The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-28
Richmond's Municipal Electric Plant
BY E. W. TRAFFoRD. superintendent.

. the arc lamps which they superseded.
1t may be conservattvely stated that
the construction and operating of its
own electric plant has enabled Rich
mond to obtain more than four times
as much light upon Its streets at a
cost of one and one-half times as
great as was formerly paid for the
smaller quantity of light.
AZ an auxiliary to the water de-
| partment the electric plant has DEM
onstrated It's value en- several
occa sions when 1t has been called upon
to furnish power to pump the city 8
! entire water supply, besides operat-
ing the treet lighting system.
Present Equipment.
The present equipment Of the city
electric plant consists of four water
wheel units. directly connected to cleo
trio generators. each of 500 horse
power. and two steam turbines, with
boilers. cond ansers and accessories,
each capable of developing 1000
horsepower. This steam auxiliary Is
installed to provide for fluctuations
In the quantity of water flowing in
the river. In 1913 Il was only neces-
sary to develop six per cent OF the
plants electrical output by steam. In
1914. owing to protracted drought.
twenty-seven per cent was generated
by steam power. The output of the
plant last year totalled 4,Tl0,361
kilowatt hours, of which quantity
3.25S,131 was used for municipal
lighting and 1.452,220 kiIc watt hours
for pumping the city's water supply.
The extensions this yesr are prin-
cipally in the annexed territory and
include the lighting of Forest Hill.
Swansboro, Oak Grove and SCOTS
i@l1 ax,Jn -. 81
most unlighted but now will compare
favorabiy with suburban territory
anywhere.
Plans are In progress covering the
new territory on the north side Of
the city and Ginter Park. Barton
Heights. Chestnue Hin, North Rich
mond and n ghland Park. as well as
much territory outside OF these for
merely incorporated towns, will. as
soon as practical. share in the bene
fits of this city-owned electric plant.
Extensive Improvements in the
water system are contemplated in
which the use of electricity will play
an important part. While the policy
underlying th.s utility Us conserva-
tive as becomes the use of public
funds the progress of rapidly grow
ing art is not neg ected and Rich
nond's needs arc first considered. For
Instance. the location OF the plant
required departure from the beaten
track in electric distribution, or the
expenditure of a larger sum Of money,
and this was devised. and II now att
tracing much interest In other cities
Improved lamps of many types are
constantly being adopted. with result
tant economy. and SO true is this that
1t is estimated that the present plant
capacity will not be much exceeded
FOR d term or years notwithstanding
the large increase Of territory re-
Gently acquired. and the constant de-
mand for still better lighting.
The devclorments rlade and dem.
onstrated in Richmond. have shown
the prac.icability OF more extended
use of underground wiring at reason
able cost. and during the past year
many miles Of ducts have been laid,
and It Is hoped that before long a
very large proportion Of the older
type OF overhead construction will
have disappeared (, ON large por-
ton of the city.
1t Is thought by those In charge
that Richmond has every reason to
be proud of the result OF It's invest
men, OF about $3.50 eco in its electric
plant