After Study Shows It Would Cost Louisburg Less to Generate It's Own Electricity, Town Buys Oil Engine Outfit, July 18, 1919

From The Franklin Times, Louisburg, N.C., July 18, 1919

Buys Oil Engine Outfit. . . Expects to Have New Plant Installed in About 60 Days

The board of Town Commissioners met in special section last Friday afternoon to hear the report from the committee that had visited Southport and some other places on a tour of investigation of the efficiency, cost and satisfaction of the oil engine that had been proposed for the power plant for Louisburg. Their report was very favorable, showing that Louisburg could make a big saving over its present cost of operating and to such an extent that it would be unwise to consider any proposition from the Carolina Power and Light co. Whereupon a motion in proper form prevailed purchasing the oil engine outfit, after the contract and guarantys had been read and examined. This outfit consists of a 160 horse power direct connected engine and alternator, mortised chain-driven excitor, 125-horsepower united, unit for day run, one 100-horse-power motor driven fire pump, and 10 horse-power motor driven, river pump, and one 25 gallon motor driven pump for pumping oil to the power house, and a 10,000 gallon storage tank at a cost of $27,000. The necessary preliminary financial arrangements have been made and the plant is ordered out. This plant is equipped for 24-hour service which the Commissioners contemplate installing when the new plant is started up. One unit of the present steam plant will be held in readiness as an auxiliary, until a satisfactory sale can be found for it, when it will, no doubt be replaced with another unit of the large oil engine outfit.

In doing away with the truck, shavings, coal, and firemen, the Commissioners expect to make a saving of at least $500 a month, with a splendid probability of $700 or more.

The citizens of Louisburg who want electric current during the 24 hours for other than lighting purposes are advised to take the matter up with Supt. Hill that necessary arrangements may be made so that when the new plant is put into use they can avail themselves of the all-day current.

With all the available information in hand there is no question that the present Board of Commissioners are to be congratulated upon making the best business deal for the town it has experienced in many years and there is hardly any doubt but that it will prove even more so in the future.

It is now expected that the new plant will be installed, ready for running, within the next 60 days.

In Other Business

It was ordered that all persons with cotton on hand May 1^st must list same at $100 per bale.

Ordered that notice be served on C.T. Stokes, Allen Bros., G.W. Ford and W.A. Perry Jr. to appear before the Board today for failing to list cotton.

Upon motion the board received all tax lists, with the understanding if anything is wrong with any of the respective tax, listers will correct same without extra compensation.

It was ordered that H.A. Matthews property be reduced to $2,240 and J.A. Spencer’s property be raised to $2,240, both being the Spencer land.

Ordered that oaths of T.W. Watson and Hugh W. Perry be received and filed.

G.W. Ford was before the Board in regard to listing cotton. The matter was deferred to next regular meeting.

All township road trustees were ordered to make reports to the Board of County Commissioners.