Angell's Save Harbor

The Susquehanna is one of the hardest working rivers in the U. S. From its headwaters in Broome County, N. Y. to its duck-teeming delta at Havre de Grace on Chesapeake Bay, it flows through a busy industrial district. Neither long nor deep, it has no ships moving up & down it; work for the Susquehanna means power plants, not navigation. In the last 33 mi. of its course three great hydro-electric systems derive their energy from its waters, plants capable of producing more horsepower than any other hydro-electric development in the U. S.*

Last week the third and greatest unit went into operation when Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. started its first generator, began to deliver power to Baltimore. Safe Harbor, Pa. got its name many years ago when the mouth of Conestoga Creek offered shelter to Susquehanna flat boats. In 1929, when work began on Safe Harbor dam, it was a quiet village. Little work had been done when the stock-market crashed in November but construction went on at a faster pace. The company's bankers, Aldred & Co. of New York, supplied money to Arundel Corp., construction engineers, whenever they wanted it. The engineers bought materials more cheaply in 1930, got better labor for less money. Result: the dam's opening was nine months ahead of schedule. Safe Harbor owners will save almost a year's interest on $21,000,000 of 4 1/2%. bonds sold to finance the project.

Safe Harbor Water Power Corp. is owned jointly by Consolidated Gas Electric Light & Power Co. of Baltimore and Pennsylvania Water & Power Co. Chair-man of all three companies is bald, mustached Banker John Edward Aldred of Manhattan to whom the debut of Safe Harbor brought some comfort in a time of trial over the affairs of Gillette Safety Razor Co.* In 1909 John Aldred came down from Canada to be receiver for McCall Ferry Power Co. Under his direction it was reorganized as Pennsylvania Water & Power Co. A big dam at Holtwood, Pa. was completed and began supplying power to Consolidated Co. of Baltimore. In the 15 years which followed Banker Aldred & partners watched the growing industrial life of the district, quietly bought up the property around Safe Harbor, gained control of Consolidated Co. Most important item for any hydro-electric development is a good market for its product. Expensive to build, big power dams must be able to sell electricity readily or their overhead charges eat up all profit. Safe Harbor dam was not begun until its sponsors foresaw the electrification of the Pennsylvania Railroad from New York to Washington. Last week Aldred & Co. were able to announce the largest single power contract in U. S. history when Safe Harbor got an order from Pennsylvania to supply current for its lines from the east bank of the Susquehanna into the capital. Besides this, Safe Harbor transmission lines connect with the widespread delivery system of the Holtwood dam, reaching into Baltimore, Lancaster, York, Coatesville.

Construction statistics on the dam ran into dazzling figures, difficult problems. Over 1,500,000 cubic yards of rock were removed from the river and nearby quarries. Eight and one-half miles of railroad track were raised without stopping traffic. Four thousand men were employed at one time in the work. The dam is 92 feet high and with the power house extends more than a mile in length.

Guiding genius of the dam was the late George Henry Angell, construction superintendent, oldtime associate of Banker Aldred in other hydro-electric developments. One of his first big jobs was the Holtwood dam. Others: New York's Kensico dam, the Queenston dam in Ontario, and the other big Susquehanna dam built and owned at Conowingo by Philadelphia Electric Co. Nobody knew the vagaries of the Susquehanna better than Engineer Angell, who in April saw his last great battle at Safe Harbor well won before he was stricken with heart disease and died in the field.

*Mr. Alfred and other 1930 officers and directors of Gillette are being sued by minority stockholders for $21,000,000, a claim arising from Gillette's purchase of AutoStrop Safety Razor Co. On the witness stand last fortnight before Judge William M. Prest, overstrained Banker Alfred broke down, tears came to his eyes. The inquiry was adjourned for several days.

*When completed, Hoover Dam will have a capacity of some 1,200,000 h. p. against the three Susquehanna dams' 1,038,000. Other dam capacities: Niagara (U. S.) 557,000, Muscle Shoals 250,000, Saluda 260,000, Keokuk 150,000, Bagnell 201,000.

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