The morning call., 1893-05-06
\ CHEAP POWER.
Is 1t to Be Found in
Electricity?
THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.
Discussed by the Technical Society.
w. F. c. Hasson Reads an Able
Paper on That Subject.

ht TIE regular meeting Oh lHe 1ecnnlCdl
Society of the Pacific Coast last night w.
F. c. Hasson read paper on the possibili-
ties and limitations of electric transmission
of power through long distances. There
was in attendance large number Of the
scientific men of the city.
The speaker gave a brief history Of the
development of electric motors. 1t was long
claimed, he said, that if an attempt was
made to generate heavy continuous cur
rents al very high voltage the machines
would break down.
At San Antonio, Cal, there is in use an
electric plant that transmits 10000 volts over
twenty-eight miles of wire. This would
tend to show that the machines for trans
mtting power n long distance are thorough
ly practicable. In RedIaDds there will be
finished before three months are over
plant to transmit 3000 horsepower over
twenty miles.
California is greatly in need of such
power. and has many natural conditions
that render it especially desirable. There
are vast mountain ranges whose melting
SHOWS insure constant supply of water for
producing the electric current. Our mount
aims are full of minerals that now cannot be
worked because there is no coal In the
neighborhood. Many possible nanufac-
other places forests that might have been
used as fuel have been destroyed.
ct in these same places there is abun-
dant water-pOwer within a few miles.
Should this power be used to generate
power to be applied where it was needed a
new era of industrial activity would be
brought about. The water thus stored
could also be used in irrigation.
The cost of plant depends largely on the
amount and kind OF wire required TO
10, GOD fka -
does not vary.
There is "a certain analogy between water
and electricity. The pressure or intensity
of electro-m olive force of the current is
measured by volts. The current or guam
tity that flows is measured by amperes.
Multiplying the number of volts by the
number of amperes gives the watts" of
power. 1t take 746 waits TO make one
horsepower.
The volts and amperes correspond to the
head aud quantity OF water
To produce the same power, if we have
less Of head in one case than in another,
we must have greater quantity of water.
In the same way. If we have fewer volts we
must have greater amperes. If the number
Of amperes or quantity were lessened the
voltage or intensity would have to be in
creased.
Should greater power be desired and the
number Of volts remain the same the num-
Der OF amperes and hence the size of the
wires would have to be increased. This is
on the same principle that if the velocity of
stream remains the same to obtain in
creased power The quantity of water would
have to be Increased and the carrying pipes
made larger.
The loss of head In stream Of water in
creases with the distance, and is lessened
by an increased size OF pipe. So in cleo
tricity. The voltage decreases with the dis
tance, and this loss is made less by using
larger wires. Thus 1t can be seen that the
size of wire should be increased with the
length of line. In this way the varying
cost of plants depends on the quantity of
power required and the distance it has to
be transmitted.
Reckoning wire at an average of 162s
cents per pound the wire required to trans
NIT 500 volts, or one horse power, five miles
would cost $500. To transmit 5000 volts
the same distance would cost but So per
horsepower.
The value Of the wire required to trans
nit power fifteen miles varied from So 65
per horsepower when 5sS volts were trans
mitted to SIS when the initial electro
motor force was 5000 volts.
In transmitting an initial motor force of
10000 volts forty miles. the cost of the cop
per wire for each horsepower varied from
$40 when the line loss was only 10 per cent
to $40 60 when 40 per cent OF the force was
lost along the line.
The wire required to transmit 10000 volts
forty miles varied from SIS 60 per horse
power delivered when only 10 per cent of
power was wasted in transmission to ST 80
per horsepower when there was loss Of
10 per cent.
''Cheap power is absolutely essential to
the development of California's indus
tries" said Mr.. Hasson. Yet this cheap
power is not always TO be had, for though
no long-distance transmission is absolutely
impossible 1t may be thoroughly impracti-
cable.
The points to be con sidered In adiudpinp
the practcability of erecting motors were
many. Some of the most important were
the amount of water-power permanently
available. the cost of a water-power and
electric plant and the interest on the same,
the amount of power needed, the distance Of
transmission. and the cost of. machinery
arendy in use which would be rendered
idle"
In the discussion that followed Mr Lowe,
the president Of the California Electric
Society. said that the first lOng-distance
transmission on the coast was in Oregon.
In San Antonio curious fact was learned
When the current was dispatched from the
power-house 1t showed 10000 volts. AT the
other end OF the line, nearly thirty miles
distant the current showed II 900 volts. In
this instance the intensity of the current
was increased by the distance IL travelled.
In Sacramento electric-power will be very
generally substituted for steam within a
year. The cost OF power ii is estimated,
will then be but two-thirds of what it is at
present.
A paper on Photographic Topography"
was read by Mr.. Ernest Mccullough.
Curtis Nj. Barker, George C. Power and
Valentine j. Rowan were elected members
of the society.
The secretary read letter from Mr..
Adolph Sutro, inviting the members of the
society to visit the heights on Saturday, Nav
nd