Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-10
MORE MONEY NEEDED
Municipal Lighting Plant Can Di.
gest Another $4,000.
Next Question TO he Answered Il
Where VIII the Money Come front
Two New Turbines Are
Suggested.

The special Investigating committee an.
pointed by the board Of aldermen to re-
port on the condition Of the municipal
lighting plant will tonight make some
sort Of recommendation to the board
concerning the purchase Of new eauip-
ment for tho plant
What the nature OF this report will be
depends upon what the committee finds
this afternoon. when Il meeting will rc
held In the city clerks Office At this
time the city attorney will meet with tho
committee for the purpose of ascertnininr
whether the city already has enough
bonds left from the original sl50, 900 whic,,
the municipal plant enabling act an
thorized the city to issue or whether tn.
city must go to the present Legislature
with special enabling act authori3lng
the issuance of about $4,000 more in
BONDS.
IN case the latter action Is necessary
then city meeting will be required and
the voters Of the city will be called upon
to say whether $4,000 more shall he put
into the plant.
The committee, which Is composed Of
Aldermen Cowles. Barnes and Drew. Dr.
W. ;. Vincent and the members of the
BOARD Of electric light commits soners. mot
asst night to discuss the matter of new
equipment. a price of s2i5r has already
been given the city on new e1upmen
and the representatives from the Wrestling
mouse concern last night supplement 90
their original letter to the committee H.
statement in which they set forth tim
should the turbine, which is at preson,
doing nearly ALL the work OF the plant
break down. the city would probably hc
thrown into darkness until repairs coul,'
be made. This statement was viewed b.,
the committee in the light Of a recon-
mendat ion that new equipment is needed
The estinghouse rcpresenta tives stated
that some alterations IN the nature OF n
foundation for the new turbine which Fl
Is proposed to Install would have to lie
made and It was estimated that the whol,
cost would be In the neixhborhood #
go, 600
James w Edwards was called in b.,
the committee to give an expert opin
ion on the condition of the two Water
town engines now in use at the plant
These are the two engines which f.
Is proposed t. supplant with a larg"
turbine. Mr.. Edwards stated that IN
his opinion the Watertown machines
were never capable OF carrying tn.
business which was expected of them
and that the type of engine itself was
not Of the kind that he would advise
for the plant. He stated that he had
made trip of inspection through the
plant at the invitation of the commit.
tee and had found that the two Water
town engines We're far from satisfac-
tory.
When asked his opinion As to what
the city should do regarding new
equipment. Mr.. Edwards stated that
he would advise placing two new tur-
bines at the plant to be installed d
few years apart, 30 that the total
equipment in time would include three
turbines. This. he said. would enable
the plant to care for any business that
the city might acquire and the tur-
hines could be operated alternately So
that no long continued load would lie
carried on any one OF the turbines DIT
any one time.
Mr.. Edwards gave the committee
some excellent suggestions as to put
ting the Watertown engines in a con
uitAoiA " 'oi' AcI u II'uVi otc iNtN'i ii'''
then using them for emergency. He
stated that he did not believe the pres
ent equipm snt at the plant would lont
take care OF the business.
It developed during the meeting
that the electric lights in Winooski
burn much brighter because the lamps
over the river are on direct current,
while Burlingtons lamps are on an al
ternating current. a statement wa
made that the lamps now being used
by Burlington would not throw Il
brighter light even IL a larger turbine
were installed but that a few more
lamps would have the effect of light
ing the city to better advantage.
An effort to get an expression of upin-
ion last night as to the aivisability OF
buying new equipment provided the funds
could be had did not meet with = great
deal OF favor.
Mr. Barnes said that he was ready to
state MS opinion In the matter. as he
thought sufficient evidence had been
produced to show beyond doubt tina,
rev equipment was needed to put the
plant in shape 20 take care Of the in
creasina business. Mr., Cowles, however.
VAS il favor OF waiting until the COM
mttee should ascertain whether a spec
ial enabling act is necessary. Mr. Drew
also stated that he was not ready just
at that time toe express an opinion on
whether new equipment is needed.
City Attorney Villas will to-day consult
with City Treasurer Grant regarding the
available bonds that tho city may have
at its disDosal II there are no borda
at the city's disposal IT will be necessary
Tor the city attorney to draw an enabling
act authorizing the city TO bond for the