USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Annual report of the burgess and town council of the borough of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 1935 > Part 23
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
Account
Corporate
Loan
2.85
Edgar W. Diehl, Commissions
742.27
Balance in Hands of Treasurer January
1, 1941
14,628.71
$38,332.98
BOND DEPARTMENT-SINKING FUND
Balance in Sinking Fund January 1, 1940 (Four Banks)
$ 4,223.72
Interest Received (Four Banks) 84.89
$ 4,308.61
Balance in Sinking Fund January 1, 1941 (Four Banks)
$ 4,308.61
$ 4,308.61
TAX LIENS
Borough
Borough Bond and Bond Interest
Balance to be col-
lected January
1, 1940 ..
$ 3,118.87 $ 3,655.46 $
27.33
$ 6,801.66
Amount collected
1940
157.21
239.82
70.08 $
467.11
$ 2,961.66 $ 3,415.64 $
27.33 $
00.00 $ 6,404.63
Not Revived
3.31
3.31
6.62
Balance to be col-
lected January
1, 1941
$ 2,958.35 $ 3,412.33 $ 27.33 $ 00.00 $ 6,398.01
LATERAL SEWER ASSESSMENTS
Balance to be collected January 1, 1940
$15,690.33
Assessments made during 1940
1,370.48
Interest Accrued
8.92
Amount collected in error
17.55
$17,087.28
Collected during 1940
$11,742.23
Interest collected
8.92
Liens entered 1940
5,244.83
Balance to be collected January 1, 1941
91.30
$17,087.28
35
Total
$ 70.08
6,871.74
Report, William M. L. Etter
LATERAL SEWER LIENS
Balance to be collected January 1, 1940
$ 3,436.54
Sewer Assessments entered as Liens 5,244.83
Interest Accrued
131.73
Costs Accrued
44.60
$ 8,857.70
Collected during 1940
$ 406.06
Interest collected
136.83
Costs collected
44.60
Balance to be collected January 1, 1941
8,270.21
$ 8,857.70
PAVING LIENS
Balance to be collected January 1, 1940
$ 2,350.23
Interested Accrued
26.21
Costs
4.00
$ 2,380.44
Collected during 1940
$ 304.74
Interest collected
37.66
Costs collected
4.00
Balance to be collected January 1, 1941
2,034.04
$ 2,380.44
HARRY R. GEARHART, ALBERT S. HENNEBERGER, HERBERT C. KEEFER,
Auditors.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHAMBERSBURG WATER DEPARTMENT
The first attempt made to furnish water, under pressure, to the citizens of Chambersburg, was made by the Chambersburg Water Company, of which Mr. James Riddle was President, in 1817. This company furnished water, under pressure, through a wooden pipe system, which consisted simply of pine logs with suitable hole bored through them from end to end, and the logs fastened together end to end. Water ws furnished until 1875 or 1876. The pump for this system was located on the South side of the Falling Spring at a point almost directly in line with the buildings of the Chambersburg Hospital, and the dwelling house on the farm now owned by the T. B. Wood Estate, and was driven by a water wheel. The reservoir was located where the present build- ings of the Chambersburg Hospital now stand, and during the construc- tion of the new portions of the Hospital, traces of the old reservoir structure were uncovered, and some of the old wooden pipe was dug up. The pressure under which this water was furnished must have, of neces- sity, been quite low, and the old records show that the system, as a whole, was not satisfactory.
On March 1, 1875, the following men were elected to the Chambers- burg Town Council: W. B. Gilmore, Jacob H. Miller, Samuel M. Worley, J. P. Culbertson, John C. Gerbig, John Suesserote, Thomas Cook, and
36
387,000,000 GALLON IMPOUNDING RESERVOIR
David Harmony, with G. W. Nitterhouse as Burgess. On July 17, 1875, this body took action setting Friday, August 20, 1875, as an election day for voting on a bond issue not to exceed $60,000.00, for the purpose of erecting a suitable water works. This election was duly held, and the official count reported at a special meeting of Council held August 21, 1875, was as follows:
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 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 ten hours in an emergency.
