Annual report of the burgess and town council of the borough of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 1935, Part 11

Author: Chambersburg (Pa.)
Publication date: 1935-1940
Publisher: [Chambersburg, Pa.] : The Borough
Number of Pages: 492


USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Annual report of the burgess and town council of the borough of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 1935 > Part 11


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In favor of the Bond Issue 648


Not in favor of the Bond Issue 317


This was the beginning of the Borough of Chambersburg entering into the business of supplying water to its citizens.


Bids were received for the necessary equipment on September 25, 1875, and the contract was awarded to H. P. M. Birkenbine at a price of $53,850.00, which covered a one million gallon pump, boiler, one million gallon reservoir, 28 fire plugs, 5,400 feet of 10 inch pipe, 1,750 feet of 8 inch pipe, 7,693 feet of 6 inch pipe, and 18,500 feet of 4 inch pipe, or a total of 6.3 miles of pipe. It is a matter of some interest to


33


note that all of this old pipe and some of the old Birkenbine fire plugs are still in service in Chambersburg today.


This action on the part of the Borough was contested by the Cham- bersburg Water Company, but, in the end, all of the actions of Council were upheld by the Courts.


This first pumping plant, a steam operated one, was located on the West Bank of the Conococheague Creek almost directly opposite the foundry of the Wolf Company, and has always been known locally as the Birkenbine Pumping Plant. In 1891, a water driven pumping plant was installed at the C. B. Gish mill, afterward known as Siloam, and another reservoir constructed with a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons, on the farm of Joseph Horst. A 2,000,000 gallon steam pumping plant is held in readiness to operate at Siloam and can be placed in service in 10 hours in an emergency.


In 1910 and 1911, the Conococheague Creek at Siloam, as a source of water supply was abanded by the Borough, and a supply brought in by gravity from the State Forest at Caledonia. This was a vast im- provement over any of the other supplies that the Borough of Chambes- burg had been using, but the last three years drought brought very forcibly to the attention of the authorities that the supply might under certain conditions, become quite inadequate. To guard against any shortage of water that might possibly occur, the Borough of Chambers- burg proceeded to build a storage dam, at Caledonia across the Birch Run Valley, which will hold 387,000,000 gallons of water. This dam will be held entirely full at all times for emergency purposes, and will supply the town, when using 2,000,000 gallons of water per day, for 193 days if there was not a dropl of water flowing into the dam in all that time.


As the growth of the town made necessary the extending of the original distributing system, false economy added mains that were much too small, and the result of this practice was that there were three very low pressure areas in the town. One of these low pressure areas was in the extreme Southern end of town, another in the extreme Western end, and another in the extreme Northern end. To correct this very serious condition, in 1932 a 12-inch feeder main was laid from a point im- mediately East of the Borough Limits to the intersection of Scotland Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, and a 10-inch feeder main was laid from this point to Philadelphia Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, a total distance of approximately 11,769 feet, at a total cost of $33,511.00.


In 1933 a similar feeder main was laid from the same point at the Eastern edge of town to Wayne Avenue and South Fourth Street, and an 8-inch feeder main was laid from South Fourth and Mckinley Streets to Central Avenue and McKinley Street. This was a total length of feeder mains of 9,700 feet and cost $24,500.00.


The major activity in this department during 1937, was the re- construction of the spillway channel at the Water Impounding Dam at Caledonia. On April 26, 1937, after an unusually heavy rainfall, ap- proximately 400' of the lower part of the spillway channel paving was destroyed. The design of the new spillway and paving was very ma- terially changed from the old design, and the actual construction was entirely different. The completed channel and paving, as constructed, will take care of several times as much water as has ever passed over the spillway, and it is felt that the problem has been solved permanently. The cost of this work was $38,500.00.


