The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-16
MARIANA HAS new
ELECTRIC CURRENT
Light Plant on Dry Greek Passes High
Iy Satisfactory Test.

| MARIANNA, Dec. 15.-Tuesday
marked the beginning of new era
in the civil and industrial life of Ma
rianna, it being the day when the new
J hydro electric current was cut in.
J For many years it has been recog-
nized as possible to obtain abundant
and cheap water power for electrical
purposes near this city and several at
tempts have been made by promoters
to make contracts with the city to
furnish such power. The ultra con-
sentative element on the city council
however, always succeeded at the last
minute in preventing any contract be-
ing made. and the old and expensive
methods of producing lights and power
by steam have been continued.
Early in the present year at the in
stance Of J. A. Ormond who was serv-
ing an unexpired term on the city coun-
ell to which he had been elected at the
request of the other members of the
council to try to get the finances of
the city in sound shape the council
reopened the subject of hydro electric
power to consider a proposition from
Messrs. Singletary and Hough as pre-
scented by Senator Singletary. to fur
nish current from the Merritt Mill site
on Blue Spring creek, a half mile east
of Mariana. Subsequently Hon. G.
NJ. Thomas presented a proposition to
equip his mill on Dry Greek, five miles
south of the city and furnish current
from that plant. The Blue Springs
Power company in the meantime came
into the hands of Hon. w. j. Single
tary and c. n. Horne, and these gen.
tlemen asked to be permitted to offer
proposition. Much interest was
aroused over the question and it de-
veloped from careful engineering sur
veys that either site would furnish all
the electrical energy that the city
could utilize and more. The PROPOSE
ton of Mr.. Thomas was finally ac-
cepted 10y the city council and the con-
tract ratified by vote of the people to
cover q period of twenty years, the
rate being a very low one, in fact less
than twenty per cent of the cost to
the city of making current at its own
plant.
The financing of the proposition was
taken care of locally and the engineer
ing work was done by the Albany Elec-
trio Company of Albany, Ga. under
the personal supervision of L. S. Kille-
brew, the president. The cityfs in
terests have been looked after by J. L.
Carroll chairman of the water and
light committee of the city council. and
w. B. Wright, superintendent of the
water and light plant.
The test tonight was highly satis-
factory, and with the exception of the
blowing of a fuse at the Thomas pant.
which took a few minutes 10 repair,
the lights We're excellent throughout
the evening on all the residence and
business circuits. Tomorrow night il
is expected that the street lights and
white way will be connected and test
made of the ability of the plant to ear
~ the entire load. Every confidence
IS felt that there is plenty OF power
to take care of the present and anv
future needs of the city for many years
10 come.
So far as is known, Mariana is the
onIy city in Florida equipped with
hydro electric lights and power. and /
The people are greatly elated over the I
prospects for a great saving in costs (
IF lights and a rapid growth indus
rally on account Of cheap and album /
liant power.