In 1910 and 1911, the Conococheague Creek at Siloam, as a source of water supply, was abandoned 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 Cham- bersburg had been using, but the drought of 1931, 1932, and 1933 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 Cham- bersburg proceeded to build a storage dam, at Caledonia across the Birch Run Valley, which holds 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 drop of water flowing into the dam in all that time.
During the year, the following water main extensions were con- structed on the front foot assessment plan:
Guilford Avenue
544' of 6" line
South Sixth Street
384.5'
of 6" line
Cumberland Avenue
1,055'
of 6" line
South Fifth Street
360'
of 6" line
Lortz Avenue
389' of 6" line
Stanley Avenue
1,050' of 6" line
South Coldbrook Avenue
340'
of 6" line
Total
4,122.5'
38
SILOAM DAM
The total cash and credits in this Department for 1940 were $71,374.12, and the total operating and non-operating expenses were $30,762.99, including depreciation amounting to $12,763.44, which leaves a total gross profit, exclusive of interest charges, of $40,611.13.
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, 1940, is $1,173,071.27.
PHYSICAL DATA OF BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG WATER DEPARTMENT JANUARY 1, 1941
Population of Borough 15,500
(Census Population-15,005, and 495 was added for Schools and Colleges)
Area of Water Shed 17.75 Square Miles
Elevation of Impounding Reservoir 1,091.75 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 @ 2,060,825 G. P. D. if no water came from Mountain 2.55
Days Supply @ 2,060,825 G. P. D. in Impounding Reservoir 187.79 Total Days Supply Stored @ 2,060,825 G. P. D.
190.34
Miles of Mains in Borough Limits
14 Inch 0.42 Miles Inch 11.76 Miles
12 Inch 2.53 Miles 2 Inch 0.57 Miles
10 Inch 4.05 Miles 11/2 Inch 0.18 Miles
8 Inch 4.36 Miles 1 Inch 0.37 Miles
6 Inch 13.38 Miles
Total of all Mains in Borough Limits 37.62 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
40
Total of all Mains outside Borough Limits 22.65 Miles Total of all Mains inside and outside Borough Limits 60.27 Miles Total Number of Fire Hydrants on System 233
Total Number of Sewer Flush Tanks on System 122
Active Services
8 Inch
5
11/2 Inch
20
Inch
10
11/4 Inch
30
4 Inch
28
1 Inch
220
3 Inch
4
3/4 Inch
3,239
21/2 Inch
1
1/2 Inch
92
2 Inch
30
Total of all Active Services 3,679
Inactive Services
2 Inch 4
3/4 Inch 73
1 Inch 12
1/2 Inch 2
Total of all Inactive Services 91
Total of Active and Inactive Services
3,770
Valves inside Borough Limits
627
Valves outside Borough Limits
80
Total Valves in System
707
Number of Domestic Consumers inside Borough Limits 3,320
Number of Domestic Consumers outside Borough Limits
203
Total Number of Domestic Consumers
3,523
Number of Industrial Consumers
39
Number of Railroad Consumers
4
Number of Public Consumers
39
Number of Free Consumers
28
Total Number of Metered Consumers-Active
3,633
Meters on System January 1, 1941
8 Inch 4
11/2 Inch 26
6 Inch
6
11/4 Inch
2
4 Inch
17
1 Inch
30
3 Inch 13
3/4
Inch
101
2 Inch 26
5/8
Inch 3,476
Total Number of Meters on System 3,701
Data for Year 1940
Total Cubic Feet Registered by Master Meters 100,568,267
Total Cubic Feet Furnished Domestic Consumers 29,529,399
Total Cubic Feet Furnished Industrial Consumers 23,675,961
Total Cubic Feet Furnished Industrial Consumers - Siloam 2,226,861
Total Cubic Feet Furnished Railroad Consumers 7,783,798
Total Cubic Feet Furnished Public Consumers
4,554,291
41
Total Cubic Feet Furnished Free Consumers 4,846,138 Estimated Total Cubic Feet Furnished for Fire, Flushing Streets, Sewers, Trenches, Fire Hydrants, and Sewer Flush Tanks Total Cubic Feet Accounted For
Total Cubic Feet Lost between Master Meter and Consumer Percentage Lost between Master Meter and Consumer
5,673,000 76,062,587 24,505,680 24.4%
50% of Loss is in Mains 12,252,840