The work on the duplicate feeder line from the intake to Chambers- burg has been completed at a total cost of $217,386.47. The original


34


387,000,000 GALLON IMPOUNDING RESERVOIR


estimate for this work was $225,546.00. Of the $217,386.47, there was received from the Federal Government a cash contribution amounting to $97,896.31 which left $119,490.16 to be paid by the Borough. The Borough of Chambersburg was remarkably fortunate in being in such a financial condition that it could take advantage of the various Federal Grants that have been offered from time to time.


During the year, the following water main extensions were con- structed on the front foot assessment plan:


East Catherine Street 1,085.5' of 8" line


Wolf Avenue 467' of 6" line


The total cash and credits in this Department for 1937 were $62,098.08, and the total operating and non-operating expenses were $27,043.34, including depreciation amounting to $10,027.77, which leaves a total gross profit, exclusive of interest charges, of $35,054.74.


Beginning with January 1, 1933, a Standard Public Utilities Ac- counting and Bookkeeping System was installed for this Department, after the making of a complete appraisal. The Reproduction Value New less accrued depreciation, as of December 31, 1937, is $1,134,089.21.


PHYSICAL DATA OF BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG WATER DEPARTMENT


JANUARY 1, 1938


Population of Borough 14,000


Area of Water Shed 17.75 Square Miles


Elevation of Impounding Reservoir 1091.75 Feet above Sea Level


Elevation of Intake Dam 975 Feet above Sea Level


Elevation of Dull Hill Reservoir 801 Feet above Sea Level


Elevation of Horst Reservoir 712 Feet above Sea Level


Elevation of Reservoir Hill Reservoir 707 Feet above Sea Level


Elevation of Memorial Square 615 Feet above Sea Level


Total Head from Intake to Town 360 Feet


Present 24 Hour Capacity from Michaux State Forest by Gravity with 40 Pounds Average Pressure in Chambersburg


5,500,000 Gallons


Emergency Steam Operated Plant at


Siloam, Capacity 2,500,000 Gallons in 24 Hours


Storage Capacity of Impounding Reservoir 387,000,000 Gallons


Storage Capacity of Dull Hill Reservoir 2,200,000 Gallons


Storage Capacity of Horst Reservoir 2,000,000 Gallons


Storage Capacity of Reservoir Hill Reservoir 1,000,000 Gallons Storage Capacity of Stand Pipe 55,000 Gallons


Total Storage Capacity 392,255,000 Gallons


Days Supply @ 1,790,844 G. P. D. if no water came from Mountain . 2.93


Days Supply @ 1,790,844 G. P. D. in Impounding Reservoir 216.10 Total Days Supply Stored @ 1,790,844 G. P. D. 219.03


