USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume II > Part 26
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Company, Inc., commission spinning, manufacturing carpet, knitting and weaving yarns.
Since Henry E. Bugbee introduced shoe manufacturing in 1843, this was over a long period the second in importance of the industries of Webster. Under changing ownerships, the Bugbee enterprise survived until 1873 when the plant was burned. Among the other great names in the shoe business are those of : Emory E. Harwood, Charles A. Angell, James D. Tourtellot, an associate of Bugbee, together with Charles E. Brown, William, B. A., and Chester C., Corbin, A. J. Bates.
Athol is the home of the L. S. Starrett Company, whose fine mechani- cal tools find a market all over the world. It was started in 1868, by Leroy S. Starrett to manufacture his inventions, of which the meat chopper was then the chief. It is thought to be the largest manufacturing center in its line, the makers of at least twelve hundred types of mechanics' fine tools, the most of which are of Starrett's invention. These are remarkable examples of accuracy in shop work, and known far and wide. The Starrett corpora- tion is only one of some thirty factory establishments in Athol, although the most valuable. Milford has about the same number of factories as Athol, and the annual value of its productions is somewhat less. It no longer has the Hopedale establishment, and the Draper Corporation, but has retained the Hopedale Manufacturing Company, makers of the Nordray loom, and a variety of other manufactures. The Draper Corporation, of Hopedale, with its subsidiaries, are the largest manufacturers of cotton machinery in America, and the largest makers of cast metal parts in New England. Millbury, states its historian, "has been the location of industries large and small, covering a wide range of productions, extending from the peaceful penknife to the powder of the battlefield, the small shuttle-eye to the massive eccentric lathe." Textiles hold the foremost place in the industrial life of Uxbridge, which has many mills. Of Winchendon one has but to repeat the various cognomens applied to it to have a picture of its industrial history. In their order it has been called "Shingleville," "Home of the Woodenware Manufacture," a monument to the Yankee jack-knife, "Toy Town," and the "Nuremburg of America." The town, however long and much it has depended upon wooden products, has quite a variety of industrial interests. Grafton's textile mills, but a half dozen in number, turn out probably the greatest average value of products, in normal times. The prosperity of Leicester is closely related to textiles. It was one of the early centers of the carding industry, with Edmond Snow, the pioneer, in 1775, and Pliny Earle and his brothers the most noted.
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Dudley ranks seventeenth in industrial importance among the sixty- one incorporated places in Worcester County, and has the fewest manufactur- ing plants of the larger producers. Milford, Millbury, Uxbridge, Grafton, Leicester, Winchendon and Dudley turn out annually within twenty per cent. of each other, as regards values of products, but as regards manufacturing establishments vary from eight to thirty-eight.
CHAPTER XLVI
The Era of Electric Power
The modern system of electric supply from a central source was inaugu- rated at a time within the memory of men still living and active. On an ordinary brick structure on Pearl Street, New York, is a bronze tablet with this inscription: "In a building on this site an electric plant, supplying the first Edison underground central station system in this country and forming the origin of New York's present electric system, began operation on Sep- tember 4, 1882, according to plans conceived and executed by Thomas Alva Edison."
About the same time another Edison generating station was started in Appleton, Wisconsin, and while the dynamos in New York were driven by steam engines, water wheels were used to drive the generators at Appleton. At first the Edison companies were to be found only in a few cities and engaged only in the lighting business. Massachusetts was quick to take advantage of this new method of providing illumination and the organization of Worcester Electric Light Company on December 26, 1883, marked the beginning of the development of the electric industry in Worcester County.
Credit for creating the electric central station system for light and power clearly belongs to Mr. Edison, for he conceived, invented and perfected not only the incandescent lamp and the electric generator to supply the electricity, but also the system of wiring by which one lamp could be turned out without affect- ing the burning of the others on the same circuit. But the great development of the modern system of generating and distributing electric service was shared by a multitude of people engaged in a gigantic cooperative undertak- ing between those who worked with their heads, those who worked with their hands, and those who worked with their savings.
During the early stages of the industry, the supply of electricity was available from the time of approaching darkness in the late afternoon or evening until eleven o'clock at night. The generating plant was operated dur-
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ing those limited hours of service by one man acting as a fireman in the boiler room, an engineer in the dynamo room, and he also operated the switchboard from which electricity was distributed. During the daytime when the plant was shut down the same man made all repairs in the generating plant and also repaired and constructed the street circuits that carried electricity to the consumers. In many communities this lone employee was also responsible for the collection of charges made for the service. Naturally the magnitude of service delivered under such limitations was restricted to a very small area and few consumers when the business was in its infancy.
