Wichita eagle., 1888-06-30
WATER POWER.
THE CULVER.CR0W PATENT AS
PERFECTED In THE ARKAN-
SAS AT DERBY.
Immense Wheels Running With an
Estimated Force Of 140 to 200
Horse Power---Company
Forming to Operate
at Wichita.

For long time Messrs. Crow and Cul
yer have worked to perfect method for
utilizing the water power OF shallow
| streams or streams that have no waterfalls
or rapids, These gentlemen, or rather DIR.
J. 3. Culver, lived at Derby, a very
pleasantly situated little town twelve
miles south of this city on the banks of
| the Arkansas river.
These gentlemen associated themselves
with other citizens of Derby and organized
what IS called the Culver-Crow Water
| Power Company, with an authorized CAPT
tai of so, 900. The first thing they pro-
| ceeded to do after perfecting the organiZa
ton during the late fall OF 1881 was
TO begin the construction upon the
principles covered by the patents
procured by Messrs. Culver and Crow, a
water power of sufficient size to practically
test the principal involved. The work
was completed in the early part Of last
winter, although at considerably more ex-
pense than would attend a second one
when all of the requisite steps are
thoroughly understood.
Briefly, the principle patented by the in
ventors of this power are embraced within
the idea of damming the stream in such a
way as to force a stream Of water through
fume. in which are suspended one, two,
three, ten, a dozen, twenty, or more,
water-wheels in procession, one before
another. These wheels may be as numerous
as the length of the fume will permit. AS
far as any one can discern, they all work
with equal velocity and can be coupled in
pairs, trios quartettes or ali worked to-
gether by means of endless gear chains
connecting the shafts OF the several
wheels. In this way an immense power
must be produced.
The two wheels in operation at Derby
are large, powerful pieces of machinery 26
feet inches in diameter, set upon inch
steel shafting. The arms upon which are
the paddles are of white oak AKA at their
outer ends and Axe where
they are fastened to the hub of the wheels.
Upon the ends of these arms are the pad
dies twelve feet long and thirty-six inches
across their face. The depth of the water
on these paddles can be regulated by
food gaze which raises or lowers at the
upper end of the fiume and can furnish as
of the twelve feet wide fiume. In this
way the power as well as the velocity,
which are of course commensurate one
with the other can be regulated.
An EAGLE representative, who was yes
erday sent to Derby to inspect the power,
timed both wheels and found that each
made seven revolutions per minute equal
to a velocity for the water, of sos feet per
minute. They were then only drawing 16
inches of water on the paddles. The wheels
can be entirely raised out of the water, if
desired, by screws upon which the gearing
rests.
There is apparently an immense power
eXerted by these wheels, although as yet
no machinery has been attached to them.
Experiments and tests Of the power of the
water have been made, in one of which, on
an exposed surface of only forty-two
square inches weight of 1,004 pounds
was raised. Taking this as a basis,
the calculation was completed by
by an expert in water power mechanism,
who found that with the full thirty-six
square feet, (the face of only Que paddle in
three feet of water, no less than 137 horse
power were developed. This he stated was
q remarkably low estimate, as There are DIT
one and the same time one full paddle and
portions of two others in the water expos
ing a surface of ninety-six feet
instead of thirty-six, while in
the basis used for his calcu-
lation only 16 inches were turned on. The
velocity, and consequently the power,
must be greater with three feet than six
teen inches Of water Oh the wheel.
Prof. Hammond, late superintendent of
public instruction of this county tested
the power of one wheel and declared it to be
over 200 horse power with water at
velocity OF only 400 feet per minute and on
sixteen inches of water on the paddles of
the wheels.
There is more than enough water allowed
to flow over the dam and through the fish
run off, to fill another flume II feet wide
and three feet.
The possibilities for developing the
power of the Arkansas river, or any other
like stream by means of the Culver-Crow |
method as shown at Derby have so i'm |
pressed number of Wichita capitalists as |
to induce them to form company with |
100000 capital for the purpose Of develop |
ing that power in the city.