The record-union., 1896-12-02

ceeding the capacity before stated. as
IN addition to the power furnished III
the daytime to the electric cars, South
ern Pacific Railroad shops and various
establishments in our city, 1T also runs
13,oOO incandescent and over 800 arc
lights.
When this power-house was built the
company foresaw the necessity of pro-
viding facilities for an extension of
power beyond that of the present house.
They therefore prepared site for
second power house, and is now dig
sing the foundation of another tail
race twenty-six feet below the other
one. This house, when finished, VIII
furnish 5000 horse power more to meet
the growing demand for it in Sacra-
mento
For the sawmill a new switch panel
has been placed in the present house
and the power is transmitted direct to
the mill, 600 feet away, through three
No. l E. and S. gauge wires. and 1t is
calculated that this direct application,
doing away with much betting. shaft
ing and other machinery, will save fifty
horsepower, and that the wear and
tear will be as l to 80 in comparison
with industries run by steam.
THE MILL.
The foundations for the mill were
laid about four months ago. 1t stands
upon a base of concrete, which is in
turn laid in the bedrock and the build
ing itself is thoroughly braced, so that
the machinery, when running, causes
very little vibration. The building it
self is 44X120 feet, with a platform at
tached of 44x5O feet. 1t is thoroughly
framed and braced, and the siding ami
roof are of corrugated iron. There are
two hydrants on each floor equipped fer
protection from fire, of which, however,
there is little danger, the logs being
wet and the sawdust and refuse not
catching fire easily.
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY.
1t took about two weeks to install
the electric machinery, which was done
by A. G. Jewett for the General Elec-
trio Company, and it ran smoothly at
the first test. Indeed, all the machinery
did we'll from the start, avoiding al
most entirely the veXatious bitches that
are expected to occur when new ma
chinery is started up for the first time.
The electric motors are all on the
lower floor, except one, which supplies
the filing room in the upper story. The
motors are all induction motors. First
In size and Importance is the seventy
nVe horse power motor that runs the
big band saw by direct power. 1t has
speed of 600 revolutions per minute.
This and the next largest motor have a
voltage of 12O volts. Next comes the
fifty horsepower motor that runs the
"edger," with 700 revolutions per min
ute. These take power directly from
generators at the power-house There
are three thirty horsepower motors
with 800 revolutions per minute and a
200 volt voltage. One of these runs the
log roll and the sawdust and slab con-
veyors. The second runs the log car
riage and friction plugs to reverse it.
The third runs the trimmer and live
rolls and the sawdust conveyor that
carries the SawduSt out to where it IS
burned.
Away upstairs in the filing room is
five horsepower motor that runs
the saw filler and some minor machin-
cry. The transformers in the mill
transform the voltage for the three
thirty horsepower motors from the
generator down to 200 volts, and the
80 incandescent lights are also taken
from the transformers.
The filing room must not be slighted.
This room, where the big band saws are
filed, and which contains a machine
that is simple, but is perfection. The
;c ~;
teeth upward around the machine,
which is run by the five horse-p power
motor. When the machine is started
two tenders" or ratchets, one on each
side of the machine, catch each tooth
in succession and move the saw the
length of a tooth at each jerk An
emery wheel rises along the back of the
tooth, grinding and pointing that side
Of it and then dropping between II and
the next tooth, grinds the front of it,
The saw is moved steadily around until
it is ground to the satisfaction of the
operator.
The saw is brought from the factory
without having the ends fastened to-
gether and are braZed at the mill The
two ends are beveled and when taken
to little machine are corrugated with
small wheel. 50 that they will not
slip and then taken to another machine
and braZed. SO effectual is this work
that it never breaks apart where the
weld is. The saws are filed about every
two and half hours.
HOW THE LOGS COME DOWN.
So much for the mill. The next ques-
ton is. how do the logs get to it?
Away up in the mountains above
Piacerville, between the south and mid
die forks Of the American River. the
company has purchased from various
settlers timber land to the amount of
about 10000 acres. Into this tract they
built railroad. 1t was a herculean
task to get the engine up there, but it
was accomplished by taking it apart
and loading ii on wagons. II was done,
however, some five years ago and since
that time the iron horse puffs and
snorts to its hearts content. waking
the echoes along the divide" NJ
oxen are used in hauling the logs from
where they are cut, but donkey engines
draw them-in some instances half a
mile. with wire cable, and they are
loaded on cars. A chute 1900 feet long
has been constructed and the logs are
shot down it into the river. They are
1oated down when the water is at the
proper stage, a gang of men attending
TO the drive" and floating them off
the bars and rocks where they may
happen to lodge, until they are safely
lodged above the boom. The drive ar
rives there about the first of July.
The boom is situated about a mile