The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-29

ing current form, with twenty-five
cycles or alterations to the second
Up to this time that form has been
found to be the most successful when
transmitted at q very high pressure.
say 10000 or 1900 volts. Arriving In
Buffalo it enters the power house Of the
local company. when this voltage will
be dropped to 400 through a 'stepdown'
transformer. Then it will pass into a
rotary transformer. also of the alter
mating type, whenlce it will be conveyed
in q continuous current for the use of
the street railway and other custom
ers"
What will be the wastage?"
I'VE expect the wastage between the
power house at the falls and Buffalo, Il
distance of about twenty-five miles
will be from 10 to 20 per cent, but that
problem can only be solved by actual
experience Electricians are at work
endeavoring to substitute some method
for the present process that will reduce
this wastage, and we hope that sooner
or later they may lower the maximum"
rs electricity carried such "A distance
anywhere else?"
Eyes, at Portland. Ore. and at Seat
greater wastage, and at Rome, Italy,
sitXeen miles,
zone great point in economy which
must be taken into consideration"
continued Mr.. Urban, is the saving In
space, which Is getting to be an I'M
portant matter in large cities, where
land is valuable and rents are high.
With this transmitted electricity man
ufacturers will not require more than
3 or per cent. Of the room that is
necessary to place q plant that Will
generate the same amount Of steam
or electricity, and the economy in pay
rolls will be very great"
Can you heat your cars by the same
current?"
"Yes; the electric cars running be-
TWEEN Buffalo and Niagara Falls are
now heated as well as propelled from
the new power house. and the system
Is very successful"
"What amount of power Is used in
the city Of Buffalo, and what does 1t
cost under the present system?"
'Al the manufacturing establish
ments in that city, including the street
railway, consume about 5000 horse
power when in full operation. Before
we went into this enterprise we at
tempted to ascertain it's cost, but
found that nobody knew; SO we set
about to secure the information by
actual experiment. We made several
tests that We're carefully watched. The
lowest cost we found was in an estab-
lishment where they ran a compound
condensing Corliss engine Of 2,00(
horse power, an average Of eleven
hours day. 1t is one of the most
economically managed institutions In
Buffalo, and we found that 1t cost
them at the rate of $50 a horse power
| annually. The next test was In q
four-mill, where there is q simiia,
compound-condensing Corliss engine
which runs twenty-four hours a day
for six days in the week, and that cos
at the rate of S4S a horse power. The
third test was in a department store
where, there is an engine that fur.
, nishes power for the elvators, the
electric light and other purposes, an,
| runs an average Of ten hours in the
summer and twelve hours in the win.
ter, say six days in the week. Tha
costs SIG a horse power. Then We
went into four newspaper and print
ing establishments that are run day
| and night, and there the cost ranged
from 500 to $40 a horse power pel
year. We can afford to furnish all o.
| these establishments transmitted
| power from Niagara for not more tha,
$40 a horse power for twenty-fou,
hours day, seven days in the week
but we have not yet taken up the ques
ton of rates for small supplies"
learned that recent test had beer
made at municipal water works in ;
small town near Buffalo. where th,
steam power cost over 5000 a hors,
power, but this is evidently in a. meas
ure due to bad management and ex
traVagance. AT the same time, ever,
| experiment has demonstrated tha
steam power and electricity are mucI
| more expensive in small plants thar
in large ones, and it is going to be {
measure of great economy for tn,
| small manufacturers of Buffalo If the,
can get their power from the Niagar;
company at the rate of $40 hors,
| power.
The people here will not venture any
! predictions concerning the time whel
or the method by which electricity is (,
be transmitted to New York for me
| chanicai purpose. A great deal ha.
been printed on the subject in til,
! magazines and newspapers. and thin
| the popular impression is that TIN
! Niagara company intends to offer it.
! power for sale in New York very soon
/ That was the idea I had when 1 ca1nt
| here, but the promoters of the enter
| prise do not contemplate any sucl
! thing for the immediate future. TIL,
| plant does not encourage any sucl
| expectations. 1t is capable of 10000
| horse power as maximum. of whicl
at least. 10 per cent. must be held il
| reserve for accidents, leaving 1880
| horse power for sale when the limi
is reached, which may not be for sew.
eral years. That amount can easily
be absorbed by the city of Buffalo ant
local enterprises.
1t is serious question, too, whethe
I