Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-09-10
POWER PLANT NOISE 10 BE
ABATED By APRIL j, 1915.
Water Customers to Have Meters,
Water Closets to be Installed;
Other Matters Considered.

=
While the metallic blades of the
steam turbine of the Hendersonville
Light & Power company piercingIy
hummed to the high tune of nine thou
sand revolutions per. minute and the
noise penetrated the chambers of the
city hall Thursday night. the commits
s1oners were in session with complain
ants who declared the noise was q
PUBIC nuisance, all wrestling over the
, question as to how best to solve the
! momentous problem, resulting in an
amlcab1e agreement upon the abate-
ment of the noise before the return of
visitors another summer.
As heretofore stated in the Democrat.
upon the complaint of residents in the
vicinity of the steam emergency plant
In East Hendersonville, the city com
nlissioners declared the humming,
hCzzing noise made by the Whir of the
blades of the turbine at the rate of
5000 revolutions per minute, a public
nuisance and allowed only a few days
within which same might be abated.
The power plant made some changes
and additions to machinery, but with
little avail. Information was sought
as to how to muff1e the noise, but with
nc good results. The residents con-
ttnued to complain until Thursday
night number of them met with the
city commissioners, the city attorney,
the management of the power plant
and his attorney, to go thoroughly into
the matter with the view to adjusting
matters agreeable to all.
Complaints from residents were re-
peated and City Attorney E. w. EW-
bank gave his views as to the lega,
phases of the question, followed by
lengthy statement from Col. R. M
Oates, manager of the company, who
went into details and answered a num-
Der of questions propounded by those
Immediately interested. Mr.. Oates
said that owing to the continued
drought the water of Big Hungry was
insufficient to furnish sufficient cleo
tricity for Hendersonville and by rea-
son of this condition it was necessary
to supplement with the emergency
steam plant; that prospects pointed to
the early completion of the new plant
CT Big Hungry after which it would
not be necessary to run the steam
plant; that remedies for the noise of
the steam plant had been sought but
none found and that to stop the noise
would mean the cutting off the light
and leaving the city in darkness. Mr.
Oates gave assurances that the condi-
ton would be remedied by next spring
even though it becomes necessary to
move the plant from the city.
On this statement of facts Mr.. Oates
vas assured that the feeling against
the noise would not be so intense dur
ing the remainder of the season since
residents in the section of the plant
wanted absolute assurance that the
noise would not have to be tolerated
again next year.
The matter was referred to the city
attorney with instructions to draw an
ordinance making the management of
the plant subject to a fine of $50 for
each day the noise is made after April
1. 1915.
More But Smaller Noises.
Complaint was filed by residents in
the vicinity Of the Hendersonville Au-
tomobile company's garage with refer
eHce to noises, The discussion drifted
off into noises and rates of speed else
where and an ordinance pertaining
thereto was amended and another
passed making useless noises and
odors punishable by fine of $50 for
each offense upon the conviction of
the owners of such places. -
The board went on record as urging
the installation of water meters by all
customers of city water apd the install
lation of modern water closets. By
this plan it is hoped to keep down
numerous complaints: By installing
meters and more water closets it is
believed that there will be more wa
ter to spare than with the present
system. Business Manager G. w
Justice was instructed to order adCli-
tional meters and have them installed
regularly.
A number of bills were approved.
The matter of selecting a librarian
was referred to the library committee
of men and ladies.
The commissioners decided to here
after meet on the first Thursday night
in each month instead of weekly, which
plan was adopted last spring.