The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-13
TO DRAIN NEW ORLEANS.
Preparations Making 20 Install a CT.
gantic Electric Pumping Plant.

The commission which has charge OF
the task Of providing for the disposition
Of the surface drair0ge Of New Orleans
has decided 10 use electric power for
pumping away the enormous quantities
Of rain water which IL has 10 deal with
and n contract for IN electric outfit for
the central powCrhOUse and fer three
humping stations has just tccn made
with the General Electric Company Of
Schenectady. 4 great part Of the city
Of New Orleans lies below the mean level
Of the Mississippi River and only a lit
de above the level OF Lake Pontchar-
train, and when rain falls the little now
that cen be got naturally IS not enough
10 keep the city from being flooded In
ordinary showers the usual fall IS an
inch of water an hour and in heavy
showers this amount runs up to IL
inches. I'm order 10 gather this and get
rid Of 70 the New Orleans Drainage Com
mission is having two long canals dug
from tho low parts Of the city TO the
other side Of the Metairie ridge. which
lies about midway between the river and
Lake Pontchartrain. A pumping station
will be established a. the head OF each
Of these canals 10 LIT the water into
other artificial ways, whence II can run
of into the lake.
one Of these canals is above and tho
other below Bayou 81. John. which
reaches into the heart Of The city from
Lake Pontchartrain. The one below will
be divided into two parts. and at Bread
and 81. Louis streets, where their Off
fcrent levels meet, a third pumping
station will be established TO lift the
water from the lower % the upper level.
This station viii be known as 40. ., and
fl viii lift the water three feet. The
other stations. numbered respectively 9
and e. will he az the ends or tile canals
and will each lift tho water ten feet.
The pumps at station Will be able 70
raise 600 cubic feet Of water three feet
every second. Those at each OF the other
stations must raise 500 cubic feet OF
water ten feot every second.
The whole system is 10 be supplied
with power and operated from central
station situated az the Florida avenue
crossing Of the y. O. and y. l.. Railroad.
Here viii be the big dynamos. OF these
there VIII be three. each OF 100 horse
power one Of 500 horse power ard two
a. one hundred horse power each.
The object in dividing the power
in this way IS 10 enable ne en-
einccrs 10 throw in whatever amount Of
power may be needed 10 clear the canals
or water ~ decotdahtc Win tle severity
OF the rains.
Muldphase, high-tension dynamos and
motors viii be used. The current viii
go out az 300 volts and reach the motors
at the pumping station at 5000 volts.
TWO separate sets of wires win reach 10
the pumping stations 10 guard against
broakdowns. The nearest pumping
station viii be No. ?. That will be 1900
feet away. The next will be 7llsa0g feet
away, and will be 5000 feet
from the powcrhouse. Station will have
two pump motors or rs horsepower each
and enc OF 20 horsepower. and each Of
the other stations viii have three motors
OF 40 horsepower each.
Instead Of using ordinary pumps. the
water is TO be raised by whrlng
screws Just like the propeller screw Of
steamship. For the big stations each OF
these screws win be about twelve feet
IN diameter ard VIII make G. l-e rev