The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-08-31
PRESIDENT B,GElON
AND SUPI. ROBINSON
MET BOARD Of TRADE
LARGE GATHERING OF MEMBERS
OF BOTH LOCAL COMMERCIAL
ORGANIZATIONS MEET.
is Partial Promise And Hope Of
Protection From Inconvenience is
Held Out to Consumers-Promise
Duplicate System.

Duplicate System.
There was splendid response to the
call of the Board of Trade and the
Columbia Retail Merchants Assoc!a-
ton Friday night for the purpose Of
meeting Charles E. Bigelow, president
of the Columbia Water & Light Co.,
and J. s. Robinson, superintendent
and general manager Of the same
company, to discuss the condition Of
the plant and the service being rem
dered in the company plants present
crippled condition.
President w. F. Anderson presided
over the meeting, who called upon
Mr.. Bigelow and Mr.. Robinson to
state to the gentlemen present what
efforts were being made to replace
the engine and dynamo recently de-
stroyed in the accident at the plant.
| Superintendent Robinson stated
that while it had been several weeks
since the catastrophe that the COM
pany had not been idle, but had been
searching for suitable machines to
ttake the places of the ones destroyed.
s@aMr. Robinson stated to the gentlemen
present that it was not possible to
pick up any kind of an engine or
dynamo for this plant. He stated
that the dynamo had to be certain
/ phase machine, in order that there
! be no necessity of changing motors.
/ wiring, ETC.. in the city. Mr.. Robinson
explained to them that it was not an
easy matter to pick up just the right
kind of unit that would fit in with
the other plant, but that they hoped
to have the duplicate in and running
within the next thirty or forty days.
| Mr.. BigelOw also explained to the
meeting the great difficulty in getting
these things, and explained how long
it would take to have a new machine
made to suit the local plant, and this
he did not think they could afford to
do, but stated that the company was
doing everything they could to relieve
the situation.
Mr.. Robinson stated further that it
became necessary to shut off the en-
CINE at least once day in order that
it could have a resting spell and give
the engineer a chance to go over it
to ascertain if there was any parts
loose or in danger of breaking. This
he stated, was to safeguard against
any serious breakdown and was done
to protect the patrons of the COM
pany. He also stated that they had
ordered quantities of new parts for
the engine and all machines they now
have in service to protect them
against any serious mishap and that
they were going to order more parts
for reserve.
Several of the citizens asked Mr..
Robinson questions about the repairs
and conditions of the plant, all of
which were readily answered and ex-
planned. Mr.. Anderson, president of
the Board of Trade, who has had
great deal of dealings with engines
and electrical appliances, stated that
he could readily see the difficulties
under which the company was having
to work, and especially in view Of the
fact that all machine shops were be-
| ing taxed to meet the demand made
upon them to supply the war mate
rials which they have been called
upon by the government to furnish.
The meeting adjourned with the assur-
ance from the management Of the
company that everything was being
done to protect the patrons and the
city against any serious conditions
and that new duplicate plant would
soon be installed.