45% of Loss is in Service Pipes 11,027,556
5% of Loss is due to under-registration of Meters 1,225,284
Average Cubic Feet Registered by Master Meters per Day 274,777
Average Cubic Feet Used by Consumers per Day 207,821
Average Cubic Feet Unaccounted For per Day. 66,956
Average Gallons Registered by Master Meters per Day 2,060,825
Average Gallons per Day per Domestic Consumer 172
Average Gallons per Day per Industrial Consumer 13,610
Average Gallons per Day per Railroad Consumer 39,876
Average Gallons per Day per Public Consumer 2,393
Average Gallons per Day per Free Consumer
3,547
Estimated Average Gallons Used per Day for Fire, Flushing Streets, Sewers, Trenches, Fire Hydrants, and Sewer Flush Tanks 116,250
Average Gallons per Day Used for All Purposes 1,558,660
Average Gallons per Day Unaccounted For 502,166
Average Gallons per Capita per Day Domestic 39.0
Average Gallons per Capita per Day Industrial 34.2
Average Gallons per Capita per Day Railroad 10.3
Average Gallons per Capita per Day Public
Average Gallons per Capita per Day Free 6.0
6.4
Average Gallons per Capita per Day Flushing Fire Hy- drants, Etc.
7.5
Total Average Gallons per Capita per Day Consumption 103.4
Received from Water Sale for Domestic Purposes Inside Borough
$ 31,617.35 Received from Water Sale for Domestic Purposes Outside Borough
$ 4,456.47
Total Received from Water Sale for Domestic Purposes $ 36,073.82
Total Received from Water Sale for Industrial Purposes $ 10,211.20 Total Received from Water Sale for Industrial Purposes Siloam $ 713.72
Total Received from Water Sale for Railroad Purposes $ 2,571.05
Total Received from Water Sale for Public Purposes $ 2,235.65 Total Received from Sale of Meters, Cocks, and Accessories $ 10,631.00 Total Received from All Sources $ 62,436.44 Total Credits for Water Furnished Free Consumers and Other Borough Departments $ 8,937.68
Total Receipts and Credits
$ 71,374.12
Cash Receipts from Water Sale for All Purposes 1940 51,805.44 Cash Receipts from Water Sale for All Purposes 1939 $ 50,019.21 Increase in Receipts from Water Sale for the Year $ 1,786.23 Cash Receipts from Sale of Meters, Cocks, and Accessories
1940 $ 10,631.00
42
Cash Receipts from Sale of Meters, Cocks, and Accessories 1939
$ 8,922.04 Increase in Receipts from Sale of Meters, etc., for the Year $ 1,708.96 Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Domestic, In- $
cluding Minimum Charges 1.22
Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Domestic, Includ- ing Minimum Charges $ .16
Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Industrial, In-
.42 cluding Minimum Charges $ Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Industrial, In- cluding Minimum Charges
cluding Minimum Charges
$ .33
Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Railroads, In- cluding Minimum Charges $
Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Public, In-
.04
cluding Minimum Charges $ .49 Average Received per 1,000 Gallons from Public, Including Minimum Charges $ .07
Average Received rer Quarter per Domestic Inside Bor-
ough
$ 2.38
Average Received per Quarter per Domestic Outside Bor-
ough® $ 5.49
Average Received per Quarter per Public Consumer $ 14.33
Average Received per Month per Industrial Consumer $ 23.34
Average Received per Month per Railroad Consumer $ 53.56
Received from Water Sale per Mile of Main Inside Bor- $ 1,258.61
ough
Received from Water Sale per Mile of Main Outside Bor- ough $ 196.75 Received from Water Sale per Mile of Main Inside and
Outside Borough Limits $ 859.56
Total Lost in Bad Accounts, 1940 $ 0.00
Percent Lost in Bad Accounts, 1940 $ 0.00
Receipts and Credits for 1939
$ 66,958.00
Receipts and Credits for 1940 $ 71,374.00
Increase for the Year
$ 4,416.00
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
Minimum Charges
Single houses, or dwelling, shall pay a Minimum Charge of $1.50 per Quarter.
