Williams news., 1920-01-02
BIG STEAM POWER
 ;, PLANT FOR WINS.
SA2O sto Prove Successful Year For Municipally Owned and Operated Light Plant

ity for the municipally owned light and power plant of Will Hams. The installation of the two large steam units at the Night plant is practically com pleted. Once these units are in operation, all danger of a return to the old unprofitable days of the gas-engine power, will be passed. However, the turning of the light business from an improbable into a profitable business had been accomplished before the steam 4units were purchased, but all connected with the manage nent of the municipal plant are confident that the profits to the city will be much larger af- ter the new steam units are in operation, and for that reason, it is confidently expected that 1920 will mark the beginning of an era of unprecedented and uninterrupted prosperity for the municipal plant.
 The two new units consist of two separate steam boilers and engines. One is a Harrison Fleming horizontal, rated at 25O H. P. and the other is a Chuse, rated at 125 H. P. Ex- perts estimate that at this al- ' titude each will be capable of developing 25 per cent over- load. This will give the small CT engine a capacity capable of taking care of either the day or the night load, for a number of years to come. The larger of the engines has direct connec- ted generator while the smaller will be belted to run the gener- ator now used with the large Doak engine.
 The work of installing the steam engines is progressing rapidly. Both boilers have been set. The smokestack, which is to serve both engines, has been erected and set. The engine for the larger boiler iG ! practically ready for a tryout, but the smaller engine must wait until the larger one is act ually in operation before it can be installed for the reason that it will replace the Doak engine and this engine must first be disconnected from the genera tor. About all that remains yet to be done is the brick work this will require a week or more.
 Both engines burn crude oil, altho it would be easily possible to fit them for other fuel. The price for crude oil is so much lower than that for the oil the pas engines have been using, that the manaoement expects to make considerable saving 7 in the cost of fuel.
 Other items of economy with the new units will be the e1iroi- nation. of a large part of the monthly repair bills for the gas engines. This bill ran high with the former plant. It was mainly for spark plugs, magne- to pcSnts and like parts. None of these will be needed with the . steam units. There will be a ceusid saving on lubri- caNng oil also. The lubricatine ailffor the steam plant will cost less per gallon. and a smaller amount will be needed.
 A fire whistle will be install ed at the light plant and hence forth the people of Williams will again enjoy the thrill of a fre-alarm that reaches to the i. very marrow of ones bones.
 An item of interest. in mass ing. is the fact that the Doak engine has shown up in peter form during the past six months than at any other time durinp it's use in Williams. On Christ mas eve it actually develoned 175 horse power, while rated al but 15O. The service which il @ has been giviro for the past few months will make it possi- ble to dispose of it-not as junk bf as a good engine ready tc do luable service.