The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-24

More than $33, 3,000, ,000- will be ex- pended by Connecticut public utili- ties for improvements and additions to their plants and equipment dur ing the year of 193i;'according to a survey of their present estimates conducted among electric, gas and electric, gas, telephone, railway and water companies.
 Practically all of the public serv- ice companies in the state are plan ming Improvements or additions to their plants and equipment, exten- provements of distribution and transmission systems and consider able amount of construction work. These operations will be conducted generally throughout the state, so that their effect upon the current employment situation should be widespread. The largest sums according to present plans will be expended by the New Haven Railroad and by the
 Southern New England Telephone Company.
 New Haven Railroad executives expect that the expenditures for general improvement of operating
 facilities on the system will approx mate those of last year, while any
 increase will be dependent upon pas senger and freight revenues. Last year, the railroads improvement
 program approximated $13,00O,O00. | Most of this years budget will be devoted to remunerative improve
 ments or that type of improved fa- cilities which will incease operating
 efficiency and reduce operating ex- pense.
 Additions and replacements to be
 undertaken by the telephone com pany this year will require slightly
 more than $10,000,QQH which Is
 twelve per cent greater than the
 average yearly expenditure for this purpose during the preceding five year period. Requirements for poles,
 wire, cables and conduit. are the
 principal items fin the telephone bud get and they total at $3,7O0,OOO. New equipment to be installed on sub
 scribers' premises will cost $2,585,- 900, while new central office equip
 ment will require $2,610,00O. " Land and buildings will cost $1,005,000. Expenditures for. I8Si it the light and power field are now estimated at Approximately .$8,00pO00; the greater
 part of which will be disbursed by
 utilities comprising the Connecticut Electric Service company system,
 & Power company which will spend | $3,674,000 for additions and im- provements. :. z" Operating and construction pro- jects of the Connecticut Light &, Power company and it's associated companies will extend into every dis trict which those companies supply with electric and gas service. In- cluded are changes and improve ments to the generating facilities at the several large steam and hydro plants for the purpose of increasing
 their capacity and efsacisncys~O Other projects include the construction Of
 new electric supply lines for various communities as well as the recon.
 struction of more than 180 miles of distribution line. In BristolS 9 new centralized steam heating plant. IS contemplated. Improvements to
 many of the sub-stations, stores
 service buildings and grounds
 throughout the system are planned
 with view to enhancing thair ap- pearance and convenience.
 Additional improvements to the gas plants in Waterbury and Nor
 walk are also included in the Con- necticut Light & Power budget to meet the constantly increasing de- | mands of those commuHties .. F
 the manufacture and distribution of
 gas.
 Other companies in, the Connecti- cut Electric Service company sys- tenn will make expenditures Tor plant improvement as follows: the
 Northern Connecticut Power com l pany. $181,OOO; the Winsted Gas company, $138.O00 the Rockville Willimantic Lighting company. $2O5, 900; and the Bristol Traction
 company, $1,500.
 The closely associated electrical group headed by the Hartford Elec-
 tric Light company and the Connec- ticut Power comhaiiy. make 1881
 improvements estimated at a cost
 close to $2,500,008--- Of this the first
 named company will expend $1,3OO.-
 900 chiefly for the normal expansion
 of distribution :: systeffls cfarges
 from overhead. to underground dis
 tribution and the construction Of one or two new substations.
 | The Stamford, Gas & Electric com pany, now a part of the Connecticut Power system, will use approximate ] ly $500. 900 during the year, of
 which the larger part will be used
 in it's electrical distribution system
 for short line, extensions, meters,
 transformers: and general reinforce
 ment of existing lines. About $751;
 prohibition would furnish a fine field for operation of spells system have l