36


Miles of mains in Borough Limits


14 Inch 0.42 Miles


4 Inch


11.65 Miles


12 Inch


2.53 Miles


2 Inch 0.65 Miles


10 Inch 4.05 Miles


11/2 Inch


0.18 Miles


8 Inch


4.36 Miles


1 Inch


0.37 Miles


6 Inch 11.87 Miles


Total of All Mains in Borough Limits 36.08 Miles


Miles of Mains outside Borough Limits


16 Inch 2.43 Miles 6 Inch 1.03 Miles


14 Inch


17.81 Miles 4 Inch


.09 Miles


12 Inch 1.29 Miles


Total of all Mains outside Borough Limits 22.65 Miles


Total of all Mains inside and outside Borough Limits 58.73 Miles


Total Number of Fire Hydrants on System 216


Total Number of Sewer Flush Tanks on System


115


Active Services


8 Inch 5


11/2 Inch 20


6 Inch 10


11/4 Inch 30


4 Inch 24


1 Inch 219


3 Inch 4


34 Inch 3,054


21/2 Inch


1


1/2 Inch


92


2 Inch 32


Total of All Active Services 3,491


Inactive Services


2 Inch 4


34 Inch 74


1 Inch 12


1/2 Inch 2


Total of all Inactive Services 92


Total of Active and Inactive Services


3,583


Valves inside Borough Limits 584


Valves outside Borough Limits 80


Total Valves in System 664


Number of Domestic Consumers inside Borough Limits 3,157


Number of Domestic Consumers outside Borough Limits 179


Total Number of Domestic Consumers 3,336


Number of Industrial Consumers


43


Number of Railroad Consumers


4


Number of Public Consumers


38


Number of Free Consumers


27


Total Number of Metered Consumers-Active 3,448


Meters on System January 1, 1938


8 Inch


4


11/2 Inch 26


; Inch 6


11/4 Inch 2


37


4 Inch 14


1 Inch 2


3 Inch


12


3/4 Inch 9.


2 Inch


26


5/8 Inch 3,29


3,51


Total Number of Meters on System


Data for Year 1937


Total Cubic Feet Registered by Master Meters 87,154,40


Total Cubic Feet Furnished Domestic Consumers 28,783,63


Total Cubic Feet Furnished Industrial Consumers 20,001,34


Total Cubic Feet Furnished Railroad Consumers


8,211,77


Total Cubic Feet Furnished Public Consumers


4,758,48


Total Cubic Feet Furnished Free Consumers


3,445,90


Estimated Total Cubic Feet Furnished for Fire, Flushing Streets, Sewers, Trenches, Fire Hydrants, and Sewer Flush Tanks


5,110,00 70,311,14


Total Cubic Feet Accounted for


Total Cubic Feet Lost between Master Meter and Consumer . 16,843,25 Percentage Lost between Master Meter and Consumer 19.3ยบ


50% of Loss is in Mains


45% of Loss is in Service Pipes


5% of Loss is due to under-registration of Meters


842,16


Average Cubic Feet Registered by Master Meter per Day ..


238,77


Average Cubic Feet Used by Consumers per Day


Average Cubic Feet Unaccounted for per Day


Average Gallons Registered by Master Meter per Day 1,790,84


Average Gallons per Day per Domestic Consumer


Average Gallons per Day per Industrial Consumer


Average Gallons per Day per Railroad Consumer


42,18


Average Gallons per Day per Public Consumer


2,57


Average Gallons per Day per Free Consumer


2,62


Estimated Average Gallons Used per Day for Fire, Flushing Streets, Sewers, Trenches, Fire Hydrants, and Sewer Flush Tanks


Average Gallons per Day Used for all Purposes


Average Gallons per Day Unaccounted for


Average Gallons per Capita per Day Domestic


Average Gallons per Capita per Day Industrial


Average Gallons per Capita per Day Railroad


12


Average Gallons per Capita per Day Public


7


Average Gallons per Capita per Day Free


Average Gallons per Capita per Day Flushing Fire Hy-


drants, etc.


Total Average Gallons per Capita per Day Consumption


Received from Water Sale for Domestic Purposes Inside Borough


$32,410.1


Received from Water Sale for Domestic Purposes Outside Borough


$ 3,657.6


Total Received from Water Sale for Domestic Purposes


$36,067.


Total Received from Water Sale for Industrial Purposes $ 9,433.6 Total Received from Water Sale for Railroad Purposes $ 2,611.2


Total Received from Water Sale for Public Purposes $ 2,301.6


105,00 1,444,74 346,09


42 29


5


7 103


38


8,421,62 7,579,46


192,63 46,14


17 9,55


Total Received from Sale of Meters, Cocks, and Accessories . $ 3,748.30 Total Received from All Sources . $54,162.66 Total Credits for Water Furnished Free Consumers and other Borough Departments $ 7,935.42


Total Receipts and Credits


$62,098.08


Cash Receipts from Water Sale for All Purposes 1937 $50,414.36


Cash Receipts from Water Sale for All Purposes 1936 $48,578.99


Increase in Receipts from Water Sale for the Year $ 1,835.37 Cash Receipts from Sale of Meters, Cocks, and Accessories 1937 $ 3,748.30 Cash Receipts from Sale of Meters, Cocks, and Accessories 1936 $ 3,616.66 Increase in Receipts from Sale of Meters, etc., for the Year . . $ 131.64


Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Domestic, In- cluding Minimum Charges $ 1.25 Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Domestic, Includ- $ .17 ing Minimum Charge In- Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Industrial,


cluding Minimum Charges $ .47 Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Industrial, Includ- $ .06


ing Minimum Charges


Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Railroads, In-


cluding Minimum Charges


$ .32


Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Railroads, Includ- ing Minimum Charges $


.04 Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Public, Includ- ing Minimum Charges $


.48 Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Public Including Minimum Charges $


.06


Average Received per Quarter per Domestic Inside Borough $ 2.57


Average Received per Quarter per Domestic Outside Borough $


5.11


Average Received per Quarter per Public Consumer $


15.14 Average Received per Month per Industrial Consumer $ 18.28


Average Received per Month per Railroad Consumer .


$ 54.40


Received from Water Sale per Mile of Main Inside Borough $ 1,295.92 Received from Water Sale per Mile of Main Outside Borough $ 161.49


Received from Water Sale per Mile of Main Inside and Out-


side Borough Limits $ 858.41


Total Lost in Bad Accounts, 1937


0.00


Percent Lost in Bad Accounts, 1937


0.00


Receipts and Credits for 1936 $59,895.00


Receipts and Credits for 1937 $62,098.00


Increase for the Year


$ 2,203.00


RATES FOR WATER Within Borough Limits


Rate Per 1,000 Cu. Ft.


First 20,000 Cu. Ft. used per Month $1.00


Next 400,000 Cu. Ft. used per Month 0.30


All over 420,000 Cu. Ft. used per Month


0.28


39


Minimum Charges


Single houses, or dwelling, shall pay a Minimum Charge of $1.50 per Quarter.


Double houses served by one meter shall pay a Minimum Charge of $3.00 per Quarter.


Industries and Railroads shall pay a Minimum Charge of $0.50 per Month for each and every service.


All Charges are payable net on, or before, the 25th of the Month following the end of the Month or Quarter. If not paid on, or before the 25th of the Month following the end of the Month or Quarter, a penalty of five (5%) per cent shall be added.


If bills are not paid on, or before, the 30th, of the Month following the Month or Quarter for which the bill was rendered, the water will be turned off.


Outside of Borough Limits


Per Thousand Cubic Feet $2.50


Minimum Charges


Single houses outside of the Borough-$2.35 per Quarter.


Double houses outside of the Borough-$4.70 per Quarter.


The same regulations shall apply, and the same penalities shall be inflicted for non-payment as provided for within the Borough.


BALANCE SHEET WATER DEPARTMENT


Assets


Fixed Capital


Fixed Capital Installed


$1,266,221.17


Construction Work in Pro-


gress


32,515.22


$1,298,736.39


Current Assets


Cash (Borough Treasurer's Account )


$ 580.48


Accounts Receivable from Consumers .


10,436.28


Materials and Supplies


4,581.73


Cash (Borough Treasurer's


Account) P. W. A. Con- struction Fund 859.69


16,458.18


$1,315,194.57


Liabilities


Municipal Ownership


Net Worth Water Depart- ment, December 31, 1937 .


$ 920,386.19


40


Funded Debt Bonds 41/2 % Serial Bonds 69,000.00


Current Liabilities


Assessments for Line Con- struction $ 8,710.80


Advance from Electric Light Department 65,563.64


74,274.44


Accrued Liabilities


Unmatured interest accured on Unfunded Debt . ...


1,572.25


Reserves


Reserve for Renewals and Replacements


132,131.96


Surplus


Unappropriated Surplus .


117,829.73


Total Liabilities .