43
$ .06
Average Received per 1,000 Cubic Feet from Railroads, In-
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 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 penalties shall be inflicted for non-payment as provided for within the Borough.
BALANCE SHEET WATER DEPARTMENT
Assets
Fixed Capital
Fixed Capital Installed . $1,342,521.83
Construction Work in Pro-
gress
1,435.06
Total Fixed Capital
$1,343,956.89
Current Assets
Cash (Borough Treasurer's Account)
$ 4,812.62
Accounts Receivable from Consumers
11,124.60
Materials and Supplies 4,908.10 $ 20,845.32
Total Current Assets
Total Assets
$1,364,802.21
Liabilities
Municipal Ownership
Net Worth, Water Depart-
ment
$ 932,628.87
Funded Debt
Bonds-3% Serial Bonds ..
35,000.00
44
Current Liabilities
Advance from Electric Light Department
$ 23,203.95
Assessments for Line Con- struction 12,619.90
Total Current Liabilities
35,823.85
Reserves
Reserve for Renewals and Replacements
169,450.56
Surplus
Unappropriated Surplus
191,898.93
Total Liabilities
$1,364,802.21
RECAPITULATION OF NET WORTH
Net Investment, December 31, 1939
$ 935,628.87
Additions
Bonds Redeemed by Borough Treasurer
12,000.00
$ 947,628.87
Deductions
Contributions to General Borough Fund $ 15,000.00
$ 932,628.87
Earned Surplus End of Year
191,898.93
Net Worth, December 31, 1940
$1,124,527.80
REVENUE AND EXPENSE STATEMENT WATER DEPARTMENT
Operating Revenues
Metered Domestic Sales $ 34,069.97
Metered Commercial Sales 6,334.85
Metered Industrial Sales
13,641.40
Metered Public Sales
3,245.80
Sales for Private Fire Pro- tection
85.22
Consumers' Discounts For- feited and Penalties Im-
posed
88.07
$ 57,465.31
45
Operating Expenses
Water Collection System:
Operating Labor
$
408.70
1,084.29
Maintenance
1,492.99
Purification System:
Operating Labor
$ 820.27
Supplies and Expenses
1,255.72
Maintenance
446.58
2,522.57
Pumping System:
Supplies and Expenses . $ 4.73
Maintenance
121.88
126.61
Distribution System:
Operating Labor ( Gen-
eral)
$ 483.96
Operating Labor (Reser-
408.68
Maintenance of Mains and Pipes
513.33
Maintenance of Storage Reservoirs, etc.
255.60
Maintenance of Meters, Vaults, etc.
738.10
Maintenance Other Distri-
bution Property
662.59
3,062.26
General Expenses
Office Salaries $ 5,231.89
Salaries of Meter Readers
795.02
Office Supplies and Expenses
332.49
Other General Property Ex- penses
428.99
Taxes and Lease Expense .
1,508.59
Other General Expenses
67.75
Insurance
152.52
Maintenance of General Properties
400.09
Depreciation
12,763.44
21,680.78
Total Operating Ex- penses
$ 28,885.21
46
voir)
INCOME STATEMENT WATER DEPARTMENT $ 57,465.31
Operating Revenues
.....
Operating Expenses
Water Collection System $ 1,492.99
Purification System
2,522.57
Pumping System
126.61
Distribution System
3,062.26
General Operating Expenses
21,680.78
28,885.21
Operating Income
$ 28,580.10
Non-Operating Revenues
$ 2,522.34
Non-Operating Expenses . 1,877.78
644.56
Net Income
$ 29,224.66
Net Income Deductions
Interest
$ 659.59
Free Water to Borough
2,726.06
3,385.65
Balance of Net Income $ 25,839.01
ANALYSIS OF FIXED CAPITAL WATER DEPARTMENT
Balance Dec. 31, 1939
Additions 1940
Balance Dec. 31, 1940 $ 11,024.28
Organization
$ 11,024.28
Water Collection System, Right of Way .
3,143.00
3,143.00
Water Collection System, Diversion Rights
4.0,400.00
40,400.00
Water Collection System, Impounding Reservoirs ..
