The San Francisco call., 1897-04-28
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

Frank w. Hawley of New York, who Is we'll
known upon this coast as an organizer OF elec-
trical enterprises, came up from the south
yesterday with party of friends on tour OF
inspection of various electrical plants on the
Pacific Coast. Mr.. Hawley is vice-president OF
the Cataract General Electric Company and
general manager of the Erie Canal Traction
Company, which distribute and use electricity
generated at Niagara Falls through the
State of New York
Mr.. Hawley was asked as to the use OF elec-
trlclty as motive power upon the Erie canal,
and replying said:
Yes, electricity will be in use upon the
canals OF New York within the next two years
ana Will furnish the motive power for the
transportation of 4, ,OOO, 900 tons of traffic from
Lake Erie to tidewater. 1t will operate 5000
canal boats in this work, doubling the nnm-
Der OF trips per season and greatly reduce the
cost OF transportation. 1t VIII give to the
ports OF the Great Lakes extraordinary facili-
lies 1or marketing the products of the North
west in the city OF New York and revolution
lze the movement of freight as it has the
transportation of passengers upon street sur
face railroads"
Mr.. Hawley was asked as to the electrical
development in general, and in replying said:
Electrical development to-day is In its in
iancy we have just come to know how TO
generate 1t economically and how to put it in
service at the least possible expense. Even
the young can recollect when it first served the
purpose In transmitting message. To-day it is
made available in the factories OF the world. 1t
is especially serviceable in your State and put
10 work can greatly reduce the cost of develop
Ing mining properties. A current OF electri-
city can be generated in nearly every canyon
In the Rockies, and the power thus developed
transmitted many miles upon an economical
and commercial basis. 1t can perform as effi-
clent service two hundred miles away as at the
point OF generation"
Mr. Hawley was asked as to how the power
could be used in the mining districts, to which
he said:
"a method of applying the power which
most commends itielf to me is by the use
OF the cable way system. This is simply the
carrying OF load by an electric motor oper-
ating upon cable instead of a track. The
cable Is suspended from pole line and the
motor draws the carrier, which is also sus-
pended 1t is most simple in construction
and most e fficient in service. The current of
electricity passes through the very cable that
carries the load, and it thus furnishes the
power to operate drills, derricks and elevating
machinery at the mine, well as the
motive force which propels the car contain
ing the ore in its transportation to the smelter
or point of shipment. The cable crosses the
canyon and follows the lines OF the gullies
thfOuSA tuc II may po uOTlZOnldl
at points and perpendicular at others. The
motor, however, maintains uniform rate of
speed and operates with. absolute safety and
certainty. The moterman may control dozen
of these motors and thus reduce the cost of
transportation TO minimum"
Mr.. Hawley was asked as to whether the
water in irrigation bitches could be used to
generate power, to which he said:
at certainly can be put TO such service,
provided at its source IL can be carried to
point where it can operate turbine wheels
The water after operating the wheels can find
its way into the irrigation trenches, and the
electricity thus generated can operate pump
ing equipment which can be made mcst SER
country. There ere many pumps operated
electrically which are availa BILE in retaining
valuable land.'
Mr.. Hawley was requested to express his
opinion upon the electrical development
which he has seen in this country.
California" he said, "can well be proud of
what it has done in the way of the transmits
sion OF power over long distances While ex-
periments have been made in this and foreign
countries. the first long-distance power trans
mission to operate upon q commercial basis
was installed within the limits of your own
State. l have visited several plants In the
South, where find power being transmitted
over long distances at q very moderate cost
and at very much less price than a current
could be generated by wood or coal. The time
has passed when steam can be used TO make
electricity in competition with water power"