The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-23

Another Huge Electrical Enterprise.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The generation and successful transmits
sion of electricity by means of water power
has opened a new field. not only for sci
entists, but for practical uses as we'll.
There is no doubt in the minds of such
men as Prof. Il. Mascart, of France, Prof.
George Forbes DR.. Coleman, of Philadel-
phia, and other scientists, but that cleo
tricity will soon be shipped from here and
Niagara Falls to all parts of the world,
the same as other commodities. That 1t
can be transmitted many miles for manu-
featuring and other purposes is a certainty.
a few years ago it was hardly thought
feasible to light our large cities with cleo
tricity. TO say nothing of it's use as the
motive power for street railroads and man.
ufacturing purposes, all of which are be-
yond question to-day. What, then may be
asked, will be the advantageous uses to
which IL will be extended as its mighty
power becomes mastered and made sub
servient to the will of man? May not all
our great railroads, steamships, manufac-
turing plants and every conceivable thing
be operated and propelled by means of
electricity, as they now are by steam? AS
coal has supplied the place of wood and
natural gas that of coal, so will electricity
supply the places of them all and at the
same time supersede steam. Wood is CIV
ing out for fuel; coal and gas may and
probably will in time; selectricity-never.
AS for steam, 1t Is dependent on all the
others, which necessarily entails great ex-
pense, while electricity is dependent on
none of them when properly generated. 1t
may be asked, how Is that to be accom-
plished? Nature. in supplying the wants of
ell mankind, did not overlook the means
for. this; but the dullness of mans COM
prehenSion of natures handiwork has
caused him TO look and admire instead of
trying to make use thereof The great nat
ural waterfalls all over the world have
always been admired for their beauty and
grandeur, and the combination of water
and electricity has, until recently, been lit
tie thought OF. Niagara still maintains all
It's beauty and grandeur, and at the same
time supplies the primitive power for gen.
Grating and transmitting electricity suffi-
cient to operate all the wheels in the State
OF Indiana, aid more, too. This is the
first great electrical achievement tending
TO revolutioni:e the entire manufacturing
industries of the world.
The second gigantic enterprise of this
kind Is now going on at this place, where
being harnessed. so TO speak, by means of
a system of solid masonry, dams and sur
face canals. which canals will, when COM
a uniform head Of over twenty feet along
which wheels and dynamos will be placed,
and, according 10 the engineers and cleo
n,
capable of generating electricity upwards
of two hundred thousand horse power. I'm
like Niagara, there are no expensive tun-
nels to build, and the supply of water is
inexhaustible. The St Lawrence River
Power Company. with a full paid capital
stock of two and a half millions OF dollars,
is the owner. and is pushing the work con-
stantly. The head officers of this company
are Charles c. Conroy, of Buffalo, N Y,
q Standard oil millionaire, president;
Charles T. Whitcher, a wealthy BufTa-
lonian, secretary, treasurer and general
manager, who has been on the ground for
several months directing the work, and
Maj. George B. Burbank, of Niagara Falls
chief engineer. Two Indianapolis gentle
men are stockholders in this enterprise
il is said, but what their names are your
correspondent has been unable to ascer-
tain. The fact that these gentlemen are
from Buffalo and Niagara Falls, where
they have watched the progress OF the
Niagara enterprise. together with Mr.. Con-
roy's connection with the Standard Oil
Company, has given rise to many stories
as 90 who is connected with the company.
Mai. Burbank, chief engineer, construct
ed the Nj agara Falls tunnel, and, in fact,
had entire control of that wonderful piece
of engineering. His engineering skill is
known the world over. He built the Wis
consin Central railroad, The New York
aqueduct, the Niagara Falls tunnel, and is
now In charge of the work here.
Wa6dinCtOn. N Y. March 81