The Mena weekly star., 1919-01-23
ELECTRIC | |: c | POWER
FROM new PLANT
Mena Supplied With Current For the
First Time Sunday From New Pow
er House of Commonwealth Pub
lie Service Company.

Mena patrons of the Common
wealth Public Service Company re-
ceived their first electrical current on
Sunday afternoon from the corpora
tons new 100000 power plant
The cut-over from the cid station
to the new was accomplished without
hitch, at Ais p. M, and from that
time on Mena received its electricity
from what is to be one of the most
complete and up-to-date power houses
in the state.
No ceremonies attended the change,
which means much to the users of
electric current in the city. The
switch was made at time when it
was figured it would be least discom-
moding to patrons of the Common
wealth company.
AS it now stands the new power
plant represents an expenditure Of
about $4,000 in new machinery,
buildings, labor etc. Manager Talton
will soon be in position to supply ev-
cry demand for electrical power and
current. Even in its present uncom-
pleted state the new plant is good for
double the demands made on the old.
When finished it will be ample for a
city several times the size of Mena,
and will be able to supply all the in
creased service the Commonwealth
company hopes to give.
For many weeks past George w.
Casebolt, as superintendent of con-
struction, has directed the work of
different crews of skilled artisans
having parts to play in the creation
of the new power house. The work
has gone on night and day at times.
He expects to put the finishing touch
es to his work within the next forty
days. Many thousands Of dollars
have been spent for labor alone by the
Commonwealth company in Mena.
When Supt. Casebolt's work il
ended the company will have COM
plete plant, that viii supply electric
| ity "a hours daily, and in quantity
sufficient for the greatest possible ex-
pected needs. The new plant will be
in duplicate turnout, so that nothing
short of calamity can deprive the
city of either lights or power.
The new electrical plant is on the
site Of the former EGGPLANT, a part OF
the old building being utilized. With
in this building is the $50 kilowatt
generator, operated by the big Cor
liss engine, just recently moved from
| the old electrical piant
This engine and generator viii be
used for the present, or until the new
Westinghouse special steam turbine
can be gotten ready TO supply the
needed electricity. The turbine has
capacity of 125 kilowatts, or 16(
k. W. if crowded. Once the turbine
is in use the Corliss engine and gen.
orator will be used for emergencies
Supt. Casebolt estimates ii viii re.
quire about Is days more TO get the
turbine in operation.
In the boiler room are two 175.
horsepower boilers to supply operat,
ing power. An additional boiler, 9
250-horsepower Heinie, is being in,
stalled, so that the company viii have
lots of surplus power and reserve or
| which to draw in emergencies.
Work of building the new ice plant
which is to be combined with the
electrical power house, win continue
without abatement. The work is al
the stage where there isn't much tt
attract the sightseer, but enough ha.
been done to show the Common,
wealth company's determination t.
give Mena a real up-to-date plant.
I The old electric light plant estab.
lished about is years ago by Tomlin
son Brothers, is now abandoned anC
will soon be nothing but a memory
= 1t has served its purpose, but it.
4 passing only goes to show how Mens
Is progressing.
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