Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-03-06

NANhNA0 ~ hNAMtHaa
The great cataract at Niagara
has long been scenic attraction
to thousands Of visitors. This
power is yet unrivaled, and its
tons upon tons of water still dash
down in embarrassed energy. This
is not long to.be, however. Many
have been the schemes for utiliz-
ing this vast power. When the
right method seemed to have been
found, prompt was the response Of
capital to Imeet the emergency.
Now, after three years Of labor
and planning, the results are near
ly at hand. A few weeks ago the
tunnel, 1000 feet long, was finish
ed and used. It carries water
Q lual to 100, horse power when
utilized. The wheel-pit is almost
ready to receive the giant turbines
which will collect the force which
has hitherto run to waste, and dis
tribute 1t far and wide. This part
Of the plant has cost about 81, ,000,-
600, and is mainly to be used in
storing the power in the form of
electricity, which will be used out
side of the city of Niagara Falls.
The. Niagara Paper Company al
ready has it in use. One-half the
100000 horse power is designed
for transportation in the form of
electricity. At first only $4,000
horse power will be electrified, and
that will mainly go to Buffalo.
The water from the various
gateways in the main canal, which
is 1000 feet long, runs through
steel "pen-stocks" of varying size
to wheel pits, and thence is col
lected and carried 200 feet under
the city of Niagara and empties
1000 feet below the American
falls. At its mouth the tunnel is
of horseshoe shape, 81 feet high
and 18 wide at the broadcast part.
1t is constructed through lime
stone lined with several layers Of
brick. The turbine wheels to be
used and the dynamos they are to
run aret to be the largest ever made.
Each wheel is guaranteed to gen.
crate 5000 horse power, as are the
dynamos if they come up TO their
design.
But this is only a beginning,
even though it has cost about 49,
100000. Rights have already been
secured for another tunnel of equal
size ON the American side, while
there is a scheme on foot to build
two tunnels on the Canadian side
of even greater possibilities, as
soon as a little experience with
this first one shall have demon
strated the value of the plant. En-
gineers estimate that the water re-
quired to generate all the force
provided for in the four schemes
proposed, will lower the river just
seven inches. Then the practical
mechanics and manufacturers have
a two fold question, the capacity
and the cost. Agein the expert
comes to the rescue. The four
tunnels when completed are de-
signed to produce 100000 horse
power. AS to the cost, some con-
tend that the waste in carriage of
the electric power win bring the
cost up to $25 per year for horse
power, about the cost of steam
power. On the other hand, all
electrical experts claim that the
cost of the power delivered at Buff
falo will not exceed S12 per horse
power, and that it can be delivered
anywhere in the state for from
Sl3 to S15. What was a stupen-
dous experiment has developed
into an almost sure success. Yet
the first years operations Of the
company will be watched with in
terest, as will the first financial
report of their doings. Boston
journal.