The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-12-17
Unions Builders and Their Handiwork
The City Water and Lighting System From Sma
Beginnings to Present Splendid Achievements

For some time we have contem-
plated a series of articles along the
line of the caption of this article. The
real builders of city, the public in
stitutions that are worthy of COM
mendation are not always those that
are featured by the newspapers. Be-
hind every institution, every enter
prise, every public advance there is
always some individual, or group of
individuals to whom the credit is due.
Often one finds the men responsible
for the advanced movement are mod
est to degree. They do not covet
publicity; they care not for praise.
Adverse criticism is likewise a matter
that affects them but little.
We have felt for sometime that the
work of a live newspaper lies in the
direction of giving emphasis to just
these men and institutions.
Among the institutions Of Union in
which the citizens may feel a just
pride is the system of water works
and electric lights. The municipal
electric light and water plant is one
of the best in the State. From ALI
almost insignificant beginning in 1896
the system has grown to one of great
proportions. The average citizen has
little conception of just how good and
to what capacity the plant has grown,
After noting the wonderful improve
ments that have been made within the
past few years we decided to get some
notes concerning the whole plant, for
we, like others who had not visited
the plant in sometime, did not realize
hn inn, re thot hox
been made. Under the management
of Mr.. w. H. Sartor, Mr.. w. S. Nc
Lure and l.. j. Hames as commission
ers, and Mr.. r. A. Easterling as super
fntendent, the plant has been. devel-
oped from a very small affair to one
s that any city twice the size of Union
should be proud. Only q few years
ago when the present management
took charge of the plant it had
capacity of only $50 h. p and had no
auxiliary equipment to be thrown i'll
service in case of an accident, while
now the plant has a capacity of 600
h. p. and has three engines and dyna-
mos so that in case of trouble there
is always a machine ready to be
thrown in in place of the disabled one.
Only few years ago all water was
pumped to the city with steam pumps
which made it necessary to haul all
fuel about two miles in the country
for firing the boilers, but all pumping
is now done with electric motors and
this change not only cut the operating
expenses considerably but also gave
duplicate pumping equipment which is
quite an important consideration, es-
pecially in case of fire. The new
pumping station which has recently
been installed to furnish additional
water supply for the city is located
on the old Harris mill site on Browns
creek, about five miles north of Union.
The building is fireproof, having ce-
ment roof and floors and all electrical
equipment located on the roof so that
all dangerous wires will be out of the
reach of visitors. The power is sup
piled over 5000 volt power line and
rs h. p. motor is used to operate the
pumps. This station has quite num-
ber of unique engineering features in
connection with it and is so in
stalled that it can be operated
from Union without the attention of
an operator at the pumping station.
DeSiueS CHe improvements H1due dC
the lighting plant and the pumping
station all of the lighting and water
service lines have been extended so
that any party living in the city may
be reached with lights and water. The
street lighting service has been ex-
tended to every part of the city and
within the past five years one hun