The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-27
Utilizing Niagara.

Utilizing Niagara.
SOME months ago the Commercial de-
scribed series of experiments made in
this city with the view of demonstrate
ing the practicability of using the i'm
mense water power at Niagara Falls
Tor transmitting power to this city
through the agency of compressed air.
AS stated at the time, the experiments
were sufficiently successful to convince
several OF our enterprising citizens that
the scheme was feasible. A company
has since been formed, of which Sen
ator Pierce is President, considerable
capital has been paid in, and practical
operations 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 located 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 per-
pendicular fall from the feeding basin
above to the air receptacles below is PA
feet. The engineers figures show that
200, 900 pounds of iron will be required,
and it is estimated that power enough
will be generated to raise about $50, 900
gallons OF water $50 feet every minute.
These results have been obtained by
careful scientific tests, so that there is
little doubt but they are nearly correct.
Gentlemen prominently connected
with this enterprise own Days Canal,
which was constructed several years
ago by Mr.. Day for water-power pur-
poses, at an expense of nearly $1,000
900. This canal will play an import
ant part in connection with the new
project. 1t is 80 feet wide by II feet
deep, and leads from point just above
the rapids, mile across, to the bank
below. At its lower terminus is large
basin, 20 feet wide and 800 feet long
and II feet in depth. From the basin
a fume 800 feet long is being dug to
the edge of the precipice. At the
mouth of the flume will be massive
iron gate with an eight-foOt opening.
The water from the tlume will pass
into the reservoir, which will be con-
nected with the air receptacle below 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 head of the
siphon, it will escape down the pipe to
the air-cylinder below. The pressure
thus obtained very soon closes the au-
tomato valves. There being no escape
for the water which continues to pour
into the cylinder, (each has its own
feeder,) the ain which it contains is
compressed by the volume of water
from above until it has as much eX-
pansive 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 below. While the
reservoir is again filling with water,
that in the cylinder is escaping, so that
when the bend in the siphon is reached,
the contents of the cylinder is ex-
hausted, and it is ready for another
charge. Thus the operation is repeated
at regular intervals in each cylinder,
and there being several of them, a con-
tinuous charge of highly compressed
air is secured.
There seems to be no doubt 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. The loss by friction in
transmitting it from the Falls to Buff
falo is placed at fifty horsepower on
every thousand, which is 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 which
will make the present cost of the de-
partment appear enormous. They are
also confident that they can make COM
pressed air take the place of steam in
manufacturing thus doing away with
the necessity for fire or fuel. They are
aiming to do wonders, and, what is
more, the chances seem to be strongly
in favor of their success.-Buf0L0 Com
n1erciaL advertiser.