The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-29
ITS NEW PLANT.
The Electric Compsny's Splendid Equip
ment Is Nearly Ready for Use.

ment Is Nearly Ready for Use.
When the present plant of the Elec-
trio Railway, Light e Power company
was erected. six years ago, the most
enthusiastic of Anaconda's friends did
not dream that the city would assume
such proportions as II now boasts of,
and the power plant was therefore laid
out on a much smaller scale than 1t
would otherwise have been. With the
growth OF the city there has come a
steadily increased demand for lights,
until now the plant is taxed far beyond
its capacity, with the result that the
service Of late has been quite unsatis-
factory
When the station was built II was
designated according to the best ideas
then prevailing. but the last six years
in the electric light business have wit
messed a wonderful advance and the
dynamos and turbines of that day bear
about as much resemblance to those
now manufactured as Robert Fulton's
steamboat did to the present ocean
liner" Realizing that something must
he done, the company last summer set
about remedying matters.
1t was quickly found that Ii would be
impossible to remodel the old plant so
as to bring 1t up to date and make 1t
the first-class, reliable station that was
wanted, and that no Improvement of
any consequence could be made without
q SHUTDOWN Oh at ledSt a month. InlS
being clearly out of the question, II
was finally decided to build an entirely
new plant, which should have only the
latest and best machinery and be some
thing of which the company could well
be proud. New dynamos and water
wheels were purchased. and as soon as
plans could be drawn, work was COM
menced.
A site at the foot Of the hill. imme-
diately adjoining the old building, was
selected, and ground was broken In the
last week of August. 1t was fully ex-
pected that the plant would be In oper-
alton before the heavy winter load OF
lights should come on, and every en-
deavor was made to accomplish this
result.
In making the necessary excavation.
It was discovered that what appeared
TO be a solid ledge of granite rock in
the hillside and on which II was in
reality nothing but a slide and beneath
Il lay the finest and softest body of
qicksand ever uncovered in Montana.
This unexpected and serious obstacle
was the cause Of long delay and great
expense. and IL was only after a month
of continuous pumping, day and night,
that the layer Of quicksand was finally
exhausted and actual construction
could begin. The solid bedrock on
which IL was necessary to lay the
foundations was found only after going
some u feet deeper than was expected.
and much valuable time was lost
When at last a firm footing was
found the work was pushed day and
night and the plant is now nearly
ready 10 start. The foundations are
massive and are built entirely of white
granite. laid in cement Some idea OF
their size can be gained from the state
rnent that they contain 200 perch OF
stone. The walls of the station are OF
brick and the building itself Is COM
pleted. The water wheels and dyna-
mos are now being placed in position.
and when the turbines are connectei
to the water supply pipe the plant viii
be ready 40 furnish light
In its design and method of operat-
ing the plant could not well be i'm
proved upon. Each dynamo will be
directly coupled to a separate water
wheel. making a complete unit in IT.
self which can be operated independ-