USA > Connecticut > Connecticut yesterday and today : 1635-1935 : celebrating three hundred years of progress in the Constitution state > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
In 1885 the equipment consisted of five horizontal 60-horse power engines, each driving two arc dyna- mos, one of the thirty-light capacity and one of forty- five-light capacity, supplying a street lighting and commercial load.
In 1889 the first incandescent lamps were used, which were multiple connected in the center of city and series connected in the outlying districts on the arc circuits. There were five lamps in series equipped with a coil shunting device to replace an accidently broken lamp.
In 1890 the Station "B" was built on Grand Avenue at Mill River and supplied incandescent lamp loads in the districts west to State Street and east to Quinnipiac Avenue and supplied the entire arc sys- tem. This station became necessary to provide room for expansion in Station "A" for supplying increased incandescent loads.
In 1899 The United Illuminating Company was formed through the consolidation of the New Haven Electric Company with the Bridgeport Electric Light Company.
Mr. James English had been previously made president of the New Haven Electric Company and now became president of The United Illuminating Company, which position he holds today. Under his able leadership The United Illuminating Company has enjoyed a rapid expansion, until today it is one of the outstanding utilities of our State, serving ap- proximately 125,000 customers, who with their families total more than 400,000 persons who enjoy the benefits of electric service as rendered by this Company.
The first installation of White Way street lighting in the world was made in New Haven in 1912. This installation was so highly successful that it spread rapidly throughout the country.
Stations "A" and "B" were repeatedly enlarged and remodeled to accommodate the universally used electric light and power requirements until it became necessary to build a larger station; therefore, the new English Station was put into service in 1929 and was equipped with the last word in modern devices, both from the steam and electrical view- points.
It is located on a point of land with water on three sides and a thoroughfare on the fourth side, causing it to be very remote from the possibility of a con- flagration. This location lends itself to several de- cided advantages such as taking condensing water from one side and discharging it on the other.
%1381-
1935 ·
.
.
FIFTY-FOUR YEARS OF ELECTRIC SERVICE .
JAMES ENGLISHI President A Pioneer of the Industry
English Station has six turbo generator units, total- ing 93,750 K. V. A. capacity, generating 13,800 volts. This energy is taken through underground duct lines to eleven sub-stations located at strategic points throughout the system, where the voltage is lowered to 6,600 volts and 2,300 volts as required for trans- mission throughout their districts. Pole type trans- formers are generally used for further transforming this energy down to TIO volts and 220 volts for dis- tribution and service to the point of use. These sub- stations are equipped with the most modern devices, including fully automatic voltage regulation, supply- ing a constant voltage regardless of load changes.
The Bridgeport division of The United Illumi- nating Company's history is very similar, with its Steel Point Station similarly located as to conflagra- tion.
There are seven turbo generator units totaling 97,200 K. V. A. capacity. The general conditions of transmission and distribution are similar to those de- scribed for New Haven.
The yearly output of the entire Company for 1934 was 277,337,000 K. W. H., which, compared with 8,900,000 K. W. H. for 1912, shows that one normal day's output is now greater than an entire month in 1912.
Rates have been steadily reduced from 1212 cents per K. W. H. in 1902 to the present 514 cents as a base rate. Electric energy in 1902 cost 238% more than in 1935.
Turbine Room-English Station
[39]>
1
Consolidarea 1893
WALTON FERGUSON First President
HE STAMFORD GAS LIGHT COMPANY the older of the two companies which united to form the. Stamford Gas and Electric Company, was formed in 1854. This step was taken only after much preparation, for while gas companies had been organized and were in operation in the larger cities, many of the citizens of Stamford had never seen gas in use as a means of illu- mination. They were satisfied with the whale oil lamp and tallow candle and i: was a hard task to interest them to the extent of investing their money in an enterprise which had for its object the lighting of houses, stores, and streets by means of this new-fangled method of "burning smoke", as gas was then called.
The credit for the organization of the Stamford Gas Light Company must be given to Mr. Edgar Hoyt, who was at that time the owner, editor, and printer of the Stamford Advocate-then a weekly paper. Mr. Hoyt realised that only by a practical demonstration could real interest be stim- ulated. Therefore, at his own expense, he installed a small demonstration ap- paratus at the agricultural fair in 1853. This had the desired result and subscrip- tions for the formation of the company were received.
