The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-12
Electricity Enough to Run the
Machinery of the Entire
World.
THE INITIAL TRIAL a SUCCESS
1t Exceeds the Most Sangulne An
ticipations Of Those Who Are
Interested.

IuSuIO tO-Qdy 10 the q IlOSuIS VI IAS - -"
of the entire scientific world, which awaits
with keenest interest the result of the pio-
neer movement in long-distance transmits
sion of electric power. Should the result
be as favorable as anticipated it will mark
the beginning of an epoch that will event
ually cause the Pacific Slope, especially
California, to become the hub of manufac-
turing for the entire world.
To many this may seem rash assertion.
But the scientists are fully cognizant Of
the fact that no other locality in the known
world possesses great basin or valley 600
or 700 miles in length, surrounded by
mountains capped with eternal SHOWS that
year after year, century after century, will
furnish never falling supply of free
hydraulic power, possessing sufficient
strength to move the requisite machinery
of dozen worlds.
Should the long distance transmission of
power prove successful in this locality, it
will result in the immediate formation of
hundreds of projected plants throughout
the entire length of the State. So positive
are those interested in the establishment
of cheap motive power that the result will
prove satisfactory that an agreement has
already been perfected between the General
Electric Plant Company and interested
parties looking to the location of similar
plant, although on a smaller scale, at
Fresno.
The Sacramento electric plant is the
largest plant in the world at the present
time, consisting as it does of machinery
capable of generating 1000 horsepower,
with facilities by which this amount can
be doubled or even quadrupled should it
prove requisite.
Mr.. Lighthart. engineer of the General
Electric Company, says the plant at
Niagara Falls, the only other one of any
magnitude in the United States, develops
but 800 horsepower transmitted seven miles
Yesterday afternoon the turbine wheels
and huge dynamos at Folsom were given
their initial trial and more than exceeded
the highest anticipationS OF the projectors
of the enterprise.
As the small volume of water was first
admitted to the enormous 8-foot pipes that
convey it from the canal to the turbines,
situated thirty-five feet below the bed of
the latter, every movable portion of the
machinery began a slow, noiseless revolu-
ton, so noiseless that persons standing at
a distance OF fifteen feet failed to notice
the movement until they saw it. Faster
and faster spun the huge machinery as the
volume of water pressure was increased
until speed of 800 revolutions was at
tanned, and yet the machinery moved with
the same noiseless precision-no click, no
jar, only the slight whistling of the wind
caused by its passage through the arma-
ture.
The experiment, as far as the plant at
Folsom is concerned, is a complete sue
cess.
In the minds of many there exists a false
impression as to the method followed in
transmitting power from the generating
plant at Folsom to this city. The majority
believe that the power, after being gener-
ated, is transmitted directly from that
point to the consumers in this city. This
is by no means the case. Electricity pos
sesses two attributes, namely, volume and
pressure, and as it passes from the dyna-
mos in the Folsom power-house, it is con-
Quoted on wire through machines known
as transformers" going in at the low pres
sure of 500 volts. 1t is reduced in volume
and transformed to high pressure OF 100
volts, and passing over the copper wires
leading to the power-house in Sacramento
in this form it enters similar set of trans
formers which change the current to its
original state. Three wires conduct it to
the receiving switchboard, where the cur
rent is controlled, divided and led to the
various huge motors of the receiving
power-house. These motors are directly
connected with long lines Of shafting, upon
which at intervals are huge pulleys, from
which run belts connected with numerous
dynamos that generate the electric fluid
that will furnish power sufficient to move
the wheels of every manufacturing indus
try in the city, or of any mandatory
that may desire to locate in this place.
This latter power is again controlled by
distributing switchboard, presided over
by one attendant, who will be in absolute
control of all power generated and can
distribute it to any desired point by the
simple movement of lever.
Every possible precaution has been taken
to prevent any stoppage of the pant after
it is once perfected. Every motor and
every pulley is provided with friction
clutch that will enable any portion of the
entire plant to be disconnected without
stoppage should break occur in any Dor.
ton of the immense plant. The clutch is
thrown out of gear without disturbing any
other portion of the plant.
At 6 o'clock tonight orders were for.
warded to the power-house at Folsom to
turn the electric-power on to the wires
running to Sacramento. This was done,
but owing to the crossing of two of the
wires short circuit ensued. The line.
men were started out and rectifed the
difficulty, and as soon as the water is
turned into the canal the experiment will
be tried again. The company have all the
streetcars manned and will make a circuit
over all the street lines should everything
work successfully, and it is the intention
of the citizens to fire 100 guns to celebrate
the advent of the greatest source of motive
power in the world.
OIL Exchange at Los AnaeIes,