Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-04-26

was made by the Westinghouse
company, greatest in that il ems
braced twelve OF the largest incan-
descent dvnaD,os eve constructed.
These twelve dynamos furnishad
current for, all the i~ncandescent
lamps used Oh the grounds. Each
Of these machines supplied 10000
l6.candle power lamps, SO from these
machines alone there were 10000
lamps lighted. To do this amount
Of work it was necessary to use tor
each machine 1000 horse power.
In addition TO these twelve dyna-
mos there were two 1000 lighters
witch supplied current under 1000
volts pressure for use in distant parts
Of the grounds. This heavy current
was transformed Mt the point Of
consumption to 100 volts so that it
could be used in the small lamps.
A central station having a capacity
Of 10000 lamps is considered a large
one, but here was a station that sup
piled 1913 600 lamps alone.
There were many more machines
shown by other companies, but they
were small and we will leave them
tor some other writer.
The central figure Of this i~nstalia-
ton was the mammoth Allis.C orliss
engine Of 1900 horse power, used to
drive two Of these large machines.
This was the engine that started
when Grover Cleveland pressed the
button" at the opening exercises Of
the fair.
After having generated the current
another serious question came to the
front. how to handle it. This feat
was accomplished by the wonderful
switchboard constructed by the
Westinghouse company. This
board consisted of two boards, the
dynamo" board and the "feeder"
board, which together comprised the
entire switchboard. There were
1854 square feet Of holes, plugs and
switches on it's surface. BY its
means nearly $4,000 horsepower Of
electrical action was controlled.
The board was OF marble, one Of the
few non.combustible insulators
suitable for switchboards, and pre-
sented a handsome appearance even
TO those who were unable to appreci-
ate its value and beauty asa piece Of
electrical engineering.
Leaving the generating portion of
the electrical department, we come
to the most interesting part OF the
whole fair and the one that attracted
immense throngs three evenings a
week to see it's beauty.
Those who were fortunate enough
to view heseilluminations from the
top Of the Manufactures and Liberal
Arts building were amply repaid for
their expense and trouble.
The view Of the fountains from
this height was one that a poet should
take for his theme and not leave it
for an ordinary writer of prose
to describe. 1t was customary
to show the beauties Of the Mac
monnies' fountain under the magi-
cal touch of the search light as a
prelude to the more beautiful ex-
hibition ofthe electrical fountains
so.called. The water from this
this fountain seemed to be living fire
when the three search lights con.
centrated their rays upon it, but
when the electrical fountains begin
to play, the surging multitude was
hushed and everybody was wrapped
in wonder and admiration. The
essential feature Of these fountains
was the illumination Of the Jets oil
water by a search light placed below
them and sending its beams up par
allel to the Jets. When the water beger
to seperate, each drop shone like
large diamond, and the whole effect
defed painter and poet in picturine
or describing its beauties.
the people from the inland were
more interested in tho search lights
than in any other form Of the illu.
limitations. When their beams were
turned on the fountains it seemed
as though the water was living fire
When under its magical touch the
statuary of the different buildings
seemed more like living gods and
godesses than the inanimate figures
that they were. 1t was impossible
to appreciate their beauty until they
were seen under its beams. The
lamp on the northwest corner OF the
Manufactures building was the most
powerful Of all. The candle.powel
Of the arc with the aid of the 5-foot
~reflectors was 175,OOO,O0O, figures
totally incomprehensible to us. The
reflection fits rays upon the clonds
could be seen as far as Milwaukee
The Ferris wheel when under it's rays
seemed to be painted white, go vivid
was the contrast with the surround
ing gloom. The figure Of Diana or
the Agricultural building seemed tt
float in space. The effect Of thes'
lights upon the insects Of the air wa.
surprising. Each moth and blu,
was a spot OF living fire floating il
the air The person who had charg,
Of the light on the brick ship wa
continually using it on the puffs 0
smoke from the fireworks explod
ing in the air. The effect of thi
was ever changing and was more lik'
a dream than a; reality.
The Electrical building was tn
most wonderful building inside 0
the gates. Here electricity was mp
piled to every conceivable device
from the wonderful telautograph Il
the powerful electric welding ma