A charter for the company was obtained at the May, 1854 session of the State Legislature and the stockholders met on October 21, 1854, electing Henry K.
Skelding, William Gay, John Ferguson, William T. Minor, and Sands Seely as Directors. The first officers were Henry K. Skelding, President; John W. Leeds, Treasurer; and Edgar Hoyt, Secretary.
A suitable sight for the gas works was purchased from Wells R. Ritch, located on Mechanic Street, south of the railroad depot. The deed described this property as being bounded on the east by the salt meadow, now the freight yards of the New Haven Railroad Company, an indi- cation of the change in the geography of the city.
Considerable investigation was made as to the best method of manufacturing gas. Of course, at that time, the so-called water gas process was unknown. A com- m'ttee was appointed to visit various works to determine whether the company should construct works to manufacture gas from rosin or from coal. The committee re- ported in favor of coal. Gas was supplied at $5.00 per thousand cubic feet.
In the year 1881, the Stamford Elec- tric Company was granted a charter by the Legislature of the State. This is one of the earliest charters in the country for an electric company. Records of the Department of Commerce in Washington state that in 1879 there were two or three stations in limited operation. In the year 1881 eight stations were operating, supplying arc lights only. It was not until the next year, 1882, that the in- candescent light was used, though Edison had invented it several years before.
While the Stamford Company had its charter, it did nothing with it until 1886, when the Stamford-Schuyler Electric Company began operation in a small building on Advocate Place, just north of the old fire engine house. It began with three arc dynamos, a 100 H.P. engine, and one boiler. Lights were first put in operation on the evening of July 4th, 1886, and greatly contributed to the illumination of the principal streets of the borough.
In 1889, the name was changed to The Stamford Electric Lighting Com- pany; a new building was erected on Garden Street and the apparatus from Advocate Place was moved to the new location. New equipment was added and the plant consisted of six dynamos, two 100 H.P. engines, and two boilers, mak- ing the entire plant capable of operating 120 arc and 1500 incandescent lights.
In 1891 further additions were made -- a 300 H.P. Corliss engine was added, which with the old machinery was con- sidered sufficient to take care of the re- quirements of the borough for several
ALFRED W. DATER Present President
years to come and would insure against failure of the nightly supply of light, even should a portion of the machinery become temporarily disabled.
When the company was first organized, it put in wires and fixtures without charge, for incandescent lighting of stores and dwellings. Some 2,000 lights were in- stalled in this way. The incandescent lights were supplied by contract or by meter when so desired. The company stated that at that time (1892) a perfect and reliable device for measuring the amount of energy consumed had been in- introduced and was in daily use.
It was soon realized that both the Elec- tric Lighting and the Gas Company were performing similar engineering services and that their administration could be accomplished more economically and more in the general interest of cach if they were operated under one management. Thus in 1893 a new company was or- ganized with the object of consolidating under the title of The Stamford Gas and Electric Company. The consolidation took place and matters moved forward smoothly under the wise leadership of Mr. Walton Ferguson, President.
In 1896, the old plant of the electric department was found to be too small for the addition of more machinery and the property was not of sufficient size to permit of addition to the building. A new site was selected and the station was moved to its present location at Waterside.
4401*
STAMFORD GAS CO.
Both companies grew and changed; it wald te futile to attempt a detailed list- ing of the innumerable mechanical im- powements which both companies have kartalled in the effort to keep their pro- duction of the highest quality and we @vært confine ourselves to the broader
In 1891 the Gas Company pointed with pride to its reconstructed plant with a generating capacity of 200,000 cubic feet of gas per day. The Electric Com- paay had installed new steam engines Winging its total horse power to 500. Tuby, the gas plant has a combined avocrating capacity of over 5,000,000 rubic feet of gas per day, while the siextric plant has an installation of over 10,000 horsepower.
In September, 1928, the company com- alsted the construction of its present office building. The design was a result of careful study for more than two years of other utility office buildings throughout the East. As a result, many features were incorporated which not only resulted in · handunne edifice from an architectural standpoint, but which proved to be a great movenience to customers and an aid to the efficient conduct of business. In Jan- wat), 1931, the new service building of the company was completed; this houses the Storeroom and garage, Line Depart- ment, Ga, Meter Shop, and the Installa- tion and Service Department.
!
