The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-05-22
That will Result In Vast Good
to Our City.
The following is taken from recent issue
of tho dn


Yesterday PREss reporter called upon
Mr.. John Warren. agent of the great paper
mills at Cumberland Mills, and submitted the
statement OF the Paper Trade Journal He
said the report that Portland would be sup
piled with water from the dam was without
true foundation. On the other hand no such
thing will be attempted. The dam is being
constructed foH4the purpose Of furnishing
water power to drive electrical machines for
electric lighting and power. The water
power at this dam will be used wholly for
this purpose. A large part of the current
developed will be utilized for power and for
lighting at the Cumberland Mills. The ulti-
mate use OF the falls will be for electric
lighting and power In this city. 1t will take
ten 4S-inch water wheels to utilize the entire
How OF the river, and before long that num-
Der OF wheels Will be put in. Perhaps half
OF that number will be put In at first, and
otners Will be added as required. A two
story brick plant, about 60xi6O feet, to con
tain the electrical apparatus, will be erected.
Inc dam, the electric plant, and everything
connected with them, will be Of the best con-
structioD, and the work Of build ing the same
VIII be pushed by large crew. The dam
VIII probably be completed be fore snow flies,
and toe building win be erected and occupied
probably before the close Of another
year. The water power at this dam will be
constant throughout the year, varying very
little. For that reason 1t will be unsurpassed
by any water power and will be of great val
ue. The cheapest source Of energy now
known Is the power of falling water, and
with such power as the one at the falls on
the Presumpscot at Falmouth, transmitted
TO this city In the form of powerful electric
current an opportunity for manufacturing
will be afforded that has never before been
presented here. 1t will be great and tempt
ing inducemenI for manufacturers to locate
here, because then the facilities and advan-
tages Tor manufactures in Portland will be
unsurpassed. Power can be furnished at
low rates, and this power coupled with the
other advantages Of Portland as a manufac-
turing city will be likely to result very fav-
0rably for the city. Manufacturers will take
advantage of the grand facilities offered here
and this means boom for Portland later
on. Heretofore it has not been found posi-
BILE to effect the distribution of water power,
except over very limited areas, but
In the present day of electricity
power may be distributed over vast
areas. There are instances of very
cannot commercially be utilized, by reason
OF their geographical or typographical situa-
tion, such, for example, as the waterpower
Of Falls Village. Conn. one Of the nnest In
New England, which Is practically unayaila,,
ss srsund Re''sss enough there n the Ris Vicinity eys o
afford sites for the necessary factory build
ings, tenements and adjuncts. Scattered all
over New Epgl@nd, and, in fact, most OF the
io horse poWsr IsrT mil sites s,t q
We we're improved In former DAYS, but which
ale y. noY lying idle and contributing nothing
by reas sooh ustrial wealth of tiareQmmunity,
facilities Of transp pEDe9moteness a other incon-
veniences of their situatfoan Every horse
power OF energy thus running to waste would
A fr
year, were il so situated as to be utilized
to the best advantage. 1t Is manifestly an
important part Of the mission of modern cleo
trical development to render all this waste
power once more available for industrial
purposes. Every increase in the limits OF
the economical distribution Of power in
creases the opportunity for employment,
adds to the ease, convenience and comfort
with which the artisan accomplishes his
work, and enlarges the surplus wealth Of the
community.
For years the lower falls of the Presump-
scot have been lying idle; they have been
worthless to Portland because Of their re-
moteness. But now science has made them
available 70 the city, and power so much
needed will be brought here.
The two countries which have made by far
the greatest advances In the utilization and
distribution OF electric power are Switzer-
land and the United States. 1t is we'll known
that Switzerland is disadvantageously sit
uated for manufacturing country, for the
reason that, although 1t Is supplied with an
almost unlimited number of the finest water
powers In the world, situated upon unfail-
Ing streams fed by the melting Of Alpine
SHOWS, yet these are situated, in almost every
instance, in inaccessible valleys and rayines
where economical transportation of heavy
products is impossible. The railway lines
are situated in the main valleys at too great
distance from the water powers, In the
majority OF cases, to render them Of much
value. Steam power, on the other hand, Is
expensive, as there are no coal mines in the
republic, and the coal used must be brought
many hundred miles and up heavy grades,
which render it so costly that the Swiss
manufacturers have been unable to compete
successfully with those more favorably sit
uaten in countries in closer proximity to the
IRON and coal districts. The manufactures
fore been confined to the lighter and more
delicate varieties of machinery, in which the
cost OF labor Is the principal element and
the cost OF transportation an lnconsiderable
one.
The recent introduction of methods of
transporting and distributing power by cleo
triclty Is rapidly changing this state Of
affairs, and In a few years it Is probable that
Switzerland will become one Of the foremost
manufacturing countries of Europe in all
those varieties of industry in which cheap
power Is an important element, such as the
manufacture of steam engines, locomotives
and heavy machinery, of paper, cotton and
woolen goods, and the like. In the ancient
city Of Solothurn, in the northwestern part
of Switzerland, there is mandatory Of
machine screws which is driven by an cleo
trio motor OF 80 horse power, which drives
Its energy from turbine wheel situated on
mountain streams at a distance Of over five
miles from tn eworks. The electric current
Is conveyed upon wires not larger than an
ordinary lead pencil, suspended upon poles
n n ia Vrah oh ktf.n
any difference between this line and the
ordinary telegraph line, and in fact. there is
no difference, except that the construction Is
rather more substantial and the insulation
more carefully attended to. The proprietor
of this factory says that his electric motor
had been running II hours day for over
two years and has never been out of order
for moment, and has required no repairs
he can not say too much In Its praise.
A delalne mill at Derendingen, Switzer-
land, OF $1,000 spindles and the necessary
compliment Of other machinery IS
OF $50 horse power, deriving their energy
from turbine wheel situated about one and
a half miles from the factory, the connection
being made by a line Of insulated copper
wire similar to the one at Solothurn. The
manager of this factory considers this power
far superior to any other form OF power, es-
pecially In the manufacture Of the delicate
white woolen goods, In which the absence Of
the smoke, clnuerS ana dirt from steam en-
gine Is particularly desirable condition.
This Is also the case In paper making and
other Industries of like character. The cost
of this electric installation at Derendingen,
including the electric generators. electric
motors and connecting conductors, was
about $4,000 of our money, or about S5i per
effective horse power. The cost of atten-
dants, repairs and maintenance is trifing.
In consideration of these facts what may
not be expected to result from bringing the
power Of Falmouth Falls into Portland?
There are several other instances of electric
power transmission in Switzerland. One OF
these, at Lucerne, carries 120 horse power
half mile, and another $50 horse power a
quarter of a mile. 1t Is quite clear that
there can be no possible difficulty In convey.
ing even 1000 horse power at least distance
OF five miles, and there is no reason to SUP
pose that this distance is anywhere near tie
possible limit which may be attained
We have no examples In the United States
Of anything like this amount of power be-
ing transmitted and utilized by single mo.
tor. IL Is not known that any motor has
yet been set up Of over 60 horse power. The
development OF power transmission In the
United States has been mainly in the direc-
tlon OF distribution from a common source
Of annrpV n pao RnPnnt