$1,315,194.57


RECAPITULATION OF NET WORTH


Net Investment, December


31, 1936


$ 808,453.81


Additions


W. P. A. Labor Construction $ 1,945.67


Contribution from U. S. Treasury


18,986.71


Adjustment on


Outstanding


Bonds


18,500.00


Bonds Redeemed by Borough Treasurer to December 31, 1937 72,500.00


111,932.38


Earned Surplus, December 31, 1937


117,829.73


Net Worth, December 31,


1937


$1,038,215.92


REVENUE AND EXPENSE STATEMENT WATER DEPARTMENT


Operating Revenues


Metered Domestic Sales


$


32,395.24


Metered Commercial Sales 6,424.91


Metered Industrial Sales


12,765.25


Metered Public Sales


2,435.05


41


$ 920,386.19


Sales for Private Fire Pro- tection . Consumer's Discounts For- feited and Penalities Im- posed


66.82


107.19


Total Operating Revenues ..


$ 54,194.46


Operating Expenses


Water Collection System:


Operating Labor


$ 395.96


Maintenance


1,071.64


$ 1,467.60


Purification System:


Operating Labor


$ 789.23


Supplies and Expenses


1,439.41


Maintenance


47.52


2,276.16


Pumping System:


Operating Labor


$ 76.44


Supplies and Expenses


63.75


Maintenance


694.92


835.11


Distribution System:


Operating Labor (General)


$ 622.98


Operating Labor (Reser-


voir)


413.15


Maintenances of Mains and Pipes


582.51


Maintenance Reservoirs


513.09


Maintenance Meters, etc.


611.34


Maintenance, Other Distri-


bution Property


443.42


$ 3,186.49


General Expenses


Office Salaries


$ 5,091.51


Salaries of Meter Readers


802.28


Office Supplies and Expenses


351.75


Other General Property Ex- penses


503.08


Taxes


259.22


Other General Expenses


9.60


Insurance


419.89


Maintenance of General Properties


452.26


Depreciation


10,027.77


Total Operating Expenses


17,917.36 $ 25,682.72


42


INCOME STATEMENT WATER DEPARTMENT


Operating Revenues $ 54,194.46


Operating Expenses


Water Collection System


$ 1,467.60


Purification System


2,276.16


Pumping System


835.11


Distribution System


3,186.49


General Operating Expenses


17,917.36


Total Operating Expenses ..


$ 25,682.72


Net Operating Income


$ 28,511.74


Non Operating Revenues


$ 1,888.94


Non Operating Expenses . .


1,360.62


Net Non Operating Income .


528.32


Total Net Income


$ 29,040.06


Net Income Deductions


Interest


$ 2,293.89


Free Water to Borough


1,970.02


4,263.91


Balance of Net Income


$ 24,776.15


ANALYSIS OF FIXED CAPITAL WATER DEPARTMENT


Balance Jan. 1, 1937


Additions 1937


Balance Dec. 31, 1937


Organization


$ 11,024.28


$ 11,024.28


Siloam Property


4,595.00


4,595.00


Water Collection System, Rights of Way


3,143.00


3,143.00


Water Collection System, Water Division Rights


40,400.00


40,400.00


Water Collection System, Impounding Reservoirs ..


141,477.66


141,477.66


Water Collection System, Collecting Reservoirs


51,084.39


51.084.39


Water Collection System, Aqueducts and Supply Mains


190,566.53


$ 217,001.76


407,568.29


Purification System, Chemi- cal Treatment Plant


2,799.63


2,799.63


Purification System, Testing Equipment


31.50


31.50


Pumping System Structures


5,208.85


5,208.85


Pumping System Pumps, etc.


12,469.80


12,469.80


Distribution System, Rights of Way


404.00


404.00


43


Distribution System, Storage


Reservoirs


Distribution System, Mains .


11,994.02 379,980.34


6,850.35


11,994.02 386,830.69


Distribution System, Fire Hydrants


23,198.24


314.43


23,512.67


Distribution System, Foun- tain and Drinking Foun- tains


11,107.75


11,107.75


Other General Structures . .