A few figures will indicate the growth of the company in the twentieth century. In 1907 there were 2,880 gas meters and 1,044 clectric meters, a total of 3,924 meters connected; in the year 1930 there were 12,983 gas meters and 18,775 elec- tw meters, a total of 31,758 meters con- accted. In 1910, 89,826,300 cubic feet of gas and 1,673,595 kilowatt hours of electricity were sold, while in 1930, the «» sales had increased ten times to 844,- $15,100 cubic feet and the electric sales thirty-five times to 56,301,989 kilowatt
This, in brief, is the history of the wxnpany. Starting with a superintendent and two employees, a payroll of $24 a weck, and a capital investment of $15,000 -a sum about' equal to one week total payroll at the present time, the or- ganization has grown to a company of 400 employees, with total assets exceeding $10,000,000.
During these 80 long years, there has acier been a serious disagreement between employees and management. This speaks well for the spirit of helpful co-operation and understanding which has always char- wierized this organization.
Founded 1854 STAMFORD ELECTRIC CO. .
. 1881
-
3
MPANT
HA BRIDGEPORT GAS LIGHT COM- PANY was incorporated in 1849 and commenced business in 1851 with seventy-six private consumers and twenty-six public street lamps. It is interesting to note that among the names of the original incorporators will be found those of men who fig- ured largely in other business, indus- trial, and professional lines and who did much to lay the foundations for the modern city of Bridgeport. For nearly two generations the two out- standing men connected with this com- pany, until their deaths, were Dr. I. De Ver Warner and his son, De Ver H. Warner. During the long history of the Bridgeport Gas Light Company many and vast changes have come about in the use of gas. Today there is hardly a household purpose for which it cannot be used, from cooking to air conditioning, heating and re- frigeration, as well as many factory uses in various branches of industry.
The first works of the Company were on Housatonic Avenue, where coal gas was distilled by heating bi- tuminous coal. The old retort house is still standing. It is known as the East Works, comprising the store- room, garage, service department, and meter repair department. Later the Company acquired the plant of the Citizen's Gas Company, which had failed as a competitor. The original cost of the Company's works was $75,000, but before 1886 more than $175,000 in addition had been spent. Its assets now exceed $7,000,000.
The history of the Citizen's Gas Company is interesting in view of the fact that it was later absorbed by the Bridgeport Gas Light Company. In December, 1886, this former company was organized under a charter grant- ed by the Assembly in 1885 and sub- scriptions were then made by a num- ber of citizens. The ostensible pur- pose of the company was to manu- facture and sell gas for fuel only; this was a gas of lower heat value than that manufactured and sold by the Bridgeport Gas Light Company. However, the Citizen's Gas Company was not a success, and some years later, at a sale ordered by the court, the property of this company was taken
GEORGE S. HAWLEY President
over by its competitor. This property included the works at Howard Avenue and Spruce Street, where the Bridge- port Gas Light Company now manu- factures its "water gas".
In connection with the subject of gas, a very interesting incident may be re- called as having taken place in Bridgeport not long after the Company was formed. A balloon which was called "Bridgeport" was inflated with gas and an attempt was made to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The balloon rose properly and sailed over the Sound, but after about an hour and a half fell to the water. This was one of the first trans-Atlantic flights attempted.
ORIGINAL OFFICERS HENRY K. HARRAL, President P. C. CALHOUN, Treasurer
PRESENT OFFICERS
F. M. TRAVIS, Chairman of the Board GEORGE S. HAWLEY, President HOWARD E. WHITE, Vice-President ROBERT A. LEWIS, Treasurer FREDERIC C. TAYLOR, Secretary BRADFORD G. WARNER, Asst. Treasurer
The office of the Bridgeport Gas Light Company has been situated in various lo- cations: on John Street in the Masonic Temple, and then on Main Street in the store formerly occupied by the Gas Ap- pliance Exchange. In 1924 the Company erected its own building at 815 Main Street and last year it took over the Gas Appliance Exchange and transformed these quarters into one of the finest gas appliance salesrooms to be found.
The Company has steadily grown. To- day the Bridgeport district which it serves includes Bridgeport, Stratford, and Fair- field; this district uses over one billion cubic feet of gas each year. This is con- sumed in the many domestic uses of gas and also for industrial and commercial purposes. Twenty-five years ago there were few industrial uses for gas; today there are more than 20,000 ways in which gas may be used in industry, from a tiny flame to a roaring furnace.
