Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-07
HOPE NOT ENDED
FOR POWER LOAN
Philadelphia Electric Co.
May Ask Aid of Federal
Administrator
HURLEY REJECTS PLEA
Shipping Board Chief. How
ever, Promises Further
Discussion
HURLEY REJECTS PLEA

Tor this oity, may be asked to lend his
mia 70 an effort 70 induce the shipping
board TO reconsider its rejection Of Il
contract whereby the Emergency Fleet
Corporation would lend s6,000,000 'tc
the Philadelphia Electric Company to
complete It's nav power station.
Major MacLaren is here in the in
terests of the war industries board,
which is yitally concerned in maintain
ing nm adequate supply of current
After making a survey Of the situation
hero last March lie recommended loan
Of $4,000 Today he said he was
still convinced the loan is war hcccs-
sitS'.
Refusal Of the loan vas announced in
letter received by Joseph u.
Mccall, president Of the company, from
Chairman H. n Hurley. Of the shipping
board. Mr.. Mccall declined to say what
would he the next move OF the company.
but pointed out that the letter contained
the statement that "ths matter will be
discussed further"
huk' bbNe IOnu says "btLhFsh
Solution Of the citys power problem.
now admittedly critical despite tho slow
ing up OF war orders due TO the pros
pect of early peace, depends upon the
ability Of the electric company 70 bor-
row money TO complete its new plant
at Beach and Palmer streets, said Major
MacI.aren today, upon his return TO his
office in the Land Title building after
brief visit TO his home in Princeton
y. J.
While deprecstinp q tendency on the
part of some manufacturers here to be
come hysterical. Major McBaren admit
ted that the power situation is very seri-
ouF.
"we are running right on the ragged
edge" he said. we nDpe to keep on
the safe side OF the edge. II IS never
theless true that some Of the eevan
power plants now being operated here
may break down under the tremendous
strain any time. My job is, first, TO
help prevent that; second, if it does hap
pen, 10 designate which establishments g
shall have preference in being supplied
with such power as ia thereafter avail
able"
war Contracts st stake
The most disastrous effect which
would result from such a collapse az he
declared Is possible would be tho with
drawal from establishments in this dis
, trIct OF Government orders for war ma
terials ana other supplies, involving
hundreds OF millions or dollars
No stringent measures Cf conserva- =
tion that would AFFECT the small con-
suiners Of electric light and power are
In contemplation, Major McIIaren de
, clared. Further curtailment Of elevator
sarvice, Rtroet car stops or residence.
store, street and sign lighting. such ss
| we're put into effect as fuel-saving meas
ures, would not appreciably help the
power situation. lie said. Saving will
| be effected. however, in large manufac-
| turing plants by cutting or power from
! idle machines.
Major MuI,uren asserted IL is inn
probable that the army will take over
( the power problem here az II has done
/ In Pittsburgh
Before the United States entered the
war the electric company projeced two
new power plants TO take care Of the
steadily increasing manufacturing enter.
prlscs. one Of these plants, located al
| Chester. has recently been compiet ad
and is now in operation. 10 finish that
project the company was obliged to Dor
row money, virtually TO the limit of its
| bank credits. Major McLaren said and
to pay per cent interest on the loan.
PAYERS Loan TO Company
After y survey Of the power situation
here last March Major MauIiaren be.
came convinced that both OF the pro.
posed new power plants were essential
and in his report 20 the power division
Of Tie war industries board recommend
ed that the Government act favorablS
upon the electric company's request fol
loan of s14,000,o 900, the sum required
10 put the so-caled Delaware River
plant into operation. at a reasons bl !
low rate OF interest. The power admin
istrator said today that, after revisin,
his report within the last week ant
again looking carefully into the prob
lem here, he still Ia convinced that Tn,
proposed loan is necessary war meas
IRE.
Tie electric company Major sfac
: Larci, said he had been informed. /.
unable to borrow the money needed iron
the banks or private sources. There II
10 possibility at the present time of Il,
going ahead with the work on the Del
aware River plant unless the Govern
Inent makes the loan. Without tn,
added power which this plant would civ,
twelve months hence the power facilitie,
OF the district may easily collapse unde
constantly increaeing war or after-the
war htlIanuS. ne kITaln even now
the major declared, is terrific, ana tn,
fact that numerous manufacturing es
adjustments have not been obliged I,
shut down "is due entirely to the ex
pertly efficient management Of the elec
trio company"
Will Insist on Conservation
The Philadelphia Electric Company II
supplying power to approximately sc, ,00t
asNtaf %. -. 4 a
/, number 900 consume 80 per cent of tn,
power available for such purposes sal,
the major, The Baldwin IIocomotiv,
. Works, executing larger contracts 10
the Government than any other shgl
establishment, is supplied with powe
n ohiefY by the new Chester plant, an,
is not threatened by the shortage fscini
+ seine other plants doing war work.
/, The 'peak-load" period in Philade
, phia comes between the hours OF 4 :3
( and 7 o'clock p. m. The administrato o
= will insist upon conservation OF powe
during that period.
= II find the manufacturers here thor
: oushly understand that when power
! supplied 60 an idle machine. other ma
: chimes engaged In executing essentia
Q work may be forced into idleness b
Q the waste. ana they have willingly co
n operated IN every way possible" Majo
McT4aren declared. Their attitude 4
this situation is typical Of that of th
whole American people in the war emer
gency,"
Here to Help, Not Hinder"
d Major MaeLaren expressed regret ths
the impression had got abroad he ha
=, been sent here In the role OF dictator.
= II am here simply to carry out III
4 priorities rulings OF the power divisio
!, OF the war industries board" no II
I sisted.
His duties. however, are not eonfne
n 70 the phiiadslphia district. shortl