Of how electricity
came 10 this Southern plantation:
For upward Of thirty years a small
-four MILL Of thirty-five barrels a dav
capacity. has been busy operating al
Catawba Mills. an active little hamlet
three miles west Of Fincastle. in Virginia.
The mill was driven by a turbine water
wheel OF % horsepower. \ year and
half ago a member OF the family
CHANGED to visit the great plant OF the
General Electric Company. at Science
tady. where he was told the possibilities
Of the utilization Of small water power
for private electrical plants. and 1t was
not long before ne was figuring on secur-
ing an electric generator.
BeIted to Water wheel.
As soon as the 4fiorsepower gener-
ator came II was brited % the wafer
wheel shaft on the main grinding floor.
The small switchboard was located in
the mill Office. with voltmeter. anameter.
and small regulator. The residence.
seventy yards from the mill. was wired
for light in every room and on the porcbes
and in the yards. Two fans were Dur
chased. also a fatiron, a coffee per-
.colater and chocolate pot This total
installation cost only about $50. The
plant has been in operation now for
about year running every night. and
has not cost its owner over 81 for ex-
penses, such expense being mostly for
oil
\ small 2-horsepower motor has been
purchased to be mounted on a small
truck in order that it may be used in
the woodward 20 run a l0-inch crit-ofT
saw or be readily moved 20 the barn TO
run Tile rotary feed cutter. grindStone.
horseclipper, and other devices. Il IS
intended to use this portable motor n
any place about the farm or the build
ings where a small amount OF power is
needed.
The economic values Of this private
electrical plant are manifold. Il keeps
the house cool during the hot summer
days and supplies a nice source Of heat
for the damp and dTeary days Of fail
and winter. The heating devices can be
used in place OF the hot stove during
the warm weather for cooking the
lunches and lighter meals or for pre-
pairing evening refreshments. The home
IS better lighted and the old loathsome
oil lamps have been discontinued with
their obnoxious grease and ever-present