Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-23
yERGENNES POWER PLANT
Burlington Capitalists Reveal
Their Plans for It's Operation.
VIII Move street Cnrs and Distribute
Electricity ms Wrnted All the Wny
from The Ancient City-Dam
TX Completed.

tuesday afternoon the men behind
the Ncrgcnncs Power company revealed
to Free Press reporter the plans for
working out one of the biggest business
ventures backed by Burlington capital
I'll a number of years. ana one from which
this city should directly and indirectly
receive no small amount of benefit. The
company, which has already erected n
dam at its newly acquired property at
NorEonnes, expects to have the plant IN
full operation by the first of next Scptem-
Der, and that will mean that large
amount Of water power will DO brought
to this city FOR use.
The venture viii cause an expenditure
of S3oOCo0, ana the mon behind it are w.
+. hlendeo, J. J. Flynn, Elias Lyman and
c. W. Browucll, all Of this city, and all
officials Of tho Burlington Traction COM
pany, for tho use OF which the water
over was primarily purchased. The
power at tho start will be $500 horse
power, and as only 800 is needed for tho
operation Of both tho Traction company 3
and the Military Post lines, tho territory
surrounding will receive the benefit of
the remaining 1900, most Of which in the
past has not been in use. Even then, If
tie power can be disposed of, tho plant
can Doe added to so that additional power
can lee gained.
An official Of the road stated yesterday
that tine first to receive the beueft would
g the Traction companies, who have suf-
E red more or less for the past few years
because Of AN unsteady source - power,
ana the public, who have consequently
suffered will also be benefited The next
% f1 -I,. n
agree; ont. will be the city of Vcrgennes.
The plant Will probably furnish The power
for lights and for some Industries in that
place.
After that the country through
which the lines will run viii come in
for share and already a plan is on
foot for lighting Shelburnc, whIch has
hitherto been Obliged to depend upon
oil for lights What Is left will enter
Eurlirsl on ana compete for Its share
OF BUSINESS iii the open field.
Back of these objects is the fact that
railroad men have long contemplated
the building Of 4 trolley limo to the
southwark. and the Burlington capt
talist. had n strong desire to get in
ahead on that proposition It t. prob
able with this in view that tho plant
Is erected so that IN addition can he
put on at small cost
The power AT otter Creek IS con-
sidercd one Of the steadicst in New
England. The banks arc low and
marshy and hold the water, prevent
ing the dcluse which often puts many
plants out ot commission in the wet
times, and keeping tho water for the
dry times, when many plants are
Obliged to depend on steam. \ set
back Of nearly eieht miles makes
unnecessary the building of an expen-
srve dam. and with tho other natural
advantages there would seem little
likelihood Of Il dam being washed out
n those falls
For many months n crew Of - mon
have been at work on the dam. which Is
now completed, and the machinery Is on
the way FOR the wheel pit and power house.
which are now I'm process Of construction.
Tho engineer in charge OF the construc-
ton Of the dam is J.. W. Jones Of Milton
y. H., and the Twitchel Lumber com
rany Of Maine. who have long been
Identified with hydraulic ventures are
doing that part Of the work. The
machinery was all ordered of the Vest
inghouse company Of Pittshurg, Pa
The stockholders have not Vet held their
election Of officers. but will probably
complete the organization in the near
future. TIE poles for the construction
OF the trunk line have already arrived
and work will be begun on that as soon
rs the condition Of tho ground permits