3,329.00


3,329.00


General Office Equipment ..


644.81


644.81


Other General Equipment ..


5,557.33


138.34


5,695.67


tendence During Construc- tion


33,566.50


33,566.50


Admistration and Legal Ex-


penses during Construc-


tion


11,024.28


11,024.28


Interest During Construction


34,065.04


34,065.04


Development Costs


63,913.91


63,913.91


Transmission Mains


330.43


330.43


Totals


$1,041,585.86 $ 224,635.31


$1,266,221.17


WATER DEPARTMENT-CREDIT ACCOUNTS 1937


Metered Water, Light Plant $ 480.33


Metered Water, Fire Houses


71.18


Market House, Meter Room and Police Headquarters .


122.00


Memorial Fountains


400.85


Comfort Station


225.23


Borough Farm


14.92


Disposal Plant


10.98


Borough Garage


9.04


Parks and Playgrounds


45.42


East Queen, Lincoln Way


East and South Fourth


Street Properties


18.00


$ 1,409.67


Free Water Per Agreement


Penn Hall Farm


$ 96.61


Kennedy Farm


11.95


Childrens' Home (75%)


52.90


Hospital (75%)


387.14


Salvation Army (75%)


11.75


560.35


$


1,970.02


Note: This Amount $1,970.02 used in Comparative Income State- ment as Free Water Furnished in 1937.


Free Unmetered Water Furnished the Following in 1937


216 Fire Hydrants at $15.00 $ 3,240.00 Sewer Flush Tanks (115) .. 1,950.40


44


Engineering and Superin-


Flushing Storm Sewers and Street Work


750.00 Road Roller and Street Sweeper


25.00


$


5,965.40


Note: (This amount does not appear in any other statement).


WATER ASSESSMENTS


Assessments made in 1937 .


$


544.00


$


544.00


Collected during 1937 $ 544.00


$ 544.00


WATER LIENS


Balance to be collected Janu-


ary 1, 1937


$ 2,049.36


Liens entered 1937


72.09


Interest Accrued


154.46


Costs Accrued


22.90


$ 2,298.81


Collected during 1937


$ 252.95


Interest collected in 1937 .


159.67


Costs collected in 1937


22.90


Balance to be collected Janu-


ary 1, 1938


1,863.29


$ 2,298.81


HARRY R. GEARHART, ALBERT S. HENNEBERGER, HERBERT C. KEEFER, Auditors.


HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHAMBERSBURG ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT


On August 29, 1874, the following named persons applied for a Charter to furnish electric current for lighting in the Borough of Cham- bersburg, under the name of "The Franklin Electric Company":


James McKnight and Agent


B. Frank Gilmore


William McKnight


J. Spoonhour


William Nixon


W. Lynn Ritchey George A. Britsch


William Sellers


M. A. Foltz


C. H. Fulwiler


B. M. Nead Van T. Haulman Samuel L. Hawbaker


D. Alonza Orr William Orr John Hart


John A. Orr


The stock in this Company was stated at $25.00 a share, but just how much stock was issued is not a matter of record.


There is some doubt as to the year this company started to furnish current in Chambersburg, but that it was in business in Chambersburg


45


has been established beyond question. How extensive their business was at that time it is now impossible to state.


The plant consisted of a belt driven generator using a steam traction engine as power, and the equipment was located in the old brick and weatherboard building known as the "Ebersole Building", which stood immediately on the West bank of the Conococheague Creek on the South side of Lincoln Way West, and which has just recently been demolished by the Western Maryland Railway Company. This was the first electric plant that was ever operated in Chambersburg, and certainly could not have stayed in business very long. Some of the citizens of Chambers- burg remember distinctly seeing these electric lamps suspended above the streets and at that time were impressed with the fact that they did not blow out when the wind blew.


