The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-20
DEGENERATE POWER.
How 6noqnalmie Falls win Be
Put Under Control
sEvEN-FooT coLuaass or WATER


While the arrangements for the devei-
opnent OF the power Of 61oQuaimie Calls
have Only just been completed. the plans
Tor bftngfng together the power u the
falls and the generators which are 20 pat
II tn nza<ketable form have soug been
ready and WIZ this year be carried oux
almost. Il not quite. ~ originally drawn.
The frat survey OF the ground and plan
fog Conducting the water To turbine
wlzeels was nasSs in the tau az 1870 by
r II. Thomson. now city engineer. ard
while biz present pubic duties prevent
MIN fruan devuting h1 time to the work.
his plans have been approved by the
best engtnaeD In the country and have
been adopted - the ones to b carried
cut.
The purposs Is to bufzd q small reaer-
voir on tho south side OF the river about
100 fest east Of and above the falls, into
which the water to b. use<1 In generat-
ing power win pass through bank OF
strasuers intended 30 keep out debris,
Ice, etc. From the reservoir the water
Win be conveyed TO the Wheels, located
IN t7ae power house On the rivers edge
about SO feet west Of the fails, by Z
rfyeted steel pape about 500 feet kong ana
81 inches In diameter. which via descend
ax an angle Of about 20 degrees, wath Q
vertical fall Of rs feet For tho first
600 feet this pipe villa be laid In tunnel
driven through the baSaix clin lining
the .south side OF the gorge into which
the river paunges and for the remaining
column OF water. 81 inches In diameter.
carried by this pipe. having an initial
Bead OF y feet from the depth OF water
In the RESERVOIR. win generate 1900 horse
power ak the wheels
II has net yet been determined whether
turbine or Pe1ton wheels win be used, or
some modification OF the turbine, but In
any case they win be placed In the brick
power a1cuse. where the great column OF
water win beat down ON them II tuv-
bines are used, the water win be taken
out at the side of the main pipe through
snaaa outlets called nippfes. from each OF
whsch revoIve a pair of wheels gener-
ating ESQ horsepower. If Peiton wheels
are used, 1t will be taken out through
small nozzIes. each wheel generating
about COO horsepower. The size OF the
Pessons would be about twenty-four
about nino feet. Trom the wheel shafts
the power will be transmitted to gener-
ators either directly Or by betting. this
point Remaining to be settled by the cleo
tricaa engineer. who VIII have charge OF
the installation OF the plant.
From the power house the electric cur
rent win be conveyed by. a heavy copper
wire stretched ON poles. this conductor
running In almost a direct line to the city,
distance OF about twenty-three mites.
It has not been decided whether the cur
rent shall be brought by cables under
Lakes Samanxsh and Washington or shah
be carried on a dand line Every precau-
ton viii be taken to prevent the break
ing OF the conductor by failing trees.
and with this end In view. all trees on
each side which are tail enough to reach
1t win be felJed, so that a Swath several
blndred feet wide win have to be partly
cleared. It Is anticipated that the whole
riarst can be installed and part In opera
tion before next winter sets IN