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Electricity on the Island

North Brother Island was like its own isolated city. It needed food to be brought it by boat and water brought in through a pipeline; however, it was pretty self-sufficient. The island was able to provide steam, electricity and eventually an internal telephone system and electrical fire alarm system.

The physical plant made all of this a possibility and powered the island with coal which was stored in a building south of the plant. The process was so streamlined that a separate dock was built just so coal could be imported onto the island quickly and conveniently.