The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-07-18
A STUPENDOUS UNDERTAKING.
HaInessinR Niagara Fails for Mechanical
Purposes.


Purposes.
Some months ago the Commercial de-
scribed series of experiments made in
this city with view OF demonstrating
the practicability of using the immense
water.power at Niagara Falls for tran
shifting power to this city through the
agency of compressed air.
AS stated at the time, the expert
ments were sufficiently successful TO con-
vince several of our enterprising citizens
that the scheme was entirely feasible. A
company has been formed, of which
Senator Pierce is president, considerable
capital has been paid in, and practical
operation have been begun.
The principal part of the machinery
will be located near the waters edge,
below the Falls, in the vicinity of that
delightful spot called the Bridal Veil.
The remainder will be on the bank i'm
mediately above. The great air recep-
tacles, three of which will be seventy feet
long by six feet in diameter, will be 10.
Gated below the bank, near the water,
while the receiving reservoirs will be
on the bank. The cylinders will be
constructed Of bOiler-iron in the most
substantial manner. The perpendicular
fall from the feeding basin above to the
air receptacles below is 2li feet. The
engineers figures show 100000 pounds
of iron will be required, and it is esti-
mated that power enough will be gen.
Grated to raise about 100000 gallons of
water $50 feet every minute. These re
suits have been obtained by careful
scientific tests, 80 that there is little
doubt but that they are nearly correct
Gentlemen prominently connected
with this enterprise own Days canal,
which, it will be remembered, was con-
structed several years ago by Mr.. Day
Tor water power purposes, at an expense
OF nearly million dollars. This canal
will play an important part in cennec.
ton with the new project. 1t is 32 feet
wide by II deep, and leads from point
just above the rapids mile across to
the bank below. At its lower terminus
is a large basin 20 feet wide and 800 feet
long and IL feet in depth. From the
basin hume 800 feet long is being dug
to the edge of the precipice. At the
mouth of the fume will be n mas
sive iron gate with an eight,feet
opening, which Pratt & Co. are to fur
nish. Z G water from the aume will
pass into the reservoir, which will be
connected with the mir receptacles be-
low by means of large pipes siphon-
shaped. Attached to the cylinders will
be a requisite number of large automatic
valves to let the water run out of the
cylinders after the compressed air has
been allowed to escape.
The practical working of the machinery
will be briefly as follows: After the
water in the reservoir on the top of the
bank is high enough to reach the bend
of the siphon il will escape down the
pipe to the air cylinders below. The
pressure thus obtained very soon closes
the automatic valves. There being nc
escape for the water which continues tC
pour into the cylinder (each has its owl
ieeder) the air which it contsins is com
pressed by the volume of water from
above, until it has AZ much expansive
power when released as steam. The
capacity of the reservoir and of tn,
cylinders is 20 arranged that the reser
voir will he exhausted by the tim,
the desired compression has beef
obtained. While the reservoir i
again filling with water, that il
in tine cylinder is escaping; 10 that whel
the bend In the siphon is reached tn
contents of the cylinder are exhausted
and it is ready for another charge. Thu
, the operation is repeated at regular in
tervals in each cylinder, and, there bein
several OF them, a continuous charge {
highly compressed air is secured.
There seems to be no doubt but tbs
the air thus compressed can be conveye
by pipes n reasonable distance, and mad
e to do valuable service at nominal e.
;. pense. In France it is conveyed
e miles The loss by friction in TRANSMIT
ting it from the falls to Buffllo il place
at fifty-herse power on every thousan
which is scarcely worthy of mentio
The projectors of this great enterpri
y are confident that they will be able
d do the pumping for city wster-works
d figures which will make the present CO
e OF the department appear enormou
y They are also confident that they CT
J. make compressed air take the place
a steam in manufacturing, thus dol
y away with the necessity for fire or flu
k They are aiming to do wonders, an
T, what is more, the chances seem to
le strongly in favor of their success.
is Buffalo Commercial.
Of ----
Il A PoULTPY expert informs the Mai