The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-27
WILL Be READY TO
ACCEPT LOCK Z
CURRENT JULY |
Statement Issued by Presi-
dent FOrd-Equipment for
S150,000 SubstatiOn Is
Being Made

That every effort was being made to
set in readiness for the utilization of
the Alabama Power eompany's hydro
electric power by the Birmingham Rail
way. Light and Power company, and tina;
the local company would be in position
to distribute the electric power during the
first part Of July. was an announcement
Of \ H. Ford, president Of the latter
company, yesterday.
The statement of President ovd clears
up any speculation as a the time the
Birmingham Railway Lisht and Power
company will be ready to use the water
power energy and indicates as nearly as
practicable at this time. when tile peo-
pie of Birmingham will be able to Sc
cure the cheaper power. Mr. Ford said
that the company was to sulld Il substa-
tion at the power house, which VIII
cost about Sl5O,oe0, for the express pur-
pose of handling the electricity.
The company will bring the power gem
Grated at Lock IL from Spauldng, where
the Alabama Power company ends its
line, to the substation to be erected and
will sell it from that station. The ma
ehnery for this service rs being man.
ufaotured now by express orders and
it Will require quite little time to
| make the necessary equipmep1. In the
/ meantime the company is getting in shape
at the power house, so that there Will
be no delay when the equipment reaches
here from the factory. rhe company
will maintain its present facilities al
| Railroad avenue and Eighteenth street
In the event any accident should happen
to the power line from Ocampo. There
! will scarcely be danger or Birmingham
ever sufferlngs for lights when the two
sources of power are available here.
Mr.. Ford was asked yesterday in ref
erence to the time he would be ready
| for the hydro-eleetric power or account
of the statement of James Mitchell of
the Alabama Power company, that his
company would he ready to serve its
customers about the latter part of March.
There is much speculation mere as TO
when the water power current will be
| available.
In reference to the time we are
equipped to distribute the Alabama Pow
er company electric enersy | cannot say
definitely" Mr.. Ford answered when
asked However, l should say, roughly
speaking. that we will be ready no later
than July l. There is considerable
amount of work to be done in that con-
nection. The Birmingham Railway. Light
and Power company will of necessity
build a substation at the local power
plant TO take care of the hydro-electr
energy and this work is to be done with
out delay. I estimate that the work will
cost us about $4,000. The machinery
for this substation is now being made
and | cannot ascertain what time 1. viii
be here. / anticipate delay in that
connection but feel reasonably sure that
the equipment will be delivered here so
We will be ready for the current from
the Alabama Power company about
| July L."
The statement of Mr.. Ford in connec-
tion with the probable time of utilizing
the new power is the first official state
ment that has been authorized from the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company side of the power proposition,
| as it relates to the use of the current.