To deliver this gas to the consumers requires over three hundred miles of street mains; if these lines were laid end to end they would reach to Providence and back and then to New York City. From these mains there are more than 30,000 service pipes which enter build- ings; in each of the buildings there is at least one meter at the end of each service pipe, and there are over 40,000 such meters in the district.
142M
HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE CO.
Charterea ISIO
Highlights in the History of the Hartford Fire Insurance Co.
Chartered June, 1810 First President, Nathaniel Terry
1510-Perpetual charter secured and Com- pany organized $150,000 Capital
Nathaniel Terry elected President
Jonathan G. W. Trumbull appointed agent No losses first year
1811-Ebenezer F. Norton appointed agent at Canandaigua, N. Y. 1816-Dividend of $4.00
1519-Percentage allowed to agents for com- mission 1822-New Haven Insurance Co. reinsured 1827-29 -- Ileavy losses
1930-Eliphalet Terry chosen President Great fire in N. Y., December 16
Office moved from 2612 State Street to 16 State Street
1839-Ihezekiah Huntington, Jr. succeeded Eliphalet Terry resigned
1852-Western Department established at Co- lumbus, Ohio
1853 -- Capital doubled
1854-Office moved to Main Street near Pratt Street
1857-Capital increased to $500,000 from profits
1859-Office moved to building on Main Street opposite old statehouse
1861-Western Department moved to Chicago 1864-Capital increased to $1,000,000 by profits
1865-Charter amendment adapted permitting $3,000,000 capital
Timothy C. Allyn elected President
1866-Assets increased by $200,000
1867-George L. Chase elected President 1870-New building - 125 Trumbull Street occupied Pacific Department established 1871-Chicago fire
1872-Boston fire
1877-Capital increased to $1,250,000 186-97-Home Office building enlarged 1904-Baltimore fire
1XX-San Francisco fire Capital increased to $2,000,000 I home Office building enlarged
1908-Charles E. Chase elected President 1909-Southern Department established 1910-Centennial Year
1912-Hartford Live Stock Insurance Co. organized 1913-Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company organized Richard M. Bissell elected President Charles E. Chase made Chairman Board of Directors 1919-Capital Increased to $4,000,000 Property purchased for new home office 1921-New Building - 690 Asylum Avenue occupied
1922-Capital increased to $8,000,000 1925-Capital increased to $10,000,000 1929-Par value of stock reduced from $100 to $10 1930-Capital increased to $12,000,000
1934-Chicago Stock Yard Conflagration 1810-1935-Losses of $593,750,465.69 paid to policyholders
GEO.W.WATSON & CO
Hartford Fire Ins.Com.
INSTATE BANK.
AGRO * WATSON & CO ...
The home office of the Hartford from 1859 to 1870 was on Main Street, opposite the old state house
HE ultimate test of the value of any fire in- surance company is its ability to pay its losses in times of conflagration and dis- aster. The Hartford Fire Insur- ance Company was only twenty- five years old when its first test came with the great fire in New York City on December 16, 1835.
Inexperienced as they were in the business of fire insurance, the pioneer executives of the Hart- ford in its earliest years knew both the thrill of achievement and the worry of experiment. In the years between 1810, when the Company was first chartered by the State Legislature, and 1820, the total losses were $13,357.61 while premiums had amounted to $46,- 586.45. The next ten years brought heavier losses and at the
close of the second decade the total amount had reached $175,- 926.25-a large sum, but small in comparison to that which was to come. The company had success- fully passed through one difficult period and was well on the way to growth and expansion by Decem- ber 1835. The first dividend since 1827 was in sight, when word reached Hartford that New York City was in flames. The main part of the business portion of the city, lying between Wall, South and Broad Streets and Coenties Slip was in ashes. It was bitterly cold with a brisk wind blowing. The city was paralyzed, crushed by the blow.
News travelled slowly in those days and there was no way for the Hartford to know the extent of its losses, although it was evident that
THROUGH FIVE WARS, SEVEN PANICS
Nathaniel Terry, first President of the Hartford who served from 1810 until 1835
they would be heavy. Reports reached the company's directors that other insurance companies would be unable to pay their loss- es, and panic seemed about to hit the city. There was only one thing for President Eliphalet Terry to do. He went to the Hartford Bank and arranged to be permitted to draw upon the bank without limit, pledging his
own fortune as security. Then followed the trip to New York- by sleigh-in zero weather. As soon after arrival as possible Presi- dent Terry assured frightened policyholders that every cent of the Hartford's loss would be paid at once and in full, that he himself had come from Hartford to do so. An office was obtained and Presi- dent Terry working with the New
York representative, began the task of paying claims. It was not until February that the last polic ;- holder was found and his claim paid. The Hartford's total loss was $64,973.34-a huge sum in those days.
