The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-11-18
Central Corporation Asks
City Council for Right
to Enter Barre
STEAM AUXILIARY
TO BE AT SO. BAT Pc
Rate of IL Cents >,r Kilo-
watt Was In
iSe :

Cheaper power for Barre's granite man
ufacturing industry is promised by the
Central Power corporation in its request
for permit to extend transmission and
distribution lines along the city streets
from a steam auxiliary and transformer
station in South Barre. At special
meeting of the city council last evening
Charles II. Thompson, general manager
and agent for the corporation, and b. A.
Sumner OF Montpelier, another promoter
OF the enterprise. presented the claims of
| their organization with the result that
the councillors voted to draft tentative
| franchise to be submitted at a subsequent
meeting for consideration. The motion.
Md by Alderman Glysson and seconded
| by Alderman Shurtlelf, was supported by
a unanimous vote.
| Briefly, the Central Power corporation
proposes to supply manufacturers in
Barre with power at the rate of one and
seyen-tenths cents per kilowatt as
against the present rate of two cents per
kilowatt. Moreover, the minimum charge
against which manufacturers have con-
tended for some time does not enter into
the scheme of operation proposed by the
promoters. A fiat rate will be inaugural
ed the moment the franchise is granted.
Power for the Barre industry win be sup
piled from a waterfall and power plant
at East MiddIebury and lines strung on
steel tower poles will traverse such towns
as Ripton, Lincoln, Hancock, Granville,
Warren, Northfield and Barre Town, in
all distance of 80 miles in extending
the power to Barre
Inasmuch as the franchise granted the
corporation by the state public service
commission restraints it from selling cleo
tricity for lights in Barre, that aspect of
the extension project was not considered
long, although Messrs. Thompson and
Sumner joined in stating that an effort
would be made to have the charter
amended if it can be shown that there is
a demand for electricity by light consum-
ers in this city Alderman Rossi said
that the city's contract for street lights
does not expire for 10 years.
w. w Walker, civil engineer, was
present with blueprint of Barre, along
which was traced a yellow line, showing
the streets to be trayersed by the pro-
posed power lines. The line indicated one
power unit extending from South Barre
to South Main to Boynton to Circle to
West Patterson street, along Trow ave-
nue. and across Washington street to Nell
son. thence to fremont, down Sheridan,
Wellington to Merchant to Summer,
thence to North Seminary and North
Main streets as far north as Jones Bros
plant The other proposed line win fol-
low near the Central Vermont railroad
track leading out of South Barre on the
west side of the river to Fairview street,
onto Prospect street, into Burnham's
meadow thence along the Central Yer
mont trackage to Blackwell street, thence
north until it completes the circuit at
Jones Bros plant.
In the event that the public service
should see fit to amend the
charter to include lighting
service. Mr.. Sumner said that the de-
crease in cost of electric lighting to the
consumer would be in proportion to the
igure quoted in underselling for power
service. The waterfall OF East Middle
bury. he said, is capable of developing
2. 500 horsepower and the proposed aux
liarv steam plant at South Barre will
augment this total by $500 horsepower.
4 present plans of the corporation attain
ruition, the line will be completed by
rulv |. 1917, although il the auxiliary
ervice is introduced the service may be
lvailable a month earlier.
Replying to an inquiry from Alderman
Iossi, Mr.. Sumner, who assumed the du-
les of spokesman for the new concern
when Mr.. Thompson was compelled to
cave. stated that competing power COM
anies in central Vermont opposed the
ranting of the charter at the hearing in
Iiddleburv and that the question OF
ranting the charter finally turned on the
of another power company in
Iarre. The public service commission, he
aid. held that while lighting is primar
v convenience and duplication OF
mes in city streets should be discour-
ged. power is necessity and healthy
ompetition is to be desired. He stated
lso that steam is being used by consum-
RS in Barre and Barre Town to the ex-
nnt of 5000 horsepower and in many in
tances for the reason that consumers
referred to manufacture their own pow
r because electric power prices are too
Ugh.
Alderman Shurtleff thought the city
)uld bear with the nuisance OF duul'io"-
poles in some of the highways If cheap
power could be obtained for its leading
ldustry. Other members of the council,
lcluding Aldermen Glysson and Rey-
olds. concurred in this view. The nat
tie appealed to Alderman Glysson, who
ent on 10 tell Of the minimum rate
,kcd bv the company now supplying
over. 1t is arranged on a sliding scale.
, said. and gave it as his opinion that
,ere are manufacturers held to the mini
nm rate who are paying for more power
An ther are using. He thought that
y present minimum charge is something
se this: Sl75 for eight horsepower.
~ for Is horsepower and 81 for so
,r.epower or more although he said the
-ure- might not be exactly correct. Al
rman Bruce figured that the price quot
bv Mr.. Sumner would mean a reiuc-
IN Of IL per cent to the consumer. Mr..
INNER said he would willingly bind the
rporation to the one and seven-tenths
te in the franchise.
Alderman Healy who was absent dur