THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY'S STATION.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1898, Page 2

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY'S STATION.

IMPROVEMENTS TO PLANT AND PREMISES. It is by ho moans an open question whether smoke-stacks are an improvement to a city, but it goes without saying that their presence denotes growth of produoing power. And if it is necessary to have sirioke-stacks, it is well that they should, be of lordly proportions, carrying their heads well up in the air. The new stack which has been erected by the Electric lighting Company on its premises off Harris-street has just been completed, and its massive girth is carried to a height of 120 ft, which is also exactly the height of the Destructor chimney. The company's chimney has an interior diameter of 7ffc at the top, and the stack was built so as to give the draught needed for the extended work which the station is now called upbn to perform. New flues have also been built to connect the old boilers with the new staok. The company possesses a frontage of 120 ft to Harris-street with a goodly depth of ground, which is gradually being covered with, buildings. Eecent additions are a new store and a test-room. As there are now over 850 customers connected with the station circuits, and the total nnmber of lamps connected exceeds an equivalent of 32,000 8-candle Jatttps, it can easily be seen that much machinery is needed to keep up with the demands for the use of electricity. Some of the latest contrivances erected are of maswive and powerful build, while others are as delicate and sensitive as an earfchquakerecprder. There is a 200 h.p. Babcock boiler, which is -the first of six such "fireplaces." A "fine and large" machine, in course oi! erection is a Raworth " Universal" engine, fitted with Corliss valves. This engine is direct coupled to a Mordet high-tension alternating machine, the plant having ,a maximum output of electrical energy sufficient for 5000 8-candle lamps. The engine is provided with a condenser, and a new direct coupled centrifugal pump, driven by ft small Raworth " Universal " engine, which has been pub in as a duplicate plant for the circulating water required for condensing purposes at the station. Owing to the increasing load on the station, a considerable amount of trouble has been experienced during the past w'uter in regulating and maintaining an even pressure on all tb.9 circuits supplying private lighting, and in consequence sets of apparatus termed " boosters " — there is something familiar and slangy about the term, but no familiarity can be taken with the machines— have just been attached to the station. To *' boost " is American for "sending things up," and the "booster" can so regulate the supply of electricity that when any particular circuit has a special call made upon it for "niorft light, please," the sturdy little machine obliges. Another nevy and useful instrument, and of extremely delicate construction, is the "ground detector," which instantly gives warning of a "fault" on the hieh-tension outdoor conductors. This little apparatus is a guardian of the public, safety, as well as a useful servant to the companj\ Another instrument is used for the purpose of giving a continuous record of the pressure supplied to consumers' lamps during the 24 hours. Iv the testing-room a number of meters just passed by the Government Inspector are on view. The machinery and instruments have been arranged and fixed under the direction of Mr. Robert Turnbull, the company's Engineer; Messsrs. Clere, PitzGerald and Richmond were the architects for the new premises ; Mr. J. Russell was the builder ; and Messrs. Priddy and Muir erected the big chimney. The company intends making further additions shortly by erecting new offices and a spacious showroom, for the better display of all the latest fittings, novelties, and devices used in the business aud domestic application o£ the eleotrio light,