The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1921-01-29
POWER HOUSE FAILS
THURSDAY NIGHT
Boiler Blows Flue - Darkness
ShrOuds City for IL Hours
Water Pressure Low.

Brookhaven property was in ex-
ceeding great danger Thursday
night.
The great majority of our citys
population did not realize the fact.
All they knew at firstAw that the
lights were out; and they were sure
they would come back. But when
word came from the power house
that it would be along about mid
night before they Could again turn
on the responsive light globes in
their homes or stroll down the street
toward the picture show, they be-
gan to grasp the fact that,
for the first time in years, the city's
municipal power station was tee7to-
tally broke down" and would be
out of commission for hours-that
all that was left in active power
house operation after the time of the
accident, if you may call it that,
was the water pressure-with a.
small amount of water UP in the
water tower and pressure very low.
The condition that prevailed at
the power house was wholly in
adequate, both as to quantity Of
water and pressure to fight any fre
that might suddenly call the alarm
in the community. But such was the
fact.
Now as to how it happened. It
seems to have been unavoidable un-
der existing conditions at the power
house. 1t will happen again unless
steps are taken Immediately by the
City Council and power house com
mittee to remedy a condition that
will repeat itself in the very nature
OF the case, and which by every
manner of means should be obviated.
The municipal power plant has
two boiler plants as we'll as two en-
gines, supposed to take care of all
emergencies, but it failed in the in
stance in question for good reason.
One of the boiler plants was out of
commission. 1t had been under re-
pairs for number of days.
The shutdown of Thursday even
Ing was caused by the other boiler
blowing its f1ues out with the known
result. All fires had to be withdrawn
then of course. superintendent Pur-
ser with an additional corps of as
sistants went to work at once to get
the boiler under repairs to going as
the quickest and most available
means to give the city service as usu-
al. This was accomplished after
hours of hard labor and anxiety and
everything was in working order a
gain by six O'Clock Friday morning.
The present boilers have been in
use about twelve years and have
been heavily taxed. The boiler that
blew out its f1ues Thursday night
needs a general overhauling. OF
course the boiler that is now being
used is not in good condition-it was
hurried UP into use on account of the
accident to it's partner. It is not
generally known to the public, but
he day-load in Brookhaven is now
greater and harder generally than
the night load that is pulled. This
is on account of the business enter
prises that demand 1t.
There should be no letup in the
power furnished by the plant. The
progress and prowess of our enter
prising people and our business gen
orally demands the best service that
in turn demands the best equipment
at the power house. 1t will take
dollars right now to do it and they
should be forthcoming at the vital
moment that is with us.
No chances should be taken. Ev-
en- a few minutes of hardness, much |
less absolute inertia at the power
station means, should the critical
moment arrive in a threatened hola-
caust, the wiping out of city pro-
perty.
The city's power plant is one en-
terprise that must turn the wheels
at all times-every day, nights, Sun
days, too. We are sure our commun-
ity is ready to back up the Board in
what is the wisest course just now.
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