The San Francisco call., 1897-06-05
IMMENSE
PROJECT IN
ENGINEERING
Electric Power. Soon to Be
Transmitted Eighty
Miles.
THE VOLTAGE REQUIRED
IS $4,000.
Los Angeles Streetcars and
Lights to Be Operated From
Santa Ana.
BIG CONTRACTS CLOSED HERE
YESTERDAY.
Engineer Ensign of the Southern
California Power Company Ex-
plains Matters.
Los Angeles Streetcars and
Lights to Be Operated From
Santa Ana.
BIG CONTRACTS CLOSED HERE
YESTERDAY.
Engineer Ensign of the Southern
California Power Company Ex-
plains Matters.

One of the most stupendous electrical
engineering schemes on record, by which
power is to be conducted from Santa Ana
to Los Angeles, distance of eighty miles,
under a pressure of 1000 volts, is now in
process of cOnsummatIon and two of the
gentlemen who have undertaken it are
now at the Palace Hotel. Their names
are II. II. Sinclair and o. II. Ensign, vice
president and electrical and mechanical
engineer, respectively, of the Southern
California Power Company.
Henry Fisher is the president of the
company. The nature of the undertak-
ing and what contracts have so far been
closed up are explained by Mr.. Ensign as
follows:
This company has been organized to
develop the water power of Southern
California. In this instance we propose
to deliver electrical energy equivalent to
1000 horsepower in the carhouse at Los
Angeles. The power station is in Santa
Ana Canyon, twelve mi es from Redlands
and eighty miles from the point OF de-
veIopment.
The current will be generated at 1000
volts and transformed into 80, 900.
This will be the longest distance that
has ever been transmitted yes, more power
than twice as long as any heretofore. The
highest voltage that has ever been at
tempted ere this is 15 600. This pressure
OF 10 600 volts is now used by the Central
California Electric Company in trans
mitting power from Newcastle TO Sacra-
mento, distance of thirty-fve miles.
"The power is derived from the waters
OF the Santa Ana River which is to be di-
rected from the stream by a canal, fiume
and tunnel work along the side of the
canyon to a point where it suddenly drops
through 220O feet of pipe di tance OF $50
feet 10 the Water-wheels. This will give a
vast head, or pressure.
The power generated will be sold to
existing com panies in Los Angeles and
Pasadena, and will be used both for street.
railway and Cor lighting purposes So far
contracts have been signed with the Los
Angeles and Pasadena Railway Company,
the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Rail-
way Company, the Pasadena Electric
Light and Power Company, and the West
Side Lighting Company of Los Angeles"
Mr. Ensign further stated that the pur-
pose OF Mr.. Sinclair and himself in being
here at this time is to close up contIac
for the various supplies and machinery
that will be required.
The contract for the copper wire has
been signed" " he said. I'VE have ordered
800 900 pounds of it. That Is no small
Item in itself.
The contract for the electrical machin-
ery will probably be completed to-mor-
row. That tor the hydraulic work has
been drawn up at a figure of 1000, but
there has been a slight delay over The con-
tractors bond. This difficulty will soon
be circumvented.
"The contract for the electrical machin-
cry will probably be closed to- day. The
best bid was for $4,000"