The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-06


Among the many extensive i'm
provements being planned and made
for the new year those at the Sum-
ter Lighting Company's plant come
somewhere near the first, for the
contract covers an estimate Of $685.
600 worth Of repairs and improve
ments which have been let out under
contract to be completed in the next
ninety days.
The contract has been secured by
w. Lee Harbin of Lex,u gtoi, ". c.,
the same contractor who Is nuw en-
gagged in the building Of the new
Methodist church. The Improve
ments will cover the installation of
a new turbine engine. and the
complete itmodelling of the pres
ent ice pls.nt and the building of a
new office which will be equipped
with the most modern and convenient
appliances, the building of hot
we'll, cooling tanks and other fixtures
which Will. when they are completed,
make the Sumter Lighting Company
plant one Of the most thoroughly
equipped and up-to-date electric and
ice manufactures in the State or in
the South.
When the present Improvements
are completed the building will cove
almost an acre of ground and will be
one Of the largest In the city. The
whole will be fitted out with iron
frame work and will be fire proof in
all departments. The building will,
as heretofore. front on Manning ave-
nue.. but will be changed in that the
ofi1ce. an addition OF II 81 feet,
will be built at the front. to the
north Of the present office. This Of
nee will. 1t is probable, be one of
the most thoroughly equipped ones
In the city. those contemplated by
the City National Bank and the Bank
OF Sumterfnot being excepted. It will
be fitted out complete in every de-
tail. One Of the new convenien.es to
be installed in 1t is the method of
lighting. something Of the sort en-
tirely new for Sumter. The lights
will be placed in kind Of trough
around the sides Of the wall and will
throw the light up toward the ceiling
from which 1t will be reflected
down on the desks below, the whole
flooding the room with light almost
as bright as day. The office will be
divided up into the general office,
with a small subdivision for en-
ployees. and a private office for the
manager. The present Office will be
converted into a part of the engine
room, there being an entrance from
the new Office into the old, adding to
the floor space Of that room and the
facilities for the new motor.
The most costly of the changes to
be made is the installation Of u new
750-horse power turbine engine di-
rectly connected with the electric
generator. This will be run partly
by the power made through the con-
densing Of steam and means a great
saving In fuel in the operation Of the
plant. The value Of this new engine
over the old may be approximated
when 1t is stated that the old engine
Is only a 500-horse power engine and
runs all of the time, whereas the new
engine will be obliged to run only
about eighteen hours a day until
there is a necessity for an increase OF
current, and at the same time It Is
not so large as the old engine. The
engine is Of the latest model and
turns at the rate Of $500 revolutions
per minute. 1t is made by the Gen
eral Electric Company. When the
new engine is put In operation the
former engine will be kept on hand
to be used in case anything occurs to
prevent the continued use Of the new
engine. From the engine will run a
20 inch exhaust pipe for the steam.
This pipe will connect with the con-
denser and the water will then pass
on down into the hot wells from
which place 1t will be pumped up
into the cooling tanks and again
turned into the pipe to connect with
the engine. The engine has auto
matte adjustments which keep 1t con-
tinually oiled and has an arrangement
Tor oil and water to keep 1t cool.
The condenser big pipe, has al
ready been completed, as has the hot
well. where the water goes after Il
leaves the condenser Work a. now