In the year 1883 there was constructed, in the shops of the Cum- berland Valley Railroad Company, a portable electric light plant which consisted of boiler, steam engine, and one arc lamp generator with a capacity of fifteen 2,000 candle-power open arc lamps. This car oper- ated successfully under the supervision of Charles S. Hull from the very beginning, and in 1884 lighted arc lamps around the Public Square for the Centennial, and this same year lighted the grounds for a baseball game which was played at night. This game was played in a field lying East of Third Street and South of King, just about where the Byer Brothers' Green House is located at the present time.


In 1889 this portable electric light plant was rebuilt, under the supervision of Mr. Hull, for a capacity of forty 2,000 candle-power open arc lamps. This plant was frequently used for the lighting of important construction work along the Cumberland Valley Railroad, as well as the lighting of serious wrecks. It was also used for the lighting of the Granger's Picnic Ground at Williams Grove, and many of us recall the lighting of the Mt. Alto Park Grounds. Mr. Hull was a mechanical genius, and one of the beautiful things he created, with this car and an arc lamp, was a fountain which sprayed steam of different colors up above the car roof. Mr. Charles S. Hull will be remembered as a kindly old gentleman, and one of the first to take up seriously the possibility of electric lighting in this section.


On November 29, 1889, after a vote had been taken by the citizens of Chambersburg to increase the indebtedness of the Borough by an amount not exceeding $10.000.00 for the purpose of installing an Electric Light Plant to light the streets of the Borough, a contract was placed for the necessary electrical equipment with the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Company at a price of $9,797.50. This plant was installed solely for furnishing lighting for the streets of the town. The plant was oper- ated from dark in the evenings until twelve o'clock midnight, except on moonlight nights when it was not operated at all.


In 1893, the Borough went into the commercial phase of furnishing current to consumers. It was a far step from this first plant to the present up-to-date efficient plant, and the citizens of Chambersburg are certainly to be congratulated on having had sufficient intelligence to keep this valuable utility for their very own.


This utility was affected by the depression to a greater extent than any other of the Borough's utilities. It will be noted that from 1929 up until 1934, there was a very marked falling off in the output from the plant. Beginning with 1934, however, the output from the plant com- menced to increase, and the maximum annual output that the plant has ever experienced occurred in 1937, during which year the total distributed to consumers was 10,472,343 K. W. H. This is an increase over the year 1936 of 1,033,238 K. W. H.


46


I


MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT


AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION


1929 -- 6,460,592 kilowatt-hours.


1930- 6,420,232 kilowatt-hours.


1931- 6,206,845 kilowatt-hours.


1932- 5,876,722 kilowatt-hours.


1933- - 6,285,080 kilowatt-hours.


1934- 7,253,250 kilowatt-hours.


1935- 7,926,377 kilowatt-hours.


1936- 9,439,105 kilowatt-hours.


1937-10,472,343 kilowatt-hours.


During the year 1937, the peak demand on the plant was 2,700 kilo- watts, which is 200 kilowatts above the capacity of the largest generator in the plant. In 1936, preliminary steps were taken, looking toward the installation of an additional 2,500 kilowatt generating unit, including condensers, new switch-board control, new switch-gear, new busses, new feeder trunks from the Plant to Second Street, and the equipment and installation of a Carrier Current Control System for the control of the incandescent lamps, and water heaters, over the town. It is estimated that this work will cost approximately $180,000.00. It was hoped that the Borough might secure from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works an outright money grant of 45% of the estimated cost, but, unfortunately, during 1937, the activities of PWA were curtailed to such an extent that it was not possible for the Borough to secure a grant. Therefore, this work will have to be paid entirely from the Elec- tric Light Sinking Fund. The total generator capacity of the plant at the present time is 5,000 Kilowatts at 80% power factor. With the completion of the installation of the new 2,500 Kilowatt Turbo-Generator unit, the total capacity of the plant will then be 7,000 Kilowatts at 80% power factor.




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