The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-24
TAe water Power at .icondcrora

HNiHuV'; vi unulllliy lilIlillty never can.
T'ne water Power AT ricondcrown.
Much has been said and written of the
water privileges of Tcondcroga but the
half has never yet been told
The grand reservoir from which come
the waters of the Sounding Water" is
Lake George, lying three hundred feet
above tide water and which drains an area
of over two hundred and fifty miles. The
descent from here uniilit cmptics'its waters
over the lower falls is two hundred and
fifty feet distance Of about one mile As
the waters emerge from this mighty reser-
yoir the current is scarcely perceptible, but
as we reach the upper falls, the quiet rip
pies grid up their loins as il were for a
race and passing between rocky banks it
| approaches the upper falls and taking Il
leap over, il becomes broken, and bounds
and booms, down the cliffs, and dashing,
pouring, and beating in vain against its
letters Of rock it desccnds one hundred and
two feet to the foot of the upper falls. 1t
continues its mad force passing at one time
between high rocky banks, then foaming
over stones, whirling around islands Of
drift wood it passes on through groves of
cedar and pine, foams around boulders
that battle in its current, cddying past iut-
ting rocks, all the time growing gceful and
wild as it dances over its rocky bed, it fin
ally makes n descent of seventeen feet near
the first bridge at the village Near this
bridge the river branches off into three
separate streams, all taking different
courses and finally all come together al the
pond just above the lower falls.
IT'S VALUE
No water power in the country can COM
pare in many points to this From the up
per falls until the water passes over the
lower ones, not one dam can be found. To
supply the various mills that have been
erected upon its banks, troughs are made
which are provided with gates to regulate
their supply.
The banks and bottom of The stream are
solid rock and hardly any foundation need
be placed under a mill. The stream never
varies foot, such thing as an overflow
never being known, and the great expense
commonly incurred in having TO erect
dams is here done away with. and at a
trilling expense. Water enough can be
procured to carry the machinery necessary
to supply the largest of mills, while the
fact that no danger can be feared of n
freshet is one of the most forcible argu-
ments that can he produced in its favor.
Some of the many advantages of this re-
markable water power which in the above
mentioned respects, is seldom ''if ever"
equallel it may be well to consider.
IT'S EXTENT.
The average breadth ut the upper village
is 43 feet, its depth 4.97 feet, and its vel
oclly 90 feet per second, affordng
volume Of 4iG3l cubic feet per second.
The minimum supply may be safely stated
at 400 cubic feet per second, and by allow
ing one-fourh off for evaporation, filtra-
ton and wastage we procure 800 cubic
per second. In 1876 feet of the fall to
Trout Brook it is calculated that the power
is sufficient to drive 300, 900 spindles inclu-
ding looms and preparations. From Lake
George TO Trout Brook the fall is the least,
from there to the lower falls probably five
times the power could be procured.
BY diifusing this water through canals
arranged with basins and water lots, diff
fcrent classes Of manufactures might be
appropriately located, and the water be
used over and over again. Were every
foot of the banks from the upper to the
lower falls occupied, very little art would
be required to bring water to wheels in
every building.
The water is remarkable for its purity,
and can be used in the most delicate uses
of printing, dyeng or bleaching establish
ments.
Coming from the great depths of Lake
George, its warmth and rapidly of current
prevents every fear of obstruction to the
wheel by ice. The largest part of this wa
ter power and its shores was formerly own
ed by the Right Hon. Edward ELLA of
England, and at his death 1t went to his
heirs. Through their exacting and uncer-