The Catasauqua
Electric Light and Power Company
Source:
Lambert and Reinhard, A History of Catasauqu 1914
LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTCN POWER
HOUSE OF CATASAUQUA
The
Catasauqua Electric Light and Power Company was organized in 1890, and on April
7th of the same year, Town Council granted the new company the right to occupy
the streets of the Borough with poles and wires as was necessary for the
conduct of its business.
The
generating system was of the old Edison, three wire direct current style, which
is now practically obsolete in the Lehigh Valley. In 1900, the Catasauqua
Electric Light and Power Company, the Northampton Electric Company and the
Lehigh County Electric Company were consolidated with the gas companies
mentioned above, into the Lehigh-Northampton Gas and Electric Company.
In
November, 1907, a Bondholders' Committee reorganized the Lehigh Northampton Gas
and Electric Company into the Lehigh-Northampton Light, Heat and Power Company,
which, through a Bondholders' Committee disposed of the electric portion to the
Lehigh Valley Light and Power Company.
From
the beginning, progress was not very rapid until about 1900, when alternating
current was distributed to what is now termed the Borough of Northampton on the
east, and the Borough of Coplay on the west side of the river.
During
1890, the gas street-lighting was discontinued and the ordinary thirty-two
candle power lamps substituted, which was the system of street lighting in the
Borough of Catasauqua until 1900, at which time a contract was made with the
Borough to furnish are lamps to aid deficient service.
At
present, a new style system, termed series street-lighting, is used in
connection with the are lamps. This is a great improvement over the old style
system used in 1890.
During
the past few years, electricity for motive power has been introduced and is
rapidly supplanting the smaller isolated installation; and, with the cost of
manufacturing current being reduced yearly, it will become a matter of economy
for some larger manufacturers to substitute electric current for motive power.
The
territory being served with electricity consists of the Boroughs of Catasauqua,
North Catasauqua, Coplay, Northampton, and Fullerton and Egypt. The number of
consumers is one thousand, and the value of the plant is estimated at two
hundred thousand dollars.
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