Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-06
A BIG CONTRACT.
Proposition TO Use the Immense Water
Power OF Niagara Falls for Trans
hitting Power to Buffalo,

Buffalo Commercial: Some months ago the
Commercial described a series of experiments
made in this city with theview of demonstra-
ting the practicability of using the immense
water power of Niagara Falls for transmit
ting power to this city through the agency OF
compressed air. As stated at the time, the
experiments were sufficiently successful t.
convince several of our enterprisipg citizens
that the scheme was entirely feasible. A
company has since been formed, of which
Senator Pierce is president, considerable cap
ital has been paid in, and practical operations
have been begun. The principal part Of the
machinery will be located near the water s
edge, below the falls, in the vicinity OF that de-
lgh;ful spot called the Bridal Veil" The
remainder will be on the bank Immediately
above. The great air receptacles, three of
which will be seventy feet long by SIX feet in
diameter, will be located below the bank, near
the water, while the receiving reservoirs will
be On the bank, and the cylinder will be con-
Structed of bOileriron In the most substan-
tial manner. The perpendicular fall from the
feeding basin above to the air receptacles be-
low is two hundred and fourteen feet. The
engineer figures show two hundred thou
sand pounds of iron will be required, and it
Is estimated that power enough will be gen.
Grated to raise about three hundred and fifty
gallons of water one hundred and fifty feet
every minute. Gentlemen prominently con-
nected with this enterprise own Days canal,
which, it will be remembered, was construct
ed several years ago by Mr.. Day, for water
power purposes, at an expense OF nearly q
million of dollars. This canal will play an
important part In connection with the new
project. 1t Is thirty three feet wide by eleven
deep, and leads from point just above the
rapids mile across to the bank below. At
its lower terminus is a large basin seventy
feet wide and eight hundred feet long and
eleven feet in depth. From the basin hume
three hundred feet long is being dug to the
edge of the precipice. At the mouth of the
hume will be a massive iron gate
with an eight-feet opening, which
Pratt & Co. are to furnish. The water from
the fiume will pass into the reservoir, which
will be connected with the air receptaces be-
low by means of large pipes siphon- ped
Attached to the cylinders will be a requisite
number of large automatic valves, to let the
water run out of the cylinders after the com
pressed air had 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 end of the siphon it will
escape down the pipe to the air cylinders be-
low. The pressure thus obtained very soon
closes the automatic valves. There being nc
escape for the water which continues to pour
into the cylinder leach has its own FEEDER,
the air which it contains is compressed by the
volume OF water from ABOVE, untll 1t has as
much expansive power when released as
steam. The capacity of the reservoir and Of
the cylinders is so arranged that the reservoir
will be exhausted by the time the desired
compression has been obtained While the
reservoir Is again filling with water
that in the cylinder is escaping, SC
that when the bend In the siphon IS reached
the contents of the cylinder are exhaust
ed, and it is ready for another charge. Thus
the operation is repeated at regular intervals
in each cylinder, AID, there being several of
| them, continuous charge of highly con-
pressed air is secured. There seems to be nc
doubt but that the air thus compressed can
be conveyed by pipes reasonable distance
and made to do valuable service at nominal
expense. In France it is conveyed fifty miles
Inc loss by friction in transmitting It from
| the falls to Buffalo is placed at fifty horse.
power on every thousand, which ID scarcely
| worthy OF mention. The projectors of this
| great enterprise are confident that they will
be able to do the pumping for the city water
works at figures that will make the present
| cost Of the department appear enormous
| They are also confident that they can max,
compressed air take the place of steam il
manufacturing, thus doing away with tht
necessity for FIRE or fuel. They are aiming b
/ do wonders, and, what is more, the chances
! seem to be strongly in favor Of their success