The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
MILLS Nv THE scorer HIGHLANDS.
The Project to Use Waterfalls to Generate
Electrical Power.

Electrical Power.
Waterfalls are being used more and moro
to produce elect ical power. Switzerland has
40 coal with which to make steam to run her
industries. and 40 her waterfalis.have been the
driving force. They are now beginning to be
used still more effectively to produce cleo
tricity as a motive power. The rapids and
falls OF the upper Rhine are now generating
electricity which is used in the mills OF that
region. A large enterprise Is also on foot for
the production of elertricity.in the Scottish
Highlands by means OF water 20 wer. 1t NAV
not be 40 very long before the prediction OF
Lord Kelvin that the production OF cleo
.rlcitv by means OF waterfalls will some day at
tract a prosperous population to the Scottish
Highlands will come true.
The British Parliamen, has before 1t the prof.
oct TO obtain electrical power. equal to 49,
900 horse power, by means OF the chain OF
lochs along the border OF Perth and Argyll
counties to the west OF the Grampian Noun
tains. The most important Of these lochs is
Ericht. which has a length OF about seventeen
miles. its waters discharGing into Loeb Ran
nOch and then into the TaY. 1t is PROPOSED to
build n large dam at the eXtreme south OF the
loch. turning, 1t into a great reservoir; and
then to pass the accumulated waters far below
in the valley through an aqueduct to the cleo.
tric Ilant. where the water 20 wer will be used
TO generate electricity enough TO drive many
large mills. 1t Is prone sed to follow the same
course with all the lochs between the Gram
rians and Loeb Thus a series OF res;
ervoirs, at high elevation. will be supplied. and
the fall OF water to lower levels'through the
aqueducts will feed the stations producing the
electricity. Tho fall OF water in some cases
will he 800 feet, and that at Loeb Ericht alone
Ia expected to produce electricity amounting
to IA. M horse power.
In our Western mining regions the process
OF producing and reducing ores is being con-
-iderably cheapened by the utilization Of water
power to produce electricity for driving. tho
machinery, IhlR Is n. recent feature OIL our
mining operations and is u new economy that
Is Diminishing expenses. Great Britain has
been very SLOW. to adopt electricity as a motive
power. but is fully convinced at last OF Its
economy and merits. and electric street cars
arc beginning to appear on the streets or q lew
cttieG. IN January last the expeTinental line
that has been building in Liverpool was started.
IL Is two and a half miles In length, has a dou-
BILE track, and. as the line is already successful.
II is expected that electricity will supers0ds
horse power on the entire street railroad sys-
'em. Electric street cars were also introduced
on the streets OF Glasgow In October last. a.,
m has been much wider awake. and
while electric street ears in England are still
in the experimental stage. slXty.eight cities 81
Germany have introduced them with great
success, and In thirty five other cities or dis
tricts these railroads are now in course 81 con-
struction. Most OF the industrial cities VI
Westphalia and the Rhine province are con-
nected by a net work OF electric roads which
serve not only for passengers. but also Tor
freight trafhc.