The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-29
WASTE WATER TO
WASTE No MORE
The Big Electric Plant Soon to Be
Built.
READY FOR WORK IN JANUARY
Big Dam To- be Constructed Across
the River and Every Bit of the
Flow Turned Into Canals
on Either Side.
READY FOR WORK IN JANUARY

Tho waste water OF the noble James
will, ere long, be put 20 the greatest ut.l-
ity known 10 modern ideas.
The big plant Of the Virginia Electric
Railway and Power Company Will soon
be under way and with the work ia con-
nection with the big depot for the Chesa-
peake and Ohio and seaboard Air Line
viii give great activity in The way Of
labor in Richmond.
Several millions Of dollars will be
turned loose ana ind its way into circu-
lauon. and Il is predicted with all reason,
that the next twelve months Will be ono
OF prosperity in Richmond
CONTRACTS 10 BE LET.
Mr.. William rood, of Baltimore, the
manager of the Power Company. VINO
has now made his residence in Richmond.
when asked yesterday about the plans
OF the company seated that tne cuu-,lllD-
ton OF the plant which WAS in the hands
OF the James River Construction COM
pany, would soon be let 10 contract and
in short time a large force OK hands
would be employed.
Tho pulling down Of the main buildings
Of the old HsXall Mills. comprising about
twO-thirds of the mill plant. has been
o.
the contract and the remaining one-third
has been awarded 20 w. A. Chestermau.
who is under contract 10 remove the
buildings by June lst This viii leave
tho site entirely clear for the new build
ings.
BLAST THE CHANNEL
Before this work ls completed contracts
will have been let for the construction OF
the dam across the river. the canal and
the foundations for the power house and
also the blasting OF the river channel
free OF rocks from the power house 20
the Danville railroad bridge 90 give free
access TO tho waste from tail races.
contract will he let ar once for cleo
trical equipment. for engres for piriug.
and those Will be quickly followed bv
contracts for the construction of the
power house and the building OF the c'o--
trio lines through the city for which
elaborate survey and plans in detail have
been made.
WATER TUBE BOILERS.
A contract has already been Jet 10 The
Bahcock-WilcOx Company FOR four 600
horse power water tube boilers for au
auxiliary steam plant 10 take the place
Of water power II needed in times Of high
water or at other times
The work on the canal will commence
about May 18th. This canal has not been
drained for many years and 10 is eN-
pected that many interesting things viii
be found In It's muddy bottom.
The new canal which VIII be an On.
larscmeut OF the present big ditch Win
be nifty feet wide with pcrpcudicuar
masonry sides. and covered sid. and
bottom with concrete. making % smooth
channel throughout.
BIG ENGINES.
The engines first ordered VIII comprise
three 1000 horsepower machines and to
them will be coupled an ample number
Of Kilowatt electric generators Of $40 volt
power each, 30 baiag the purp sc of the
company 70 use no high voltage in this
city
The highest voltage used viii De- 800.
which Is practically harmless
The total capacity Of the first plant put
I'm operation will be four thousand horse
power The initial building l00 feet long
will have temporary end wall and viii
be a unit of a whole that viii measure
go feet IN length when fully constructed.
The contract for the dam across James
river provides that II shall Doe finished
by the first day Of April 1900 and VIII
require the constant employment OF from
500 to 900 men TO complete IT. in The time
specified
WATER CONTROL
The head gates for Che canal cross
from the head of Browns Island 10 the
roadway Of the Trcdegar Works.
The dam will start at the head ~
Browns Island and extend directly across
the entire river % Tho Manchester side.
a little above the Petersburg railroad
bridge. and will convert tho entire low
Of James river from the channel into The
canals on either side except during high
water
Head gates will be erected ON the Man
chester side to supply The canal ON that
side and the new dam viii uc 10 the
present Manchester dam and there viii
be no disturbance OF the Cow as al prcs-
ent arranged ON that Side.
The centre of the river win have TO
waste water.
POWER HOUSE.
The power house VIII he completed By
the first % January roXt and viii Doc run
BY the auxiliary steam power until the
hydraulic work IS finished
The company has purchased land along
the canal so that it can De enlarged as
planned.
The canal will carry 20 the turbine
wheels Of the big electric plant 6ooo cubic
feet of water per second at vc.ocity of
nine feet per second.
The brick stack that wifi give rrlueht
10 the furnaces viii Doe l15 feet h.Sh-the
tallest I'm the city,
A thirty ton crane will no erected IN
the power house ample 90 lift any piece
OF machinery IN use.
Spur tracks Of the Southern road VIII
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