Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-22
POWER FOR TIE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

! EDS. RECORD UNION: An interesting ar
ticle on electricity appeared in your issue OF
/ the 18th inst. headed 1.-THE Wonders Future
Generations May Witness, which, judging
at the present time, may be termed somewhat
visionary, nevertheless within reach OF posi-
bility. The day, however, may be somewhat
distant yet when old England will draw its
motive power from the falling waters of
/ Niagara. Yet if the electric railway VIII
| nroye itself a success in every respect, or
| transmit power from distant point, the day
! should and ought not to be very distant when
energetic and far-seeing capitalists will take
advantage of gigantic motive power not
many miles distant from Sacramento which
at present is left to follow its own law, or the
law of gravitation, without takirg advantage
of the created force in its downward course.
Entertaining desire to examine the sand
of the American river, also the soil in close
proximity, the writer visited recently the To-
cality between Folsom and the State Prison,
and while thus engaged was struck with the
mighty power running to waste, Ii dynamo
electric machines, worked by turbine or
other suitable water wheels adapted to
the locality, were placed in suitable
buildings, as on the rivers Main and
Rhine, on floats or fat-bottomed vessels
moorea or anchored securely in the stream.
power could be created to produce all the
motive power California requires at the pres
ent writing, besides furnishing electric light
for city and village. A cable, say the SIZE OF
a large mans arm, would transmit sufficient
electricity to produce great motive power
in city 50 near as Sacramento. 1t could
pump and repump our water from and into
the river produce work for manufacturing
purposes. and tro-deposibion in metals,
besides giving electric light in plenty. Il
would be particularly beneficial in the latter,
where no machines there) are necessary as in
the production of motive power. and after
the first outlay the expenses would probably
be very small, ii proper precaution were
taken in the insulation OF the cable, which
(the cable) would have to be imbedde1 in the
ground, surrounded with non-conducting
material Ia fact, the plan adopted in lay
ing telegraphic wires underground at present
in Europe would. with additional precaution
and alterations, answer the purpose very well.
The main object of Mr.. Siemsns, OF Berlin,
in pushing his electric railway, was, as the
undersigned understood to show to the
world how distant and out Of the way water
powers could have their force conveyed where
it is most useful. By steam-power it has been
demonstrated, and were Folsom's gigantic
water course rs close to Berlin as it is to
Sacramento, the world would soon learn how
the waste power could be probably utilized
at any rate, the water power of Folsom
ought to have advanced little over % per
cent. if Semens' railway scheme proves itself
a success in every respect.
1t might well be asked why men spend
their time, money and brain energy in
Keely motors aud perpetual motion schemes,
when we have the swift-running streams,
waterfalls and the tides to harness up yet.
the great heating power of the sun to concen-
trate and the force of the wind to gather.
Even if the coal-fe give out, there is no
lack of force for men to bride, excepting that
long promised power by which man can
lift himself over the fence or perform similar
miraculous acts. When man will have at
tanned that power it will be after the o.called
millennium. JOHN EITEL.
Sacramento, June Is, 1881.
Referring TO the above it may be added
that Siemens' railway cars, operated by an
electrical motor situated near the track, Is
regularly run between Lichterfelder, near
Berlin. and military school. W. M. Girls
com, Bsrliner, writing to the New York
Times on the subject, says: Water-power
can be used to generate electricity, and that
sit need not be near the railway"