Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-05-08
AN ELECTRICAL AGE.
CONTINUED WONDERS OF The
MYSTERIOUS FORCE.


MYSTERIOUS FORCE.
Niagara Harnessed to DO the
Worlds Kidding The Roar of
the Great Waterfall Transmit.
mitted by Telephone - Message
Sent Around the WorId-Cannons
simultaneously Fired by Mag
ara's Electrical Current at San
Francisco, Augusta, Me-, St. Paul
and New Orleans.
One OF the most extraordinary ex-
hibits OF scientific progress began
Monday night, at the Industrial Arts
building, New York. 1t was under
the management OF the National Elec-
tic Light Association, at which dele.
gates were present representing more
than 10000 electric light companies in
this country, whose aggregate capital
i, fully s75,OOO,OOO. Gov. Morton
pressed the key which turned on a
current of electricity generated by the
waters OF the Niagara river, in the
great powerhouse of the Niagara Power
Company, which current OF electricity
was transmitted over an ordinary tele-
graph wire OF the Western Union Tele-
graph Company. The insulation of
this line is such that no considerable
amount OF electrical energy for power
purposes can be transmitted, but by
the use of the recently invented two
phase Tesla system, enough energy
was transmitted to establish beyond
question, it is claimed, the feasibility
OF long distance electric power trans
mission upon a commercial basis.
This line is 462 miles in length, the
longest line heretofore established
from the falls. The Governor used
upon this occasion the gold key with
which President Cleveland put in mo-
ton the wheels of industry at the
worlds fair.
Governor Morton also, at the dec
laration that the exposition was
opened, discharged four pieces of ar
tillery, one stationed in the public
square in San Francisco, one in Au.
gusts, Me-, one in front OF the public
building at st. Paul, and another in
the public park in New Orleans. This
discharge was accomplished by cur
rent Of electricity generated at Niagara
and transmitted over the telegraph
lines of the Postal Telegraph-Ca
Company.
The current OF electricity which was
transmitted from Niagara was used in
putting in motion a model of the Nj
agara power plant, recently construct
ed by n syndicate at a cost OF upwards
OF $5,O0O,O00. This plant consists of
a tunnel 5000 feet in length, entered
by wheel pit 1S6 feet in depth. at the
bottom OF which are mammoth tur-
bine wheels, operating a shaft on top
Of which are immense electrical gener-
ators, with a capacity OF 5000 horse
power. The total weight of the tur-
bine wheels, shaft and generators is
upward of 100 tons. This model,
which is shown and operated with the
Niagara current, is a cross-section
view of the tunnel, wheel pit and ma.
chinery, and also shows a section of
the city of Niagara Falls, with the
course OF the river and American falls,
the island and the Canadian frontier.
Surrounding this model WAS a SER
les of telephones, which were con-
nected with a receiver placed in Vic
toria Park. on the Canadian side OF
the Niagara river. All present, as
they witnessed the movement OF the
machinery by the current of Mia
CARA, heard distinctly the roar OF
the cataract.
There was also heard exhibited and
operated a miniature section of the
Erie Canal, showing the galloway
system of electrical canal boat propul-
sion recently adopted by the State of
New York, and soon to be put in
operation upon the Erie Canal. Flow
ing upon the miniature canal WAS a
fleet of model canal boats OF recent
design, propelled by the electrical
motor which travels upon the canal
by means of the current.
Another feature OF unusual interest
WAS the closing OF circuit around
the world, by, which a cable message
was sent by Chauncey NJ. Depew, over
the cables to Lisbon, through the
Mediterranean and Suez Canal, and
the Red Sea to Alden, thence to Cey.
Ion and Australia, returning by the
way of the Cape of Good Hope, the
African Coast, the Brazil Cable, the
land line to the City Of Mexico, thence
by way of San Francisco to New York.
This message DR.. Depew sent
from table, which was placed in
gallery of the exposition building. 1t
was addressed and received by Mr..
Edward d. Adams, President of the
Niagara Power Company, whose reply
was transmitted to and received by
DR.. Depew, who followed with a brief
address upon the electric era.