Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


London's Electric Light Plant


From History of Madison County, Ohio, Chester E. Bryan, Supervising Editor, B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis (1915)

The beginning of London's electric-light plant is found in a resolution passed by the village council of London, February 6, 1885, as follows: "As the time is nearly approaching when it will be necessary to make provision for the lighting of the village of London by some artificial means, and as the present rate of gas is exorbitant in price, therefore be it

"Resolved, That a delegation of this council, including the mayor, be appointed to visit Circleville, Pickaway county, and examine the improved incandescent Edison light and determine as to its cost and practical utility."

On March 20, 1885, an ordinance was introduced before the council and read once, providing for the lighting of the streets by the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Company. However, it was voted to renew the contract with the Gas Company for gas lighting and the contract was approved on August 14, 1885. This settled the question of street lighting for five years and the electric-light agitation remained quiet until June 14, 1889, when the council gave a ten-year contract and franchise to J. C. Winchester, of the London Electric Light and Power Company, at an annual cost of three thousand four hundred and forty-five dollars for sixty-five posts. On December 13, 1889, another contract with the same J. C. Winchester was rushed through the council, calling for forty lights at eighty dollars per light or totalling thirty-two hundred dollars, and repealing the old contract with the same party. Members of the old gas company incorporated as the London Light and Power Company and hoped to claim the contract and franchise made by the council, and a long legal battle followed.

On January 17, 1890, Winchester contracted with the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Company, of Boston, for the putting in of an electric-light plant within sixty days. The plant was to consist of two dynamos—a fifty and an eighty—and one one-hundred horsepower engine. Winchester proceeded to erect his poles and was stopped by an injunction issued by Judge David D. F. Pugh, of Columbus, Ohio, applied for by "The London Gas Light Company," plaintiff, against John C. Winchester and his associates under the name of and style of "The London Electric Light and Power Company, of London, Ohio." On March 22, the council by its attorneys, Badger & Murray, and Winchester, through his attorney, G. W. Wilson, filed an answer to the injunction.

In the latter part of May, 1890, another light company was formed in London organized by J. R. Atchison, Ed. Armstrong, Will Cartzdafner and D. C. Badger, which claimed to be connected with neither of the two contending firms and hoped to be able to receive the contract and franchise. On May 30, the council considered an ordinance providing for the people of London to vote on the electric-light question and repealing all other ordinances previously passed. The section calling for an election was dropped and the ordinance as finally passed, on August 1, simply repealed the contract made with Winchester. At the same meeting at which this step was taken the contract with the London Gas Light Company was renewed for the period of one year, at eighteen dollars per light yearly—moonlight schedule—and one dollar and fifty cents per thousand feet for private consumption. The officers of the gas company at that time were: Willlam Jones, president; G. G. Green, Woodbury, New Jersey, secretary; George Van Wagener, acting secretary; directors, E. R. Florence, S. W. Durfiinger, and Toland Jones, not more than ten shares being owned in London.

On October 31, 1890, an ordinance was read by the clerk giving the gas company a ten-year franchise and contract at one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand cubic feet. This ten-year contract was voted down on December 5, 1890.

A number of London citizens, in April, 1893, organized the Madison Electric Light and Power Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars for furnishing light and power for private and public consumption. This was the result of steps taken by the waterworks company to ask the council for a franchise to erect poles and supply private houses with electric power. The waterworks company's request was tabled.

MUNICIPAL LIGHTING PLANT

City Solicitor Bruce P. Jones, on February 15, 1895, submitted a report on the necessary steps to be taken toward a municipal lighting plant. A resolution to issue and sell twenty-five thousand-dollar bonds for the purpose of erecting an electric light plant and submitting the question of issuing and selling the same to the voters of the town at the following spring election was introduced and read. This was passed on March 1, 1895, and the result of the election was as follows:

  For Against
First Ward 214 64
Second Ward 225 18
Third Ward 143 15
Fourth Ward 171 10

Majority of 646.

On September 27, 1895, the clerk was instructed to advertise for bids on the purchase of fifteen thousand-dollar electric-light bonds. On November 12, 1895, at a special meeting, the council hired Frank B. Rae of Chicago, to superintend the erection of the light plant. The bonds were sold to Seasongood & Mayer, of Chicago, at a premium of one thousand three hundred and seventy-six dollars and twenty-five cents, November 9, 1895. The plans and specifications submitted by Engineer Rae for the construction of a plant, the erection of lines and poles, etc., were accepted December 5, 1895, and the contract for the installation of poles, lines, etc., was given to the Electrical Installing Company, of Chicago, for three thousand nine hundred and sixty-five dollars. Bids on the remainder of the work were rejected. A lot was bought of J. C. Bridgman for three hundred dollars, near the Pan-Handle tracks, in the southwestern part of town, the railroad company agreeing to put in a siding and to pay for its light. January 3, 1896, the sale of five thousand dollars more in bonds was advertised, and on January 10 the contract for the dynamos was given to the Ft. Wayne (Indiana) Electric Corporation for five thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars and fifty cents. On January 17, 1896, the contract for the construction of the brick power house was sold to Core & Kulp, of London, for two thousand seven hundred and ninety-three dollars. The contract for the engines, etc., went to the Buckeye Engine Company, of Salem, Ohio, for two thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars.

On July 29, 1896, Engineer Rea reported the plant completed and in excellent shape. On August 1, 1896, the council hired H. Herser, formerly of the Ft. Wayne Electric Corporation, as electrician; William Placier, of London, as engineer and fireman, and Charles H. Harper, of London, as lamp cleaner and carbon placer. On August 14, 1896, two thousand dollars more in bonds were sold, making a total issue of twenty-two thousand dollars.

The electric plant was run on a money-losing basis for a few years, at the end of which time a board of trustees was created to govern it. This board was created in 1900 and consisted of Charles Butler, William Cartzdafner and S. P. Trumper. These trustees met on September 25, 1900, with the council and asked for two new boilers of one hundred and fifty horsepower, one engine of two hundred horsepower, one incandescent light machine, with a capacity of from fifteen hundred to eighteen hundred, totaling about seven thousand dollars in improvements. This meant another bond issue and a resolution was passed on September 28, by the council to submit the question to the voters of the village, which was done and voted favorably upon. Six one-thousand dollar bonds were sold to Feder, Holxman & Company, Cincinnati, and one more to the Madison National Bank, of London. This new equipment was put in and the plant put on a paying basis, which the trustees have managed to maintain to this day.


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