Connecticut western news., 1877-05-04
On the Utilizing of Water Power.

At late meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute at London, Dr. Siemens, the pres ldent, delivered an address replete with valuable information and suggestions. Among other subjects, he discussed the lnodes of utilizing the vast amount of wa ter power that exists in falls and cataracts and showed how this energy can be trans mitted to towns and manufactories at con- siderable distances from the seat of power. On this point he remarked as follows :-
 ''The advantage of using water power ap- plies chiefly to continental countries with elevated plateus, such as Sweden and the United States of North America and it is interesting to contemplate the magnitude of power which is now in the most part lost but which may be-, sooner or later called into requisition. Take the Falls of Niagara as familiar example. The amount of water passing over these falls has been estimated at one hundred million tons per hour, and it's perpendicular des- cent may be taken at 150 feet, without counting the rapids which represent fur ther fall of l50 feet, making a total of 300 feet of descent between lake and lake, But the force represented by this principal fall alone amounts to 16, 800. 900 horse power, an amount, which if it had been produced by steam, would necessitate an expenditure of not less than 266, ,OOO, ,OOO tons of coal per annum, taking the con- sumption of coal at four pounds per horse. power per hour.
 In other words, all the coal raised throughout the world only little more than suffice to produce the amount of pow CT that continually runs to waste at this one great fall: for the entire coal produc. tion of the globe in 1874 did not exceed 275, 900. 900 tons.
 It would be impossible from various causes, to utilize to it's full extent, the force of falling water on the spot where these great sources of power severally ex- ist. In order, therefore, to render this en. eTgy practically available we must devise means for carrying the power to dis tance.
 The writer continues to remark
 ''6ir William Armstrong has shown ul how to carry to distance, and utilize wa ter power by means of high pressure mains and at Schaffhausen, Switzerland, as we'll as at some other places on the continent power IS conveyed to distance of one o two miles without difficulty by means O quick working steel ropes passing oveI large pulleys.
 'Time will probably reveal to us effect ual means of carrying power to great dis tances but cannot refrain from alludinl to one worthy of great consideration. name ly the electrical conductor. Suppose wa ter power is employed to give motion to magneto-electric machine-a very power erful electric current is the result. Thi may be carried to great distance through alarge metallic conductor. and at the re- mote end be made to impart motion tt electromagnetic engines, to ignite the car bon points of electric lamps, and to effec the separation of metals from their com binations. A copper rod three inches il diameter would be capable of transmittin 1000 horse power to distance of thirt. miles-an amount sufficient to supply on quarter of 8 million candle power, whicl would suffice to illuminate a modelatel sized town.
 ''The use of electric power has some times been suggested as 8 substitute fo steam power butt should be borne i mlnd that 30 long as the electric power de bends upon galvanic battery 1t must b much more costly than steam power, sine the combustiple consumed in the battery zinc-a substance necessarily more exper sive than coal. But this question assume totally different aspect if in the produc tion of the electric current natural fore Is used which could not otherwise be rel dered available"
 
 *This estimate Is too low. The Amer can falls are l64 feet high, and the Hors Shoe falls l58 feet high The differenG in level between Lake Erie and Lake Ont rio is given by Lleber at Ss1 feet.