Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-01-20
OUR NEW INDUSTRY I!
The Custer Light, Heat & Power
Plant in Operation.

and the necessity of lighting our streets
with electricity if we would keep pace
with our neighbors in the march of pro-
gress, began about year ago agitating
the question of establishing an electric
light plant in our midst. Accordingly a
few of our business men met on the 18th
of April, 1911, and organized the Custer
Electric Light, Heat and Power CON-
pany.
The Charter is dated April 18th, 1911.
Capital stock 81 10000; fully subscribed.
The stockholders are: D. Carrigan, T.
V. Garlock, George Rayet, 8. E. Ainslie,
E. L. Grantham, VIM. Lovett, Joseph
Kubler, NJ. a. Willis, A. J. Jones, Robert
McAdam, Walter Smith, George A. Bah
cock, E. Bellemare. J. McFadden, III. j.
Stone, II. E. Way, M. ]. Bailey, T. w.
Delicate, c. E. Perrin.
At the first election of officers E. L.
Grantham was chosen President, and
during his residence in the city was the
"moving spirit" of the company. Their
first act was to secure suitable site for
the plant. They purchased the prop.
erty of the paint factory and the mach
inery therein that could be used to ad-
vantage. An addition was built to the
engine-room and concrete floors put in,
making it fireproof building. The
plant is situated at the intersection of
Washington and third streets, contigu-
Gus to the Burlington railroad with a
switch track on the north side Of the
building. French creek flows on the
west and south, furnishing plenty of
water for all purposes
The steam plant consist of two $50
horse power Sterling boilers, feed water
heater and pumps, and a l25 horse
power Hamilton Corliss engine.
The electrical equipment consists of a
so Kilowatt, 2300 volt, go cycle, three
phase alternating current generator. A
marine slate, three phase switch board,
with oil switches, ampere meters, volt
meters and everything which goes to
make a complete board has been in
stalled. The wires from the generator
to switch board are run in iron pipes
laid in concrete floor.
The street lights are 80 candle power
series tungsten lamps operated from 4
kilowatt constant current transformer.
The line is built of cedar poles, with
five cross arms. The line transform
ers are of the most efficient type
made, and in selecting these
reliability was given first consideration.
All of the above electrical equipment,
meters, lightning arresters, etc. was
made by the Westinghouse Electric and
Manufacturing Co., Pittsburg, Pa.
All wire, switches, sockets and other
material used in wiring residences and
business places is approved by the Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters and
bears its inspection label. The tungsten,
or mazda, lamps are being installed in
preference to the old style carbon lamps,
being more efficient, giving three times
as much light for the same cost as car
bon lamps, and the quality of light
being much better.
Carbon lamps are being put in bed
room, cellars, store rooms and places
where they are not frequently used; the
tungsten being used in living rooms,
dining rooms, etc. There is no reason
why the plant should not be as success.
full as any in the country. The equip.
ment is the best made and there is none
of superior quality any where.
As to cost of lighting your home on
the meter basis. You can burn a 81
candle power tungsten lamp one hour
and forty minutes for one cent, or q SO
candle power lamp one hour and six
minutes for one cent. You can burn
two 32 candle power tungsten lamps
four hours, or three lamps two hours
and forty minutes every night in the
month for $l.50.
Mr.. w. J. Walker, an electrician o.
some twenty-five years experience in
that line of work, was employed al
superintendent of the plant He is in
dustrious, careful in construction and
thorough in every detail of the work,
both in door and out. L. G. Reder il
the engineer at the plant.
After Mr.. Grantham moved from th,
city, the board of directors continued to
vigorously prosecute the work. II
spite of the inclement weather and tn,
calamity howlers, in exactly min
months and one day from date or organ
izstion, electric lights were turnet
brightly on the streets until midnight
Many of the business houses and resi-
dences were also lighted, the machinery
having been thoroughly tested and every
thing working smoothly and regular a.
clock work.
/ Considering conditions the past seasol
the CHRONICLE is of the opinion that tn
company deserves much credit for thei
perseverance in pushing the project t
, completion-showing their faith in tn,
future welfare of the city by their works
, That it shows progress and improve
T ment in our fair city is an undispute,
fact.
The present directors and officers Q
the company are Joseph Kubler, Presi
dent; T. v. Garloch, Vice President c
E. Perrin, Secretary and T. W. Delicate
Treasurer. D. Carrigan and M. A
} Willis.
R. o. Richards has announced himsel
as candidate for United States Senator
to succeed Hon. Robert j. Gamble.