The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-15

as the draining Of the channel has dis
| closed natures lavish provision at the
| place. To utilize 1t a mammoth stone
/ crusher having a capacity OF 200 cubic
yards in a l0-hour day has been erected.
| A 75-horse power engine furnishes tine
motive power. although 40-horse power
| will drive the big machine.
| trcstle has been built so that cars
run up under the elevator buckets Of the
| crushcr. and when filed arc pushed out
TO the point on the dam where needed.
and dumped.
COMPRESSED AIR.
The contractors have secured water
rights from the Franklin Siearns estate
in an old mill alOmst under the Peters
| burg railroad bridge. and a l50-horse pow
er air compressor placed I'm position
Through pipes the power is conveyed
! wherever needed over the work. and Will
be utilized In many ways ~ the dam
II Is being used 20 run thee rock drills
When the old canal was drained sew
eral old shells were found Search was
made for two brass cannons alleged to
have been left I'm the canal after the
civil war. but they have not been found.
The dam will be connected with the
Development Company's power-house by
a canal. which will be fifty feet wide.
from five TO seven feet deep. and about a
mile long. 10 Will be made level on the
bottom and lined with concrete. to give
unimpeded flow 10 the water and 10 IA
cilitate cleaning the raceway.
THE POWER-HOUSE.
At the pOwer-hOuse site large forces
have been al work night and day since
February Goth, clearing away the walls
and foundations of the old Haxall Mills
and excavatng. At present the material
TO be removed IS loaded in cars and run
out Of the pit by steam windlasses. A
Ledgerwood travelling galloway and con-
veying machine is nearly ready for use.
and will facilitate matters.
Two towers, forty and sixty feet high.
respectively. are supported by cars which
run on parallel tracks. very much on the
order OF a travelling crane. The towers
are connected by a galloway. over which
buckets are sent and lowered on the spot
needed. When filled they are taken out
and dumped into carts on the level
ground. The conveying machine has a
capacity of removing 500 cubic yards every
ten hours. Before the work Of excavation
at the site Of the power-house IS com
pleted. 5000 cubic yards Of earth and
stone will have been removed. Seven
thousand cubic yards of concerate and
masonry is TO go into the power house
foundation. The conveying machine wiz
be used 10 lower the concrete and other
material at the desired places.
THB DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.
The utilization Of the power of the
James has often been discussed. but the
present scheme had ifs origin in the
mind Of Mr.. f. c. Tod OF Baltimore
Southern manager for the General Flee
trio Company. The Virginia Electric Rail
way and Electric Company is capitalized
at $4,000 with the privilege of doubling
the amount. About half the stock is held
locally.
The capacity OF the plant will be 1900
horsepower. At first 40O0-horsepower
only will be used, but every provision has
been made so that when necessary 10
increase the power TO 1900 IL will only be
necessary TO place the machinery Tur.
bien wheels Will be the medium through
which power IS obtained. An auxiliary
steam plant will be provided. so that at
low water there need be no diminuton of
the power provided
The power station will be within halt
a mile Of the centre OF distribution, en-
abling the giving Of cheap and safe pow
low voltage VIII be used.
-Four loo horse power generators will !
be installed at first aud ten more as |
needed. The auxiliary steam plant will
be vertical Corliss engines.
The company expects 10 be ready for |
business about March LIST of next year. |
Steam will be used for a short time at |
first. until the water power is available. |
TO BUILD a CONDUIT.
A hurried preliminary canvass of Grace |
and Franklin streets was made TO see if |
a sufficient number Of lights viii be taken |
to justify the running of conduits up |
them. In short time 300 lamps OF 16 |
candle power were engaged and the Coun- /
ell Will be asked TO grant a permit 10 run /
the conduit. Lights are promised at /
about the same price as is now charged |
for gas. The company Is endeavoring |
TO have every one who builds a new
house. wire il FOR electric lights and has
been uniformly successful Monumental
church is 10 use electric lights and will
be the first Richmond church to do so, It
Is said.
The Development Company will PRO
badly furnish power for the Traction
cars and will make "a bid on the city
lighting when the next award is made
PROGRESS OF WORK.
On the Richmond. Petersburg and Caro-
lima bridge the foundation for FIVE piers.
have been excavated. and a Golfer dam
for one pier Is In place.
The actual work of building the piers
for that road and the Chesapeake and
Ohio will begin this week
About ten architects are az work on
plans for the new Joint station OF the
two roads. but work VIII not begin on the |
building for some time yet little pre-.
iiminary clearing away Of houses on the
right of way on the north side Of east
Main street is I'm progress and the right
Of way OF the Chesapeake ana Ohio via
duet Is being cleared rapidly.