The Washington herald., 1920-12-31
POWER, LIGHTS
FAIFOR SIXTH
time IN YEAR
Electric Plant Breaks
Down, Gripping the
City's Traffic.
MERCHANTS SEEK
r- REDRESS TO-DAY
Elevators and Street
Cars Halted-Candles
Used in Offices.

For the sixth time within a year
Washington was plunged into dark
ness and thrown into a crippled condi-
tion yesterday afternoon for one
hour and three minutes, beginning
at 2:42 p. m, due to a broken tur-
bine in the general power station of
the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany at Benning. d. c.
Street cars were parked for
blocks, building and hotel elevators
rendered motionless, ONCE forces
compelled to stop work or resort to
candle-light, and general commotion
prevailed in the large department
stores and other public places.
Power Chief Asked to ExpIain.
As a result William F. Ham, pres
Ifdent of the Potomac Electric and
Power Company, was invited yes
terday afternoon by Phillip King.
president of the Merchants and Man
ufacturers Association. to attend a
special meeting of the board of gov
ernors this morning at IL o'clock
which is designed to force a show
down"
Probably through coincidence, the
disaster from Benning came while
the ink was still fresh on papers
announcing that the Public Utilities
Commission had turned down the
application of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company for in
creased rates.
Within a few minutes after the
power and lights failed telephone
calls began to flood the headquar-
ters of the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Association inquiring OF
Charles Columbus. secretary. how
general the calamity was.
One Of the merchants seemed most
concerned because his cash registers
were put out of commission and had
to be pumped by hand.
Entire Plant Thrown Ont.
After normal had been restored
II was explained by L. Z. Sinclair,
general superintendent Of the power
company, that q broken turbine had
caused the shut-off.
Sinclair said that when the tur-
oine stoppsd. the load of power II
carried was automaticaliy thrown
onto the two other turbines at the
plant and the machinery was un-
able to resist the additional strain.
stopping also. He declared that TO
his know edge this is the first time
that a turbine had been the cause
OF a shutdown in electric power
The shutdown" he said had
nothing to do with the lack of ma
chinery. The company is expecting
additional machinery. but il will
not be used at the Benning plant.
IL Will be installed in substations.
The turbine has been repaired and
1t is unlikely that this will happen
again"
Seek Legal Redress.
Secretary Columbus of the mer-
chsnts association explained to
several of the big merchants of the
city yesterday that for some time
the association has been endeayor-
ing to establish legal grounds TO
file a suit against the power COM
pany.
Fortunately the plant was re-
paired before the time for the let
ting out of the government offices
but the street car service was not
in condition to take care of the reg
ular office crowds and general in
convenience was experienced by all
who were in the downtown district
yesterday afternoon.
Despite the short notice upon
which the special meeting Of the
board of governors of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturer Associa-
tion was called, a large attendance
is expected.