The Hartford's business grew tremendously in the year follow- ing the New York conflagration. Premium income reached the total of $124,992, and surplus funds were used to build up a solid re- serve for the continued safety of policyholders.
Another great fire in New York, July 19, 1845 called for $69,691.30 from the Hartford. Less than a year later St. John's, N. F. was practically destroyed with a loss to the Hartford of $84,014.75.
Secretary Bolles barely had reached Boston on his return from St. John's when he was notified of a fire at Nantucket, July 14, 1846, and hastened thither to find that the company's loss was $54,- 521.65. As before, the directors were courageous, and they did not hesitate to put their names upon the company's paper. Only two years had elapsed when came the Albany fire of August 17, 1848, involving a loss of $57,673.43 to the company, and then, the fol- lowing May 18, St. Louis's first great blaze which cost the Hart- ford $58,676.83.
The company's capital was still but $150,000 and here were con- flagration losses of $324,577.96 in four years, to say nothing of the ordinary losses.
Despite the panic of 1857, the decade from 1850-1860 was a successful one. The Hartford's territory was greatly widened, and its business increased to such an extent that dividend payments were resumed in 1853. A large surplus continued to be main- tained so that the treasury should be in shape to meet such emer-
41441
and ALL, CONFLAGRATIONS
1935
gencies as those of the early '40's. In 1854 the original capital of $150,000 was doubled and on July 14, 1857 with an amend- ment permitting an increase to $1,000,000 the capital was raised to $500,000 by means of profits, and then to $ 1,000,000 in 1864.
A large fire at Augusta, Me., on September 16, 1865, inaugu- rated another series of heavy losses. The company's loss was $57,022.16. On July 4, 1886, the great fire in Portland, Me., called for $151,288.31, and the following Christmas Eve there was a loss of $55,077.55 by the fire in Vicksburg, Miss., making a total of $263,388.02. Yet so well was the company prepared this time that it not only settled every claim readily but was able to add over $200,000 to its assets from the business in 1866. Premium income for the decade between 1860 and 1870 showed a gain of $6,493,845.90 as compared with the preceding decade, a total of $11,040,380.77.
In 1871 came another severe test-a test that sent some forty- five weaker insurance organiza- tions to the wall -the great Chicago fire of October 8 and 9. With carly knowledge that the Hartford's losses would be al- most double the amount of its capital, the Company immediately notified its agents that its losses would be "approximately one and three-fourths millions of dollars", but that "vast as is this sum, it will be bravely met and honorably paid". The actual losses exceeded the estimate and within four months, mostly within ninety days, claims amounting to $1,933,- 562.04 had been paid, without a single instance of litigation.
The Hartford Bank was ready with all the assistance within its power and the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company granted a large loan. The claims
Richard M. Bissell, seventh President of the Hartford was elected in 1913
paid, there was only a little over a million dollars remaining in the treasury, less than was called for in the reinsurance fund, but the directors were undaunted. The capital was cut in half and imme- diately was restored to $1,000,- 000 by fresh subscriptions.
Less than a year later, Novem- ber 9, 1872, the Boston fire began and burned for thirty-six hours,
destroying $80,000,000 worth of property, which meant among other things the collapse of twenty-six more fire insurance companies. But the Hartford met its losses of $485,315.71 out of its current receipts and again found its new business enormously increased. Writing of the com- pany's record on this occasion and voicing the sentiments of a
The beautiful granite home office of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company and Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company, "at the top of Asylum Hill" was completed in 1921. The building and spacious grounds occupy about nineteen acres of land
grateful community, the Boston Journal said: "All adjusted claims were paid at sight, without discount or delay. Such a record is its own argument for integrity, ability and determination." And then the paper summed up the whole matter, for Boston or any other city, with this: "A policy in the Hartford Fire is as good as gold bond." The Baltimore fire of February 7, 1904 was another of the greatest conflagrations of modern times. The Hartford suffered losses of $1,213,- 843, which were again paid promptly.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.