The conduct of the business during the period of its early development required great courage and fortitude on the part of those who had invested their money. Many of the pioneer investors lost heart and abandoned the industry, but, except in a few of the smaller towns, the electric companies in Worcester County survived the early handicaps and financial losses because they were established and conducted by a sturdy group of able, alert and brilliant men, many of whom were leading merchants or manufacturers who gave their time and money solely as a contribution to the industrial and social progress of their communities. In the history of each Worcester County electric company, one quickly recognizes the names of such men, because their names have long been identified with great stores or large industries in which the public have confidence, or they may be recognized as leaders in the professions; but seldom is it known that these are the very men who have directed the course that marks the development of the electric industry in Worcester County.
From 1882 to 1933 is not very long as time is counted-it is less than a lifetime. Yet in usefulness and advancement, what strides have been made! Greater human progress has been made than in all the preceding ages.
The uses for electrical energy are legion. It has become the universal servant of mankind. We find its applications everywhere; in the home, the factory, the store, the office and out on the farm. It has brightened up the world. It has brought much of comfort, convenience and pleasure; it has annihilated time and space; it has multiplied man's power ; it has brought within the reach of people in humble circumstances many blessings that the kings of old could not have.
In a span of less than half a century the method of generating, trans- mitting, distributing and consuming electricity has been revolutionized sev- eral times. In the early 'nineties slow speed electric generators directly con- nected to reciprocating engines replaced the old belt driven generator. This was the first step in reducing the investment per kilowatt of generating
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capacity, thereby reducing the operating cost of producing energy. Then came the use of high voltage alternating current transmission lines with sub- stations located at distributing points remote from the generating station. The combination of higher efficiency generators and high voltage trans- mission lines with substations from which the electricity was distributed still further reduced the costs of operation. This economy forced the abandon- ment of small generating stations and the massing of production on a larger scale.
Reciprocating engines were built in capacities as high as 5,000 horse- power and the volume of energy produced increased so rapidly that a demand developed for prime movers of greater size, lower investment cost and lower operating cost. This resulted in the development of large steam turbine- driven generators, which operate today in units of 100,000 horsepower. Dur- ing the early development of steam generating stations, progress was also being made in designing water wheels of high efficiency that were to be used in converting the power of falling water into electric energy that could be
transmitted from the source of power supply to the consumer over the same transmission and distribution systems that were used to distribute electricity generated by steam. Worcester County streams, while relatively small, had for many years provided a mechanical source of power for the operation of industry. Manufacturers gravitated to these points where water power was available, and around had grown the villages and later the towns and cities of Worcester County.
As these industries grew in size, however, they required power in much greater quantity than Worcester County streams could supply and steam gen- erated power was used to supplement water power. In addition numerous state laws regulating the corporate activities and the financing of local electric light companies made it impossible for any individual company to operate on a high efficiency basis. Just after the turn of the century it became apparent to leaders in the electrical industry that radical changes were necessary in order to provide this efficiency and bring down the cost of electrical energy.
Out of this well-recognized fact came the beginning of power systems. In New England the system idea originated in 1907 when construction began at Vernon, Vermont, of a power plant which was to become the pioneer plant of New England's largest power system. This plant at Vernon was built by the Connecticut River Power Company and this company is still in existence, although through a series of corporate changes of great significance, it is now a subsidiary of New England Power Association, one of the most important of the power systems of the United States.
The Vernon plant is of great historical significance as it was the first time in this part of the country that an attempt had been made to transmit hydro-
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electric energy for long distances. The transmission line from Vernon ran to Pratts Junction in the vicinity of Clinton, from which point it was dis- tributed among a number of manufacturing establishments in that vicinity.
The two men who conceived the idea of transmitting the energy in the Connecticut River to factories sixty miles away were Henry I. Harriman of Boston and Malcolm G. Chace of Providence, Rhode Island. At the time they were regarded as visionaries. It was extremely difficult for them to obtain financial backing for their schemes. In the early years there were many times when it seemed that their scheme would totter from lack of sup- port. But they were able to carry through and both these men have today risen to a place of eminence in national affairs. Mr. Harriman for more than twenty years was the chief executive of the rapidly expanding New England Power System. Since his retirement from the active direction of the system a few years ago, he has devoted himself to civic activities and in 1932 was elected president of the United States Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Chace has also extended his activities beyond the power field and today is a leading figure in the field of textile manufacturing.
