Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-07
CITY TURbO GENERATOR.
NEEDED BY GOVERNMENT
Administrative Board May Be I'm
able to Furnish Boiler Plant
With Current.
FEARS OF WATER SHORTAGE
Dabney Says Boiler Plant Can Sc
cure Current From Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company, Which
Recently Made Bid.

Having labored INCREASINGLY in the
, framing and passage of ordinances that
would assist the Newport News Ship
building and Dry Dock Company in To-
eating it's boiler plant here TO supply
me government with boilers for Ships
the city stands now in a. fair way 10
los, ,ose the boiler plant unless current for
water power can he supplied. This cur
mt was assured several days ago when
;. was announced that a contract had
Oeen consumma;ed with the Newport
pany whereby the latter would take
over the city's surplus current at Il
contract price.
Yesterday morning. however the 4Ad-
nlnistrative Board reviewed a telegram
orro rom William Stout Nour. Of the Board
tivities. Norfolk, notifying the board
that the city's 500 kilowatt turbo gen
orator. supplying the city's surplus
government activities and to hold the
generator awaiting further advice.
ne exact wording of the telegram is
This is to notify YOU that the 1900
NV turbo generator in your power
eminent activity. Please hold same
awaiting further advice.
Hoard OF Construction.
war Construction Activities"
CITY Is DEPENDENT on
THIS TURBO GENERATOR
The Administrative Board in reply
said that the city was dependent upon
the generator TO safeguard ITS water
supply and for power contracted for
with the Newport News ShipbuldinE
and Dry Dock Company for power for
the government boiler plant here and
that the entire equipment was needed.
The telegram which WAS sent by the
board is AS follows:
Telegram received. Fifteen hundred
XIV iurbo generator installed in plant.
Turbine necessary TO safeguard water
supply and for power contracted for
with the Newport News ShipbiuldinE
and Dry Dock Company for power for
government boiler plant here, which
VIII nCCcSSltate the use OF our entire
equipment.
(SiGncd)
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD"
Although the Norfolk representa-
tive OF the War Construction board
con'cnplatcs comma ndeering the. turbo
generator for government activities.
10 mention iS made in the communities
OH received by the board as TO whether
thc generator is TO be used in Richmond
however. that some place other than
this city. probably Norfolk. where cur
rent recently became critically short,
is TO receive the benefits of the turbine.
COULD NOT SUPPLY BOILER
WORKS. H. PLANT Is CRIPPLED
City Electrician +. w. Trafford when
asked his opinion OF tho matter said
that absence Of the generator would
ply the boiler plant with the current
for, which i, asks.
1ic Sdlt mat tncrc were thTcc tOrpo
them supplying $50 kilowatts each. and
the, other. which has Just been in
stalled. supplying l.50O. The city uses
the current generated By the two small
or turbines and holds the larger one
thing got wrong with the $50 gene
called into action. withou, the. lat
ter, in the event the activity OF ono
or both of the smaller generators be-
came impaired. he said. the city would
able TO secure an adequate water sup
The boiler plant will require from
800 TO 1000 kilowatts OF electric cur
ent. and this can only he supplied from
the reserve current generated by the
500 turbo generator. he said.
CAN GET CURRENT FROM
STRIIf;T-RAILNAY COMPANY
William T. Dabney. business man
ager of the Chamber of Commerce.
which co-operated with the Emergency
Fleet Corporation to get the boiler
plant located here. said llst night when
The matter was brought TO his attcn-
ton:
mandeer the turbo generator for, its
use. the Chamber OF Commerce will in
no wise stand in the way, Resides 90
my own knowledge. the 'oilcr plant
is not dependent upon the surplus cur
rent Of the city 20 operate. and can
Railway and Power Company. which
recently submitted a bid.
"Of course. the Administrative Board
very properly stated the citys side
Of the matter to prevent possible dis
aster to the city. 1t was only ma
fr-<r, ard int q - -