The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-17
THE OCEAN PUMPED ITSELF.
A Successful tse of Wave Power IN sup
plying a Lake,

A Successful Use of Wave Power In sup
plying a Lake,
A great many attempts have been mad
to utilize the force of ocean waves; but as
rule the methods. employed have been g
complicated as to make their nae impracti,
cable. The extreme violence Of the wAve'
in storms, with the corrosive action OF TN
salt water upon metal work tenda 7.
quickly destroy any machinery sstabliskee
to utilize the power OF the waves for pump
ing water or SIMILAR purposes. ~ ls OF con-
siderable interest. therefore, to learn tha'
at tho Princess Anne hotel, on the virginia
coast, the force of the ocean breakers mas
been successfully utilized. Ihe .oircu AZ
indeed vary unusual, vet they may very
likely exist elsewhere, and at II rate the
undertaking is of interest rs Il
sense adaptation of means to ends. /,
As described BY DR.. Joseph Fl. Raymond
in Fire and Water" the problem PFC.
sentod was the publication or a.stagnap
shallow lake about eighty acres III extent
located within 400 feet of the Princess
Anne hotel, a noted winter resort at Vir-
GINA beach, eighteen miles east of Norfolk,
Va. The lake was ons to four feet IN deptn'
with its surface two feet above high water
mark. Its bottom was of lmpervlous clay,
and il was separated from the ocean by q
narrow bluff ten feet high. The AXE had
practically no tributaries and was really
only tho accumulated surface drainage from
the surrounding country. In times OF
drought its level fell very low, and the
Shiny. exposed banks were an syssors and
we're rumorsd to be the cause Of malaria.
into the ocean, which could have been done
at small expense; but this would have ex-
posed q quantity of muck beds and might
have endangered health. Excavating the
muck and replacing it with clean earth was
too expensive, and, besides, the AXE was a
desirable feature in the Landscape ana 2
great attraction to the guests Of the hotel.
1t was then proposed to establish q steam
pumping plant to supply the lake with salt
water from the ocean. The estimated cost
of this was 800 900, with $40 per day for
operating expenses. Betore dong tnis,
however, it was concluded to try and make
the ocean pump itself into the lake; An
surplus Of water would flow back to the
ocsan, and an inlet channel was made
through the bluff separating the lake from
tho ocean. This Inlet channel consists
OF a wooden fume fifteen feet wide
and 300 feet long. 1t was
made level from end to end, with its floor
at the level Of the lake surface, or Two Feet
above high tide. At the ocean end the
tlume terminates in an inclined apron with
iaring sides. The apron is twelve feet
long and has a rise of five feet. starting at
low water mark and terminating two feet
above the floor Of the fume. Az the bot
tom Of the apron tho sides are twenty feet
apart, narrowing to fifteen feet at the top.
It will be seen that this forms a sort of
funnel-shapsd mouthin which the wave
movement is concentrated. "...=
when the waves and the tide are suffi-
high, every successive breaker sends
= quantity of water over the top of the
apron. Under ordinary circumstances,
waves enter the fums each minute,
fling it about a foot deep. This inflow
continues for about six hours daily, and
the quantity of water discharged is esti-
to average 64S,O 0 gallons. With the
on shore and the waves high. this flow
isgreatly exceeded, the water flowing in the
being sometimes three feet deep.
The lake is now 4 beautiful sheet of clear
salt water, most attractive boating, salt
water bathing and fishing. It is main
tanned at q constant level, and its shores
are valuable sites for cottager. The hume
solidly built with pile foundations and
a plank channel. The piles were all driven
4 one aud ons-half inch water jet.
The total cost was about $4,000.