New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
THE CURRENT on THE CANAL.

THE CURRENT on THE CANAL.
But The idea II furnishing electricity for pro-
pclling boats on Erie Canal and for mscclla
ncous purposes In distant cities has also been
kept steadily in view. Buffalo. which was sure
TO be benefited by such an arrangement. has
been curiously slow in granting the requisite
franchise This having been secured however
work was begun last August on a transmission
line from the Falls to Buffalo by way Of North
Tonawanda. which last mentioned place has
been waiting impatenily for the promised
electrical service. The line is now completed
Until more turbines and dynamos have been set
up IN the pow"r-housc the company can spare
only II limited amount of electricity To customers
outside of Niagara. 50 that at present the
Buffalo Electric Railroad which is To have / 900
horsepower 10 bcgin With tand more later. VIII
have a monopoly Of the privileges Just extended
{" the Queen ely. Eventually. however. IL IL
expected that she will have at least 20OOo horse.
power. or the whole output of four 1000 horse
power dynamos.
Buffalo viii be harncssed 20 Niagara at noon
today. when the fret ns,alment Of power Will
with capa 'ity Of l25O horse power each were
installed yesterday. and after they have been
thoroughly tested everything Will be ready for
the work Of actual transmission
The transmission line is nearly twentv-six miles
in length. For about thrcc-quartcrs OF this
distance 1t extends along private property. Il
iitHt ol way having been purchased for this
special purpose: but about five miles OF the
route He along the canal bank. the free use IF
which has been granted by the state. Except for
a distance Of POO feet inside the limits Of
Buralo poles and overhead wires are en-
ploycd. tn" reinairder of the line extends
through "A conduit underground. For each dyna-
mo three conductors VIII be required Only \
single set has been provided thus far hut the
cross arms on the poles and the hollow tiling OF
the conduit have been designed with view 10
the ultimate employment OF four fun scis of
al ~. I.f,
Of copper however II has been deemed wise to
have cable. composed Of nineteen strands and
having a diameter Of three quarters of an inch
Where this runs underground. it is covered with
n lead pipe To protect 1t from moisture
STRONG CONSTRUCTION SOUGHT.
Exceptionally strong construction has been
sought. both because OF the heavy load carried
and the Importance OF precluding accident Of
any kind. The cables supported by porce-
lain insulators Of the double pet,icoat" type.
admirably designed to prevent any leakage Of
current even in wet weather. Each insulator
has been carefully tested before being put in
place. and has been accepted only after having
shown an ability to resist n voltage or electric
pressure. four times that which Will actually he
employed. namely 10000 volts. The transmits
sion OF given quantity Of electricity requires
less metal il the voltage he high than II II he
low. Consequently. II is customary in the in
terests OF economy. to employ apparatus at
one end Of the line to raise the voltage and at
me other end TO lower it. The dynamos at
Niagara generate the current at 1000 volts: but
step-up' transformers will multiply this stita-
bly,. And AT the Buffalo terminal stations step
down transformers VIII reduce the voltage to
whatever degree Is best suited to local use and
distribution.
Electricians on both sides OF the Atlantic are
watching this experiment with profound inter-
est; and so are managers of electric lighting and
railway companies and countless manufacturers
now located within 500 miles Of Niagara