The record-union., 1895-05-04
NIAGARA is HARNESNED.
What Modern Genius Has Accom-
plished.
The Mighty Power of tho Great Cata-
ract Slave to Man at
Last.

to be realized. Beauty is to be welded TO
use. The gigantic natural forces that for
ages have stormed those water-scarreo
rock fortresses are to be enslayed. Like
captive Samson, they will labor al
the mill. Science has usurped the
realm of magic, and brought within its
control hidden and mysterious forces.
The enormous power momentarliy treh-
bling on the brink of the worlds greatest
cataract is to perform its part in anchor
a,ing social conditions and enfrancnising
labor.
The first organized attempt to develop
Niagara's splendid power facilities was
outlined nearly half a century ago. Al
that time hydraulic canal was projected,
but not completed until 1861. This was
the forerunner OF the great power piants
for which the falls will henceforth be
famous In 1875 this property came into
the hands of the Niagara Hydraulic
Power and Manufacturing Company,
and was put to considerable use. 1t FUR
nishes power to the large mills on the
river bank below the American Fail. It's
capacity has lately been increased with
the intention of competing Tor local Dusl-
ness.
But it was reserved for another organi-
EdtIOu w Q6fOlOP Oil q ioh 6Ot SN--~~ -
agara's grand possibilities Barely ten
years ago the feasibility of taking water
from the river about a mile anu hall
above the falls and carrying it by lateral
canals into wheel pits, from which 1t
could be returned to the river through
tunnel was first suggested. Leading
engineers and experts pronounced the
scheme practicable, and almost unlimited
capital became interested in its develop
mont. Thus began the Niagara Falls
Power Company. Its enormous under
taking, although private enterprise, Is
yet raised to the dignity of great pubic
work by its promised general utility ana
tar-reaching results.
Operations were begun early in Octo-
ber 1880. Since that time wide and deep
canal :, 600 feet long has been constructed.
This inlet is walled with heavy masonery,
and pierced with a number or gateWayS.
Through these water is led into enormous
perpendicular steel tubes, at the bottom
of which are bronze turbine wheels, and
after imparting to them its powerful i'm
petus, it dashes off through an immense
tunnel. These wheel pits are to be in
creased in number as fast as additional
power is demanded. The smaller ones
will be devoted to the wants OF local con-
sumers.
Interest, however, mainly centers in
the great wheel-pit, which is llo feet
Ds
energy here accumulated will be trans
mitted by wire to less favored localities
for the industrial, commercial and econ
omic uses. 1t will eventually hold ten
turbines, each producing 5000 horse
power. This is obtained by the plunge
of column of water seven feet In dlame-
ter and l40 feet high. The force Is CONF
municated to the dynamos in the power
house above by means of steel shafts par
allel with the penstocks. The volume OF
water as it reaches the base of each til be
or penstock is discharged upward into
the wheel, supporting 1t and the great
steel shaft. These turbines are by far
the most powerful ever built. Inc oyna-
mos which are being put into position
have been constructed upon plan quite
different from those in general use. and
although not in the least experimental,
they are novel in the extreme. The
pressure and potentials are no higher
than many others in use. The dynamos
may be described thus:
To circular foundation is bolted ver-
tical cast-iron cylinder provided with q
fiange on which the stationary armature
rests. The inner part of the cylinder Is
bored to the shape OF an inverted cone,
and serves as bearing for another conlcai
piece OF cast-iron supporting the shalt
bearings. The armature core is made OF
thin, oxidized iron plates, held together
OasON
edge of the plates are 1S7 rectangular
holes to receive the armature winding.
The outer rotating field magnet consists
of wrought steel ring to which are
bolted the twelve inwardly projecting
massive cast-iron pole pieces. Ihe ring
constituting the field magnet is supported
by siX-armed cast-Steel spider keyed 10
vertical axis. The field magnets act
also as a fiy-wheel. The shaft rests on
two bearings supported by four arms pro-
jecting from the inner adjustable cast
iron cylinder. The bushings of the bear
ings are made of bronze provided with
zig-zag grooves in which oil constantly
circulates. On the outer side of the bush
ing there are also grooves into which cold
water may be pumped, if required.
The armature conductors are rectangu-
lar copper bars 81 by millimeters, and
each of the Isl holes OF the armature con-
tains two of these bars, surrounded with
mica. The upper and under side OF the
armature are connected by means OF v
shaped copper bars, riveted to the ends OF
bars which project out behind the ends OF
the armature. The connections are made
30 as to give two independent circuits, a
pair OF cables connecting each circuit with
the switchboard. The magnet-winding
is also composed of bent copper bars, air
insulated, inclosed in brass boxes, two OF
which are fastened to each pole-plece.
Continuous current for exciting the field
magnates is obtained from rotary trans
former.
The current is conducted to the field
coils by means OF pair OF brushes and
two copper rings fixed to the top OF the
shaft OF the generator. AT speed OF ZfU
revolutions per minute the machlne pro-
duces two alternating currents ulHerlng
in phase 90o from each other, each OF 10
amperes and $3.50 volts pressure. The
alJernations are fifty per second. Ihe
hight from the base of bed-plate to top ol
machine is nearly l33 feet
The power OF these dynamos Is larger,
of course, than anything that mas ever
been attempted. They were shipped from
Pittsford upon cars especially constructed
for that purpose. Each dynamo weighs
100000 pounds, and is capable OF general
ing 5000 horsepower oi electric energy
The dynamos are also the largest ever
constructed, are exactly alike and Inter
changeable.
The tunnel is a marvel of successful en-
gineering. 1t was completed in the fal
OF 1893, and cost. in round figures, sl,25O,
coo. 1t is 6,700 feet long, Il feet nigh, ane
ranges in width from II TO lo feet. Ii Is
shaped like a horsehoe. 1t was hewr
straight through the living rock at
depth of nearly 200 feet beneath the city
of Niagara Falls. 1t discharges into the
river a little beio " the cataract, It's moutI
being forty feet below the level OF the
stream. There is pitch of nearly fifty
feet between its head and mouth. the
velocity OF its discharge being nearly
thirty feet per second. 1t can carry OF
water sufflc ent to generate LOG, 00O horse
power. Another tunnel of similar ca.
pacity may be hereafter constructed.
Owing to the softness of the rock anC
the inflow OF water. it was necessary tC
line it with several courses of brick. Fol
this purpose Il, coo. 900 were used. For
distance OF LOO feet from its mouth The
walls Of the tunnel are protected by
heavy steel plates In The cnnrsa OF ax.