Evening journal., 1918-01-12
To the Patrons of The
Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction
Company

OOgEgpQTBy
a due the people of Wilmington and suburbs pa
explanation of the interruptions to the railway
and electric lighting services.
"A much regret the existing conditions circumstances
which have ntro largely responsible for
ent crippled state ..... - , -
PROVE BOTH RAILWAY AND LIGHTING SERVICES, AND ASK
THE PUBLIC IN ALL FAIRNESS, TO BEAR WITH US FOR
TRAFFIC AND LIGHT SERVICE IF 1T WILL BE AT ALL POS
sIBLE, UPON THE COMPLETION OF IMPROVEMENTS ON
LARGE PLAN, NOW NEARING THE FINISHING STAGE
of the shortcomings service Of
both the railway and electric lighting and services the
control including utterly miserable grade of coal The
unusual conditions which have crippled the steam railroads.
supply of coal and other commodities and which
caused defects failures either the supply Of eecS cur
trolley and water service in communities including
Philadelphia Pittsburgh Baltimore Cleveland, Columbus and
Scranton according to reports in papers published IN these cities
also The to detail but
all links in the chain Of circumstances One Of the most re-
these failures reported the that Of the Bur
ngton power plant OF the Public Service Corpoauon OF ne"
sey which the largest electrical generating station IN that State
with the result that the greater of South Jersey including Camp
Dix said to be in darkness and officers OF the company admit
the situation is desperate.
early detailed statement of our cond-
tons published all Wilmington newspapers order that the
public should be fully informed Of the unusual conditions with which
had to contend and while these situations have been
eliminated Others remain for completion and solution.
"our generating plants designed and constructed with
But owing present conditions relatively
limit the increased demands for service from local industries
In normal times Of these industries worked about nine
hours per day. under which policy the load plants
derably reduced for Of twenyour hours a
ording time repairs without cursing
but during recent months these works have been operating
~enty-fou hours per day. thus eliminating opportunity for
much repair work without occasional eurtsment of service
THE quality of coal able has not improved
greater boiler coal and ash handling capacity produce
equivalent amount Of steami with this condition we have sT-
boilers the demands connected to the plants other
things normal but several boilers must be out of service for
repairs time the falls to point where
the affected the load must be dropped get
the pressure back normal Anyone not directly engaged
the operations these plants can scarcely conceive OF the das
effects which this low grade fuel bring abou for instance
WHEN A FAIR GRADE OF COAL WAS GOING INTO THE
FREs Than HAS BEEN BEEF HUMANIY A P0SSB6 a6r WH Spn
WHICH CONSTITUTES LARGE PART OF SHIPMENTS COM
ING IN If it possible Of fair grade coal the
boiler plant would readily take care Of all present demands
with good margin for
Additional boilers with kindred equip
which contracted for about nine months
set largest plant ready for the brick work and piping
installation Of will capacity
plant by per encountered one DELAY
after another obtaining and placing these boilers service, the
recent being the ten days Of bitter cold weather during which
all work had be suspended; during last week notified
by three subconrsors the house work that the
men had Communicated their supplies and that they would be
unable furnish either sand crushed stone for
striving obtain these materials from other
other instance that of repair materials for stoker which
e er I uSvDs ,% Sope we have JIis,eJ ,I order b tb
for this added plant and reodng Of the buildings
finishing this addition will be determined largely by weather
ditons and ability to get supplies
I'VE have been asked whether selling power
one north Of the State line the Southern Pennsysns Traction
Company which operates the trolley system that section and
associated with purchasing from the Beacon Light Com
pany, Of Chester.
There has been the dismanIing Of the
plant New Castle which formerly supplied
operate the lines from Wilmington to Delaware City, but
apparently generally that the Wilmington Southern
Traction Company shut down this plant FIVE sgoong be-
became interested in the of the property for
that and did not have single dependa
bic unit in it.
"he question has been suggested the Peoples Rail
Company plant respect which would shut
and oneha years after comprehensive study had
been made the load etc. which eOnuey showed
uneconomcal both to labor and coal and that
had ample capacity without It. Since this plant dsnsned sub
stanaI made No. amounting to eight
time the entire capacity Of the Peoples plant
There has also been that we had strike among our
fremen which plant employees
with years and all working faithfully and
doing their very best to maintain the service.
I'VE believe boilers placed IN service
conditions will be greatly that will be able to
good reasonably be expected under the present.
day circumstances with which everyone must contend
W;lm;n@ton& & philadnInl1ia Tr3ctiOn lO