The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-19
THE NIAGARA Of
THE COTTON BELT
More Powerful Than All the
Kings Horses.
HARVESTING NARRONS
SOUTHERN ASKED TO BUILD y
BRANCH ROAD
70 POWERFUL eLANTTO Be PUT THERE
Representatives Of the Company Here Yesler-
day to Confer With Col. A, B. Andrews
They Talk of this New Titan
Prof Jet.

Mr.. T.. Il. c. Hambley. president Of
the North State Power Company, ana
Mr.. c. G.. Young, of Baltimore, repre-
sentinc ]. :. White Il Co, electrical en-
gineers of New York and Baltimore,
were in the city yesterday. They came
here representing the company which is
TO develops the magnificent power at
the "Narrows'' of the Yadkin to confer
with Col. \. Il. Andrews, of the South
ern Railway. and secure if possible n
promise to build Il branch line to sae
the Narrows.
The Salisbury and Norwood branch IF
the Southern runs within about seven
miles of the Narrows and a spur of that
length would be all that is needful 70
give railroad communication with the
outside world Albemarle, which is only
miles from the Narrows will probably
be the branchng-of point. if the road IS
built. The road will. of course, be Il
necessity for the transportation of the
machinery and supplies needed at lie
power plant.
Messrs. Hambley and Young are just
returned from a visit to the property with
reference to its electrical development.
The hydraulic engineers have about
finished their work and the work of
development is expected to begin wishia
about Il month
The estimate is that the Narrows
plant will be able to develop 10000 horse
power at an outlay, in establishing the
plant of about $3,000.000.
The power company expects to he
able to induce Northern mill men TO
move their plants South and locate Them
on the railroads within reach of the
companys power-bearing cables. The
true significance of this will be under
stood when it is recalled thar the Mar
rows represent the next greatest water
power in the United States after the
imperial Niagara and that this great
water power is located in the heart
Of the cotton growing section.
The power company of which Mr..
Hambley is president has acquired 1000
acres of land lying along both sides of
the Yadlxin for distance OF about ten
miles from the head of the Narrows to
the lower end of what is commonly
Known rs the Il ais OF the l aukiD.
As an indication of the tremendous
power awaiting conservation here il may
be stated that the Yadkin river which
is 900 feet wide short distance above
the Narrows is here forced through q
granite-lpped gorge but - feet wide at
its widest and only 30 feet wide at its
narrowest part. This gorge is one-quar-
ter of mile long and the river in that
distance has Il fall of from 36 to 40
feet. Imagine then the whole food of
the Yadkin poured down a rock sluice-
way. say 80 feet wide and 400 yards
long and with pitch of 40 feet or one
in ten yards and you get conception of
the Narrows and its power.
From the head of the Narrows south
for four miles to the mouth of The
Uwharrie river there is Il fall of foJ feet
and for this whole distance the river
continues only somewhat wider than Mt
the Narrows.
The following table for the head of
the Narrows which rather under than
over estimates the clements set forth
is instructive: