The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-06
WATER FOR IRRIGATION.
Local Capitalists About to De-
Velop a Gigantic Enter
prise.
POWER FOR ALL PURPOSES.
An Electric Road to Run Into Lake
County-Electric Boats on the
Lake.

The Clear Lake Electric Company has
about perfected arrangements for convert
ing the waste water power OF Clear Lake,
Lake County. and Cache Creek into cleo
trio energy that will be transmitted to San
Francisco. Oakland, Benicia, Mare Island,
Vallejo. Santa Rosa and other cities along
the line where it will be used to give light
and power.
The transmission Of electricity for long
distances has already passed the expert
mental stage, as demonstrated by the recent
trials in this dire4ion at Niagara, Lauffen-
Frankfort, Germany, and many places
in California. The promoters of this plan
have had the usual drawbacks and obsta-
cles to contend with. Their undertaking
involves the outlay Of 100000 or So, OOO,-
O0O Already 1t is assuming shape that
gives promise Of speedy success.
Those interested in the enterprise are
satisfied beyond doubt that the scheme
will be a great benefit to the people of
Lake County and San Francisco, as well
as of profit to themselves.
Every detail has been carefully consid-
cred by a competent Government engineer
and by scientific electricians, as well as by
a number of well-known capitalists who
are backing the undertaking with their
money, brains andapersonal influence.
Clear Lake lies at an elevation of 1917
feet in Lake County, seventy-five miles
due north from San Francisco. The char
acter of the adjacent country is mountain
Gus and broken, with considerable timber.
This locality is distinguished for its exces-
sive rainfalis, and is the source of several
large streams which flow into the lake
The lake is of varied width and twenty
six miles in length, comprising an area Of
-
depth Is forty feet. The catchment area
or watershed embraces more than 517
square miles. The average rainfall, as
taken from different measurements and
observations from 1867 to date is 81 4
inches per annum, so per cent of which for
utilization would amount to lis. $50, 000, 900
gallons per annum, or 327, 600, 900 gallons
daily. This is equal 10 500 cubic feet per
second. The lake is further fed from
numerous springs which drain into or rise
from the bottom OF the lake. The maxi
mum rise and fall of the lake is fourteen
feet.
The outlet of the lake is Cache Creek,
which passes through narrow mountain
ravlne and empties into the Sacramento
River.
A bout FIVE miles below the outlet proper,
where the stream enters between TWO
mountains, q 27-foot dam viii be con-
structed, with food-gates to let off the sur
I4US water IN the rainy season ana TO store
the water in the dry season. The water
will be carried from the dam in 5-foot
pipes along the stream to point g., 300
feet, to what is known as Wilson's farm,
where the power plant will be established.
In traversing this distance the water will
have a fall of asa feet. With a 5-foot pipe
the pressure at the power-house will be 1873. 5
pounds per square inch. Three lines of
pipe of this capacity will develop %, $50
horsepower at dynamos, p per cent Of
which, by electrical transmission, would
deliver 20. 845 horsepower TO the motors in
San Francisco.
The water will be shot through Pelton
wheels which will be connected directly
with the dynamos. The latter will be
especially constructed. and will be among
the largest and most powerful dynamos in
the United States. The electricity will be
transmitted in direct overhead line on
large bare copper wires to San Francisco
and the adjacent cities. The matter OF
transmitting the electricity under the
waters Of the bay is most difficult and
costly problem, but recent inventions made
this possible without too much loss of
power. 1t is estimated that the enormous
amount of power which can thus be de-
livered in San Francisco will be of ines
Unable benefit to the general public.
approximately In this City there are
60, 600 horsepower plants running at cost
OF $24 TO $40 per horsepower for twenty