The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1922-11-17
Pembina,
Light s Power
Company

80 -
Pembina Light and Power company
are now connected with Emerson and
furnishing light to that city, making
six cities and towns supplied with
electricity from this plant. The En-
erson system that was connected last
week is owned by the city corporation
and connection is made at the Inter-
national boundary line through a
meter which shows the gross amount
Of current used, and the city pays the
light company and they in turn
charge the customers for what they
use.
4 Mr.. Christianson, the superintend-
ent, says the Emerson plant is one
Of the best that they could install.
1t was constructed under the SUPER
vision Of the Public Utility Commits
sion of Manitoba who have charge of
al! public enterprises of that kind in
the Province, and the material is the
best and latest designs. There are
now 81 street lights in Emerson go
ing and about that many houses wir-
ed. The Great Northern Railway
company at Noyes has contracted for
100 lights for the new depot and Gus
toms house now under construction,
and the Canadian Pacific depot at
Emerson is expected to be lighted by
this system shortly for they have
been asking for estimates of the cost.
The Pembina Light and Power
company erected new line from the
power house to the boundary line,
with heavy poles and Of special con-
struction to conform with the COM
pleteness Of the Emerson system.
The way the connections are made
is that Pembina is on switching
circuit by itself, Neche, Gretlla and
Bathgate are on one circuit while
Emerson and St. Vincent are con-
nected on the same switch.
At first it was thought by many
that connecting Emerson would cause
the system to be overloaded and de-
teriorate the efficiency of the rest of
the circuit, but Manager Christian
son was wise to the situation and
had the Bessemer $50 horse engine
thoroughly overhauled with new pis-
tons and other changes and the 70
horse Muncie engine overhauled.
When Emerson was connected there
was not jar or a noticeable change.
From midnight to four o'clock in the
afternoon the 70 horse engine handles
the load at the present time and from
-four to midnight the Bessener $50
horse power engine carries the load
with ease.
Mr.. Christianson and his two sons
attend to everything including the
wiring and running of the plant.
They are thorough mechanics and
know, the electrical game thoroughly.
The railroad commissioners who
have supervision over public enter
prises of this kind say there is only
one other plant in North Dakota that
supplies as many towns with cleo
tricity as the Pembina plant Sup
erfntendent Christianson said that at
the rate things are going the conn
pany will be able to make a reduc-
tion in the price of electricity to the
customers some time next summer.
But before he makes change he
wants to see the system in pink shape
and every customer satisfied, which
will mean lots of work and rear
ranging Of several important fea-
lures of the equipment.
The citizens of Pembina should be
proud of our electric light system
and SO will every one who is being
terved from this point when things
get adjusted properly.
Mr.. Christianson said that they
have sufficient power now to handle
another town the size of Emerson.
MRS. GRAVES WINS PRIZE