Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-02-14
To Harness Niagara !
, Chicago Man Proposes 10 Make Cap
tive That Great Water Power.
uo Has a Scheme for lighting the
Falls Which Looks Well on Paper.

4h. rrobiem OF how TO utilize the
...t.r mower OF Niagara river for manu-
s.etnrpg and other purposes Is in fair
- nj being solved by q Chicago man.
p-1otieal engineers have declared the pro
80. feasible aud plans have been foImu-
80 with the object OF undertaking the
,ro,k B. Bartlett, an engineer and
'lntraetor of Chicago, has been tor some
time engaged upon preparato'' work
INA the, result of his labors nave not only
received the approval Of capitalists out
i protected by letters patent issued by
.be government last month. During the
current geek application will be made 10
tbs New York Legislature for the neces-
ssry authority TO undertake the work.
m. epplicstion is Endorsed by prominent
einzens of Chicago, and II Is not thought
tbsre will be any ditficu ty lis securing the
LEGISLATION desired. The bed OF Niagara
-i9ar Al the foot of the falls is said 10 be
1e0 feet from the bed at the brink of the
cataract. Mr.. Ba. tlett first proposes to
t,nnel a series of tail races from the
liver bed at the foot of the falls a dis
.snee of from 200 to GOO feet up the river
nm either the American or Canadian side
nj the river. These completed he will
commence excayating On direct line to
tba MINER bed of the river. When the
work has reached a gwen point between
the npper and lower beds, Golfer dams
1oOf60O feet in dimensions will be en-
.loyei tor the purpose of obtaining
space a the former TO continue the ex-
cayation from the upper bed of the river,
and the same will be prosecuted until a
inuctiou is made with the excavation
All the upper bed OF the river. This com
Melted, heavy iron beams will be anchor
I'd in the solid tone walls composing the
sides of the shaft, 20 prevent clogging 10y
debris. ice, etc, caught In the river IN its
course from Lake Erie. The anne course
nj onergtions will be continued until
tunnel, SO TO speak, of parallel width of
a. feet has been excavated from the
American to the Canadian shore. Ten
feet below these girders Il water tight
reservoir will be constructed of
durable material extending loDgi-
tudi-any from shore t. shore.
1t viii be forty. feet in width and
otherwise Sufficient in size for the ser.
vice. It will be supported in the center
bv the uot,c IN of the excavation and Sc
eurey held Ia place. Six feet below the
reservoir the workroom of the hands will
be built on another set of girders, also
mOrriced into the rocky sides of the pas
sage. From the working floor a double
row OF iron pipes, five feet in diameter,
will be located at a distance OF sixteen
feet apart throughout the entire length
Of tine 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 connect with the reservoir by
means OF tvn-lnoh pipes, supplied with
valves 20 regulate the flow of water Dyua
mos to the humber of 100 will be placed
at the bottom of the shaft By opening
the valves q dow of water of incaIcua-
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 dyuamos Is tram mitteG
over wires 10 any given point within
radius of fifty miles, where it can be
mil "a as a very cheap substitute for
s.e3m or other motive agency. II the
right Of way is secured in New York and
Canada, cOmpany will be organized
for be development of this invention,
and the preliminary work upon the ex
cagaHon will be commenced. The work,
% Is cialmed, can be concluded and in
operation Within o wear.