Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1915-04-02
Water, Ice and Electric Plant
Bought By W. F. Ritter.

Upon the completion OF ali legal
MAJ ters in connection with the trans
fer IL was announced. here this week
that W. +. Ritter, former manager OF
the So Mining Company and success
ful lumber and insurance merchant,
Is the purchaser OF the plant and
grounds Of the Lordsburg Water, Ice
and Electric Company Mr.. Ritter
will assume general managership of
the plant and its affairs and has Sc
cured competent men to take charge
Of each department. N. J. McEroy
formerly of Roswell, N. M. will be
uperintendent at the electric light
plant and experienced men will be at
helm Of the ice and water depart
ment.
Mr.. Ritter has started In to put the
enterprise into operation and will
doubtless be very successful In his
undertaking A sixty horse power
Fairbanks-Morse oil engine was
installed at the plant this week and
one Of the boilers and engines put In
a working condition ia case of an
emergency. a new so K. ". gener-
alor is en- route and by the first of
next month electricity will be sup
piled to the city from the plant. 1t
is the plan Of Mr.. Ritter to find out
the requirements Of the business and
later on put in larger and more power
fol engines, possibly of Deisel type.
When in operation, day power will be
furnished LoTdsbuTg and will be a
welcomed innovation as very few
places the size Of this city are furnish
ed with a day current. Mr.. Ritter
also plans to bring here a large assort-
~ oil vi Ia nc
irons, coasters, electrical heaters, ETC.,
and will carry a big line Of this
class OF goods.
The San Simon churn drill is now
down 1855 feet on the site of the new
well which will supply Lordsburg with
water. At a depth Of ia feet the
first strata Of water was encountered
and second at about lSi feet. No
surface water will be allowed tO ac
cumulate in the new well as there did
In the old, but II will he cased of TO
the frst flow at the la foot depth
During the sinking OF the new well
the formation OF tale which gave the
water pumped by the old company a
milky hue, was not found. The new
well will supply the town wi h the
best water To be secured hereabOuts.
New plunger- pumps have been or
dered by Mr.. RiJter and will he here
within short time. A $4,000 gallon
tank will be erected at the we'll and
an intermediate pump will transfer
The water TO the tank south Of town.
These Improvements, together with a
general reconstruction Of the pipe
lines and mains, will give Lordsburg a
tlrst class water works.
The ice plant will be remodeled and
put into service within a short time
An experienced ice plant mechanic
will be here from Fl PasO TO begin tue
seasons production OF ice.
The old water, ice aud electric plant
was 10 poor condition, part OF the
equipment heing stolen during the
close down and greater part OF what
was left is practically valueless. The
switch board is undergoing general
reconstruction and later on the old
ppwer plant equipment, which was
tnn large for the needs OF the city,
will be Overhauled aud sold. A good
sized force OF wnrkmen are engaged
In putting the plant back into Oper
alton.
Mr.. Ritter, the new owner OF the
plant, has been very successful in all
his previous undertakings and will no
doubt soon have the new enterprise
In operation on paying basis.