Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
To Harness Niagara !
A Chicago Man Proposes to Make Cap
tive That Great Water Power.
He Has a Scheme for Lighting the
Falls Which Looks Well ON PAPER.

The problem of how TO utilize the
water power of Niagara river for manu-
featuring and other purposes is in a fair
way of being solved by Chicago man.
Practical engineers have declared the pro-
ject feasible and plans have heen formu-
lated with the object of undertaking the
work. B. Bartlett, an engineer and
contractor of Chicago, has been for some
time engaged upon preparatory work
and the result of his labors nave not only
received the approval of capitalists but
is protected by letters patent issued by
the government last month. During the
current week application will be made to
the New York Legislature for the neces-
sary authority to undertake the work.
The application is Endorsed by prominent
citizens of Chicago, and 1t Is not thought
there will be any difficulty il securing the
legislation desired. The bed of Niagara
river at the foot of the falls is said TO be
$50 feet from the bed at the brink Of the
cataract. Mr.. BaI tlett first proposes to
tunnel a series of tail races from the
river bed at the foot of the falls dis
lance of from 200 TO 600 feet up the river
on either The American or Canadian side
OF the river. These completed he will
commence excaVating on direct line to
the upper bed of the river. When the
work mas reached given point between
the upper and lower beds, Golfer dams
100g600 feet in dimensions will be en-
ploye1 tor the purpose of obtaining
space In the former 10 continue the ex-
cavation from the upper bed of the river,
and the same Will be prosecuted until d
junction is made with the excavation
at the upper bed of the river. This COM
pleted, heavy iron beams will be anchor
ed in the solid stone walls composing the
sides of the shaft, to prevent clOgging by
debris, ice, ETC., caught in the river in its
course from Lake Erie. The same course
of operations will be continued until a
tunnel, SO to speak, of a parallel width of
AZ feet has been exoavated from the
American TO the Canadian shore. Ten
feet below these girders a water tight
reservoir will be constructed of
durable material extending longi-
tudinally from shore tu shore
1t will be SforGyS feet in width and
otherwise sufficient in size for the ser.
vice. Ii will be supported in the center
by the bottom of the excavation and Sc
curely held Ia place. Six feet below the
reservoir the workroom of the hands will
be built on another set of girders, also
mOrticed into the rocky sides of the pas
sage. From the working floor double
row of iron pipes, five feet in diameter
will be located 1T a distance of sixteen
feet apart throughout the entire length
of the tunnel, extending from top to
bottom. The interior of each will be
equipped with Turbine wheel of the
latest improved pattern, and each of the
pipes will coAnect with the reservoir by
means of ten-inch pipes, supplied with
valves to regulate the flow of water. Dyna-
mos TO the number of 100 will be placed
at the bottom of the shaft. BY opening
the valves flow of water of incalcula-
BILE force will pass through the ten inch
pipes into the ive-foOt pipes, starting
the Turbine wheels. and the power thus
applied to the dynamOs is trans mitted
over wires to any given point within a
radius of fifty miles, where it can be
utilized as very cheap substitute for
steam or other motive agency. If the
right of way is secured In New York and
Canada, a company will be organized
for the development of this invention,
and the preliminary work upon the ex
cavation will be commenced. The work
it is claimed, can be concluded aud IL
operation within q wear.