Evening journal., 1911-03-17
REPORT ON
LIGHT PLANT
Council Wants Authority, But
Would Not Build at
enCe
BILL CARRIES $l5O,OOO
LOAN FOR THE WORK


The report OF the City Council COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
advisability of installing a municipal
electric lighting plant in this city,
was made TO Council last night. While
the committee recommends that the
plant not be erected now, II urges
that the Legislature pass the bill now
before II, providing for the erection
of such a plant, so that the city may
be in position TO build It at an op-
perfume time.
The report was accepted and the law
committee directed to urge the Legis-
lature to pass the measure In ques-
tion. The report in part follows.
I'm conjunction with the Water De-
partment, a consulting electrical engi-
neer, Albert G. Wood, was engaged to
investigate the conditions in Whining
ton and give an estimate Of cost Of an
electric plant to be located on the
Brandywine at the Market street
bridge TO be run by steam in conimc-
ton with the pumping station now To-
Gated there.
From Mr.. Woods exhaustive re-
port, we condense as follows
AhdL tilt Oobl ODiinB AAyhiO iiVN-
trlc equipment, If installed, would
be more than sufficient to take care OF
all the lighting and power require
ments of the Water Department and
the city buildings; that the cost Of
said installation. including water
turbine. electric machinery, transmits
sion, lines, ETC., would amount to ap'
proximately $4,000.
THE annual operating cost, includ
ing nineteen arc lamps, now paid FOL
by the Water Department woulC
amount to $2,237.
THE present cost TO the city for thu
above mentioned service is $3,1SS max
ing an annual saving of S946.
This saving is equivalent to onl!
0676 per cent. on the investment
"Mr Wood further reports on thu
installation of a 100 X. w. steam
electric plant at the pumping station
for the requirements above mention
cd and estimates that the annual los
from the operation of this plant woulI
amount to $717, as compared with th'
present cost to the city.
consideration was given by Mr.
Wood to the establishment Of a muni
cipal electric plant 10 supply cit.
street lighting and the electric powe
requirements Of the Water Depart
ment.
"The proposition considered unde
this caption involves the use of tn
electric power from the Cool Sprinl
Hydro Electric plant, which would b
sufficient for lighting that area be
! tween Van Buren street on the wesi
{ the Brandywine creek on the nortf
; the Pennsylvania Railroad on the cas-
and Front street on the south.
r. "The lights in this district are a
follows: 100 gas lamps, 356 al
s lamps. 55 incandescent lamps.
+; "The cost Of installation for TN
q project, including machinery, line:
i lamps. etc. would be $4,000.
Annual operating cost ss,S72 wit
an annual saving TO the city over tn
present cost S11,312.
"As the above plant Is capable o
handling only 40 1-2 per cent. Of tn
entire city lighting. and would b
subject to the possibility Of breal
downs. it would be necessary TO in
stall steam electric plant IN addi
tlon of sufficient power to carry tn
entire city load.
inlS Wpulu involve an eAptuuliui
OF approximately 100000, vhic
would include lines and lamps, etc
sufficient TO supply the remalnin
81 t-2 per cent. Of the city lighting.
Tho estimated annual cost Of or
Grating combined steam-electric an
4 bydro-electric plants mentioned woul
- be $34.507.
n THE present yearly cost TO the cit
s OF city lighting and power require
ments Is now s50917.
II The yearly saving 10 tho city b
" municipal operation would be 1854
A. provided IL would be possible
IS maintain continuous service from N
IS hydro-electric plant az Cool Spring
ID should Il be necessary. howeve
/; to supply all current necessary fro
at the steam electric plant, the savir
l. would be reduced to approximate
say $4,000"
Your committee does not consid
the present time opportune for Il
s. immediate establishment of a lig
e and power plant in Wilmington.
n Your committee nevertheless strOn
IN ly recommends the passage of the a