194,524.78
194,524.78
Water Collection System, Collection Reservoirs and Intake Wells
51,084.39
51,084.39
Water Collection System, Aqueducts and Supply Mains
407,668.29
$ 50.00
407,718.29
Purification System, Chem- ical Treatment Plant
2,799.63
2,799.63
Purification System, Water Testing Equipment
31.50
31.50
Pumping System Structures
5,208.85
5,208.85
Pumping System, Pumps and Pump Equipment ...
12,469.80
12,469.80
47
Distribution System, Rights
of Way
404.00
404.00
Distribution System, Trans- mission Mains
330.43
330.43
Distribution System, Stor-
11,994.02 394,150.45
10,888.21
405,038.66
Distribution System, Fire Hydrants
24,127.07
1,390.34
25,517.41
Distribution System, Foun- tains
11,107.75
11,107.75
Other General Structures ..
3,329.00
3,329.00
General Office Equipment
738.19
738.19
Engineering and Superin-
8,347.68
145.44
8,493.12
tendence during Construc- tion
33,566.50
33,566.50
Administrative and Legal
Expenses during Construc- tion
11,024.28
11,024.28
Interest during Construction
34,065.04
34,065.04
Development Cost
63,913.91
63,913.91
Siloam Property
4,595.00
4,595.00
$1,330,047.84 $ 12,473.99
$1,342,521.83
WATER DEPARTMENT -- CREDIT ACCOUNTS 1940
Metered Water, Light Plant
$ 618.12
Metered Water, Fire Houses
124.82
Market House, Meter Room,
and Police Headquarters
104.17
Memorial Fountain
311.85
Comfort Station
300.61
Borough Farm
16.39
Disposal Plant
374.46
Borough Garage
20.04
Parks and Playgrounds
329.40
East Queen, South Fourth,
and Loudon Street Pro- perties
16.50
$ 2,216.36
Free Water Per Agreement
Penn Hall Farm
$ 125.47
Kennedy Farm
13.91
Childrens' Home (75% )
48.45
Hospital (75%)
310.15
Salvation Army
11.72
$ 509.70
$ 2,726.06
Note: This amount $2,726.06 used in Comparative Income Statement as Free Water furnished in 1940.
48
age Reserve Tanks, etc. ..
11,994.02
Distribution System, Mains
Other General Equipment ..
Free Unmetered Water Furnished the Following in 1940
222 Fire Hydrants at $15.00, plus 11 added during year $ 3,367.50
Sewer Flush Tanks (122) 2,069.12
Flushing Storm Sewers and Street Work 750.00
Road Roller and Street Sweeper
25.00 $ 6,211.62
Note: This amount $6,211.62 does not appear in any other statement.
WATER LIENS
Balance to be collected Jan-
uary 1, 1940
$ 1,688.25
Water Assessments entered
as Liens 1940
634.85
Interest Accrued
232.94
Costs and Penalty
36.50
$ 2,592.54
Collected during' 1940
$ 633.37
Interest Collected
238.62
Costs and Penalty Collected
36.50
Balance to be collected Jan- uary 1, 1941
1,684.05
$ 2,592.54
WATER ASSESSMENTS
Assessments made during 1940
$ 7,659.95
Interest Accrued
6.51
$ 7,666.46
Collected during 1940
$ 6,075.66
Interest collected
6.51
Liens entered 1940
634.85
Balance to be collected Jan- uary 1, 1941
949.44
$ 7,666.46
HARRY R. GEARHART, ALBERT S. HENNEBERGER, HERBERT C. KEEFER, Auditors.
49
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 William Sellers
M. A. Foltz C. H. Fulwiler
B. M. Nead Van T. Haulman Samuel L. Hawbaker W. Lynn Ritchey George A. Britsch
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 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 trac- tion 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 cer- tainly could not have stayed in business very long. Some of the citizens of Chambersburg remember distinctly seeing these electric lamps sus- pended 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 Cumber- land 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 Street, 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 his 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.
50
-
MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT-1940
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 Elec- tric Light Company at a price of $9,797.50. This plan was installed solely for furnishing lighting for the streets of the town. The plant was operated 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.
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.