The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-10-31
WATER POWER.
ENGINEER POPE DIsCoURsEs ABOUT
WATER AND STEAM POWER
HERE AT AUSTIN.
An Interesting and Carefully Prepared
Document Showing the Superior
Advantages of Water Over
Steam.
AUSTIN, Tex, October a, 1889.

To the Editor of the Statesman.
Having in my letter in your issue of
the Goth, shown the monetary value
of the water power that may be de-
veloped by the construction of dam
across the Colorado river at Austin,
will, according to promise, compare the
cost of power so created with similar
amount generated by steam, the local
price for coal being taken at "a per ton.
AS already stated, the cost of the dam
and canal to develope 1900 horse
power will be about $4,000. 1 take
it for granted, that the right OF
way 90 acres)5 will be given gratis
by the successful competitor. In
the location of the head
works on his property, in view of the
enhancement of the remaining por
ton of the real estate he may pos
sess there, which, however, even if
paid for at its market value, will be
under $50 per acre. There remains
now to take into account, compensa-
ton for the cultivable land liable to
occasional intimidation by the increas-
ed height of the floor level of the
river. There appears to be an eXag-
gerated idea in the minds of not a few,
that large area will be thereby af-
fected, but as | have taken levels and
surveyed the river from Austin to
some miles above Bull creek, / am in
a position to state, that the total cul-
tivable area liable to intimidation, by
even 50 extraordinary rise rs occur
red in 1869, will be under 100 acres and
that in ordinary years it will not
amount to go and the total compen-
sation for both right-of-way and sub
merged land would be high at $4,000.
However, taking all these incidental
expenses together at s., 1000; the total
cost of the dam and canal may be put
down at $l53, 900, and the power de-
veloped 5000 horse power. Dividing
each of these quantities by 3, the pro-
portionate cost of 1000 horse power
will be $51 900. The cost of turbine
wheels, penstock and shafting to oper-
ate 1000 horse power for fall of
thirty-fve feet will be about $4,000.
The annual cost, therefore, of oper-
ating 1000 horse power generated by
water power will be as follows:
Interest at per cent per annum on
$4,000, cost of proportionate con-
structlon of dam and canal =. $4,000
Interest on cost of wheels, ETC., at
| per cent. ................ ,.......... 7ZO
Cost of annual supervision of dam
and canal and repairs to same at
per cent on SOL, 900. ............. 1880
Sinking fund for depreciation of mo-
tive power at per cent on $4,000. $50
Annual repairs to above at per
| cent NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 24O
| One wheelman at S45 per month $40
Total annual cost of ,OOOho power
generated by water. S6,45O
| ANNUAL COST OF ONE THOUSAND HORSE
| POWER GENERATED BY STEAM.
Cost of engines, boiler, chimney,
engine house, ETC., $4,000. In
terest at six per cent .............$ 3,12O
! Sinking fund for depreciation of
above at per cent on $50, 200. .,... 2,0S0
Annual repairs, ~ per cent. ....... l,3OO
Salary of eE gineer per amman. ..... 1900
| Oiler and assistant. Observation-Disclosures. 40
Two firemen at $45 each month r.. 1850
One coal passer at $50 month ...... $50
Engine room, supplies of oil, ETC.. 200
| Coal, 1000 horse power, at two
pounds of coal per hour per
horse power for 300 days of ten
hours each, 1859 tons at "a 49,. 11,O36
Total annual cost of generating 900
horse power by steam. .....,..... so, 1906
| Deduct annual cost of 1000 horse
power by water .................. 6,45O
Total annual saving in favor of
water power. ..... Pl4,ofO
1t is thus seen that steam is over
three and one-half times as expensive
as water power, and the annual saving
on 1000 horse power nearly $l5 900.
The saving on the 5000 horse power
generated by the dam, canal and tur-
bine would be as much as $45, 900 per
annum.
1t may, however, be said that the
1000 horse power generated by steam
will, without any sensible depreciation
of its effect as a motive power, heat the
factory buildings in winter and also
give the necessary heat and moisture
required in the weaving of cotton and
wooden fabrics, and that this will have
to be supplied in a mill worked by
water power. Granting this to be so,
100 horse power generated by steam
will, in our climate, more than suffice
for this purpose of heating, etc. But
as the cost of an engineer and fireman
will be the same for an engine of 100
horse power as for less, and as the ex-
cess power can always be utilized in a
mill, the cost of 100 horse power gen.
Grated by steam will be added to the
water power mill as a part of its neces-
sary euuipment
Cost of engine, boiler, engine room
and chimney for 100 horse power,
$40 900; interest at 6 per cent per
| Annum ......:................ > OOO
Sinking fund for depreciation at
per cent. ............I.......... fOo
Engineer per annum at $40 per
] month. ..........-........... WO
Fireman per annum at S45 per
month NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 30
Coal, ton day. lat 2 Id coal per
horse power) for 300 days of ten
hours each at "a per ton .......... 1,236
Repairs to engine, oil and sundries,
pa per cent. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 80
Total annual cost of 100 horse power
generated by steam. ............ S3,O26
Add annual cost of 1000 horse power
generated by water. ............... 6,4JO