The San Francisco call., 1896-05-01
WHEN The CAN NON BOOMS
National Electrical Exposition
Will Open on Monday
Next.
Aided by Electricity Its Governor
Will Fire a PonGerouS Gun
in This City.

The mighty report of a ponderous
cannon in Union square, fired with q
golden key, on which rests the hand of
New York's Governor, Levi P. Morton,
will herald to the people of this City the
turning of the first wheel of the National
Electrical Exposition on the evening of
May in New York City. Before the echo
Of this cannon's report has died away
among the hills the machinery in the far
away metropolis will be in full swing, and
many thousands of people will witness a
sight OF almost unparalleled grandeur.
In connection with the opening cere-
monies of the Electrical Exposition it is
proposed TO start the machinery by a
current that is looped around the whole
continent.
The Postal Telegraph Cable Company,
through its vice-president, w. II. Baker,
offered its fine service between New York
and San Francisco for the purpose. Mayor
Sutro and General Forsyth, the latter be-
ing in command at the Presidio, not being
satisfied with the silent electric messenger
which would speed through this City, pro-
posed to have the wires connected with q
cannon in some central location that all
might be apprised of the great exposition s
opening. Arrangements are now being
made with the Postal officials for the exc
cution of this interesting plan, with the
cooperation of a long string of offices
scattered over the 60O0 miles of wire.
The company has equipped it's lines with
heavy copper circuits and believes that it
can illustrate in q most interesting man
ner the instantaneous character of the
transmission on the evening Of May 4.
The merest pressure of the golden key
will then fash the signal to the Golden
Gate, will cause the cannon to belch forth
a merry salute and will then be back to
the exposition building in the twinkling
of an eye.
One OF the most interesting exhibits to
be seen at the exposition will be a tiny
model of the Niagara Falls Power Compa-
ny's plant, whose great original will itself
furnish the power by which the miniature
model will be operated.
So we'll planned is this miniature model.
that it shows the city of Niagara Falls and
surrounding locality, from point Just be-
yond the line of the power-tunnel on the
north, to the center of Goat Island on the
south, and from point beyond the Clifton
House, Canada side, on the west, TO a
point beyond the big tunnel-canal on the
east. The model is II feet long by feet 6
inches wide. The height of the model
when on exhibition is about six feet, but
one-half of this is in a fine glass case,
which protects it from meddlesome hands
and dust.
The power-houses, wheel pits, cross sec
ton of the canal, turbine wheels and the
tunnels are all faithfully reproduced from
the original. When power is applied water
will flow down the penstocks and shafts
As the water passes fromIthe turbine it
enters drift or small tunnel leading to
the main tunnel and is carried through it
to the gorge below.
In the construction of the model the
scale used was one of about 100 feet to an
inch and half. All the streets and build
lngs shown are perfect in form and direc-
ton, and one acquainted with the city of
Niagara rails has no trouble in locating
well-known places. The total number OF
buildings shown is 1877, while the number
OF trees which grace the streets of the citv
IN the model is 1150. Every one of the
trees Mr.. Allen, the model maker, sue
ceeded in locating with precision.
Although held under the auspices of the
National Electric Light Association, the
exposition is far from being restricted 20
the field that was covered by the associa-
ton when it was formed. AS a matter of
fact the exposition will accentuate and di-
rect attention to the remarkable fact that
central stations are rapidly undergoing
evolution. and every day they become less
and less plants for mere lighting, and
more and more reservoirs for the supply of
current for wonderfully wide range of
uses, many of which are barely yet known.
In all events. the exposition will serve
as stimulus to another period of pros
perity in the electrical industries, but San
Franciscans will have to be content w ith
the boom OF the great caisson as it her
aids the Inauguration of the gigantic ex-
hibition.