The Vernon plant went into operation in 1909 and power began to flow over the sixty-mile transmission line to Pratts Junction. The first customers for this power were a number of industrial plants in the northern end of Worcester County. The Lancaster Mills of Clinton, at that time one of the largest textile plants in the country, obtained its entire power and lighting requirements from transmission lines that brought water power from the Vernon Plant in Vermont into the town of Clinton. About the same time the Marlborough Electric Company abandoned the operation of its own gen- erating station to purchase electricity supplied from the same source for dis- tribution to the Worcester County towns of Berlin, Bolton, Northborough, Westborough and Southborough. The Fitchburg Gas and Electric Com- pany arranged to obtain a portion of its power requirements from the same source.
The hydro-electric plant at Vernon was built by the Connecticut River Power Company, but the transmission lines were constructed and operated by a subsidiary known as the Connecticut River Transmission Company. The latter company obtained legislative authority to supply power directly to large industries, and in Fitchburg Crocker-Burbank & Company, Parkhill Manu- facturing Company, Falulah Paper Company and DeJonge Paper Company were prompt in taking advantage of this source of power supply.
In 1910 the Connecticut River Transmission Company extended its lines to the city of Worcester for the purpose of supplying the American Steel and Wire Company and many large industries in the Greendale section of
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Worcester. The transmission lines reaching Clinton and Worcester passed through many small Worcester County communities where central station electric service had not previously been provided. Private capital had been reluctant to venture into these smaller communities in view of the rural char- acter of the territory which required a relatively large investment in distribu- tion lines for a comparatively small use of electricity. Many of these munici- palities established their own lighting departments raising the necessary funds for investment through taxation. Such a step had previously been avoided because of the high cost of establishing and operating generating stations for the very limited use of electricity required in small communities, but the extension of the lines of the Connecticut River Transmission Com- pany through these small communities made it possible for them to have the convenience of electricity by providing only the necessary substation and dis- tribution lines.
The success attained by the Connecticut River Transmission Company in developing a market for power generated at Vernon led to the development of the Deerfield River where several hydro-electro plants were constructed, and, in 1913, water power obtained from these additional sources was trans- mitted to the communities in Worcester County. In the same year, due to a consolidation of companies, the name of the transmission system was changed to that of New England Power Company. In 1914 this latter company extended its transmission lines in a southerly direction through the Black- stone Valley, through Woonsocket, Pawtucket and Providence.
The outbreak of the World War added greatly to the demand for power by industries of Worcester County and elsewhere and stimulated the further development of the New England Power Company's system. Nearly all of the electric lighting companies in Worcester County abandoned their own steam generating plants and obtained their entire requirements for electricity from the New England Power Company. Provided with an abundant sup- ply of power, and relieved of the necessity of constantly furnishing addi- tional capital for new generating plant equipment, these privately operated electric companies in Worcester County and surrounding Massachusetts territory were able to concentrate their activity and investments entirely in the field of distributing electricity, and the development of wider markets for its use. This stimulated the extension of distribution lines into rural terri- tory and the farmers of Worcester County were able to obtain electricity for use in their homes and in the production of poultry, dairy and other farm productions. Although the electric companies in each community were relieved of the necessity of providing their own source of power, this added, however, to the need for greater development on the part of the generating and transmission company,-the New England Power Company.
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The various stages through which the electric industry has passed have been characterized partly by replacing some existing service that previously filled public wants, but also in a larger way by supplying an altogether new field not touched before.
Electric lighting has not only become a social convenience and a neces- sity, but it has enhanced real estate values many times, and the many millions of electrical labor saving devices which are in daily use in the homes have forever banished the domestic drudgery that housewives were subjected to only twenty-five years ago.
The adaptation of electricity has not only greatly lightened the task of men and women,-yes children too, who are employed in industry, but it has many times increased the production of each worker, thereby increasing the earning power and the amount of leisure available to them. Electricity, more than any other single factor, has contributed its part to bring about shorter hours of employment and higher wages in American industry.
Because of its importance in every phase of human activity, it is con- stantly under the spot light of public interest. Laws have been created to regulate the price charged for the service and to restrict properly the sale of corporate securities by which money is provided for the constant enlargement of facilities. Massachusetts has long been committed to a policy of public regulation of the utilities which supply its citizens with electric service. Con- servative laws have induced many thousands of its thrifty citizens to invest their savings in the industry, to the extent that a comparatively large portion of the consumers own an equity in the electric company that supplies this essential service in their community.
