The Thames Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1909. THINGS IN GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLV, Issue 10617, 18 January 1909, Page 2

The Thames Star.

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1909. THINGS IN GENERAL.

Besurrecd.

BLdQanRIC LIGHTING FOB. THAMIFB.

A CSOMIPtRiEIHBMSIVB REPORT.

The report of Mir Ernest J. Fenn, electrical engineer, -on the question uf electric lighting for Thames 1, which was presented to last meeting of the Thames 'Borough Ctounoil, makes: interesting reading and should) receive careful attention at the hands of the. public and; memibera of the Council. Mr Fenn agrees •with M!r Adams that there is not sufficient water power ■within reasonable distance of Thames that is ovailalble for am electrical installation, and raooTntaeinds. the use of gas, using a suction producer for mnnuiflaeturing same. The amount t-f light to >Be provided is equivalent : o an average consumption, of 14,000 cubic tfeiet of gas per day. Allowing each 1 iit fouraer to be equivalent to :t 26'-candle -power .. metallic flamant lamp this cons"nnptioini of gas is equal to 2533» lamps of 25 candle power burning l£ hours per day. For street lighting it is reckoned 1 that the illumination would be considerably in excess of that which is now provided. 'Approximately 50 lamps well distributed throughout the town -would necessaay. Ftarty of these would; be 50 candle power and ten of 100 candle power. Two 1 80 horse power engines, together with .suction, gas plant would, be required, toother with generators, accumulators, switch boards, and all the /nioressary apparatus. The three wire system of distribution is ■reconnwenrlpd. Tire, cost :>f 'complete. installation, includiner frei)3rator house, machinery, accumulators, poles, over-head nw'tis, aitid allowajices for necossflirv alterations to telegraph and telephone wires where such cross the elcrtric light mains would be £.7?63 ; meters and house pervice connecttans,' £690 : _ allowance for puircihase of ipjemiarator site, £.100: total, .£8053. To this must :bb added

eng-ncieirilog and contingencies wliicii at 10 par cent amount to £606, muK.ing tike gross LiftiW ibUiou'Uit- to L>e- provitlied by the bwvougk £H606. mis we may taike it, is oonsidenaibly leas than the amount anticipated, and brings the project well with.n the bounds of .possibility. The plant in the estimate given would ba oapabie of. supplying a larger number of lamps than that on wlhiioh the coosumpt.on of electricity is based. 13y the ectpeudituire of an addiitiona,! ,£soo' th© mains could to brought up to a capacity of 4-500 lamps—more than the Btoax>ugh would require for many years to ooiinei, unless some unexpected stroke" of good fortune bo our lot. The charge proposed to b» iniadie would tote 9d per unit for electricity and a nomikiial meter rent. Allowing a lower rate to b© ch-airged for street light .ng, as is usually the case, Engineer Fenn's estimate of revenue and expenditure- worts out satisfactorily, audl giives a -good margin over working expenses. Thus the street lighting is estimated to bring in, a -.•c----venue of £127 14s 6d, the consumers would have 233i3 lamps of 2io candle poiwier, oonsuimliinjg per year 38,706 unites; which at 9d per unit would mean a revenue! of £d 451 9s 6d. The rent from meters would be £59, 'so that the total revere is estimated to 'be £164J8 4s. Tlw. estimated- oxpemditulre was stated to be siafeiries and. wages £TOB ; fuel. (coke), ' £1M 16» 6d; oil,'etc, £80; total £734 16s (3d 1. This sum. represents the working expenses-. 'Add depreciation and renewal fund £250, and, interest, and we giejt a total esf.niated expem,--diture, with all heads fully covered of £■1434 16s 6d, showing, ai neE" profit of £213 7s 6d for the year. In "tine estimates, no provision, has been .made for the' revenue* for supplying electricity for motive purposes, and It is estimated that the profit in this connection' would be such as would provide for an, ample sankinig; fund. EHeetKeity ootuld be sold at a. much. cheaiper rate for motive power than for lighting, as motors are usually vised in the daytime, when undor ordinary conditions the generating machineny would be> Idle. Electricity for 'heating 1 coMd also be provided, and thiis is rapidly growing i,n pu'blio faivor. For the first year it 's estimated that £727 will ha all that will he required to Ibe collected from privaite consumers in order to meet the total running expenses for the first year and 1 though it is not probable that this revenue will not b© quite attained, it is evident thkit the actual loss .dlurimg the first -yeair will amount to quite & friflinig figure and this of "oouirse wffoTd 'be to a great extent compensated by the imiproved street lighting, and the fact that looal labor wioiuid be idonslderaibly beneifitted durinis? the <M>nstfuation, of the works. The power could .also be utilised in puimping water to the hi<jher levels from tihia County water Hace for domestic supply, while it could alsoi be used in connection with a system. of ■houselhiold 1 sewage when the latter was. astaiblished. It w'll be steiem that the report is a compre'hens.ive OTic, ■amid 'shouM evoke cons'deraiWe discussion when it comes before the Borough 'Goiuncil for consideration.