Prior to the beginning of the great business and industrial reaction which now grips the whole world, the markets for the wider use of electricity were constantly expanding. Today finds the market for electricity in industry almost completely absorbed, and the history of the past several years indi- cates that in almost every line of industry there has been developed a pro- ducing capacity which exceeds the requirements of the American people. Hence, there is no immediate prospect of a continued expansion of the use of additional power in industry. Utility companies had foreseen this event and were applying themselves to the development of the further use of elec- tricity in the homes, but any increase in the use of electricity in homes depends not only upon the ability of the consumer to pay for the additional electricity, but he must be financially able to purchase new electrical appli- ances to use such electricity. Loss of employment and reduced wages have sent economic distress not only into the homes of wage earners, but into almost every American home. The purchase of new appliances has been like- wise very seriously restricted, although many appliances, such as the electric
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refrigerator and the electric range, have found their way into the homes of the more fortunate in greater numbers than ever before.
The general trend of electric appliance sales is, however, downward. Electric companies will be unable to fully recover the decline in output, occasioned by the great depression in industry and business, until prosperity again returns to the home. Meanwhile, every possible economy in the pro- duction and the distribution of electricity must be developed. Just as mass production has already taken its place in many other industries, it must be extended in the electric industry. Small distribution systems must be con- solidated with larger ones to eliminate unnecessary operating expense. Many of the operating details of a small company involve almost as great a cost of administration as those of larger companies serving many fold the number of customers. Generally, larger systems render a better character of service at a lower cost to the public, possibly because they can employ a higher degree of engineering and management skill; but, due to the comparatively greater number of customers served, the unit cost of such service is actually less than in smaller companies that cannot afford to employ highly competent management.
Then again there are many economies available by linking together gen- erating and distributing facilities and these economies ultimately manifest themselves in better service at a lower cost. Even corporate structures can be simplified by consolidation with a resultant decrease in corporate expense and a more diversified and reliable equity for the security holder who has invested in this great industry.
Many of the original operating companies in Worcester County are now owned by, or are affiliated with, the New England Power Association, which also owns the New England Power Company, the organization that filled such an important place in bringing to the many communities in Worcester County electricity generated from water power hitherto undeveloped on remote New England streams.
Back of the switch that responds so readily to your command are immense dams holding back the power of mighty rivers and storage reservoirs, with great flumes leading that power into the water turbines that turn the electric generators and convert that power of falling water into electric current. Supplementing those sources of supply are mammoth steam plants on New England ocean fronts where hundreds of tons of coal are hourly fed under long lines of boilers furnishing steam to the turbo-generators which convert the power of coal into electric energy for your use.
Crews of men in those generating plants labor day and night, every min- ute, year in and year out, always on the alert to see that the full amount of electricity called for by every consumer is ready for instant delivery. Other
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crews of men are patrolling the lines that connect these distant power plants with every home, store, factory, hospital, church, theatre or place where electricity is used. Linemen are hooked to their life belts high up in the air on poles or steel structures, with their precious bodies wriggling to and fro, skillfully performing their work, straining every muscle and exercising every caution to avoid the dangers incident to this great task. Rain and sleet and the darkness of night often increase the hazard and hinder these linemen while they work unceasingly to maintain a constant supply of electricity.
Back at the office engineers are planning new facilities or improvements in existing facilities. Accountants are busy providing for the monetary requirements of this great industry. These and a multitude of other man- agement details are performed by the New England Power Association for those who use electric service in Worcester County.
A study of the personnel of the New England Power Association reveals the names of many young men born and reared in Worcester County, fore- most among whom is the president of this great organization, Frank D. Comerford, born in the city of Worcester in 1893, the son of a Worcester merchant, and a graduate of Worcester Classical High School, Holy Cross College, and Harvard Law School.
After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1917, Mr. Comerford became associated with the well-known Boston law firm of Ropes, Gray, Boyden & Perkins. He soon became the assistant to Archibald R. Graustein, then the public utility expert of that law firm and when Mr. Graustein in 1921 left Boston to begin the work of rehabilitating the International Paper Company, Mr. Comerford succeeded to his responsibilities in the public utility activities of the firm. By 1924 he was a member of the firm and in the following two years was in charge of most of the legal work which preceded the organization of the New England Power Association in 1926.
In the fall of 1927 when President Harriman decided to retire, the direc- tors of the company selected Mr. Comerford as his successor. Although only 34 years old at the time and regarded as a stripling by some of the titans of the utility industry, Mr. Comerford demonstrated in a very short time that he was able to swing the heavy responsibilities of the job. Under his direction the New England Power Association in the summer of 1928 began the con- struction of the largest hydro-electric plant ever built in this part of the country. This was located at Fifteen Mile Falls on the upper Connecticut River. It was completed in the fall of 1930 and has been in constant and successful operation ever since. Subsequently the directors of New England Power Association changed the name of this hydro-electric plant from fifteen Mile Falls to the Frank D. Comerford Station, as a tribute to the young president who had carried the project through to successful completion.
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