Gilpin observer., 1899-05-25

heat and light, the subject of utiliza-
tion of water power is one of growing
interest. This is especially true in
the Rocky Mountain region, where so
much water power is going to waste.
and where the amount of power need
ed is rapidly Increasing.
Mr.. l.. d. w. Magic recently read a
paper before the Canadian Electrical
Association from which we extract the
following.
The amount of copper required for
the transmission Of power to be trans
mitted, and also directly proportion
ate to the square of the distance for a
given efficiency. This may be stated
commercially by the amount of copper
required for transmitting. say, 100
horsepower for both one mile and ten
miles, the loss in transmission to be 8
per cent. and the pressure to be 800
volts.
For each leg of one-mile circuit
there would be required two No. OOOO
wires, or four No. OOOO wires. each one
mile long, weighing 1892 pounds.
which at Is cents per pound, would
cost $1,000. For each leg of the ten
mile line there would be required 20
No. 00OO wires. or 20 No. OOOO wires.
each ten miles long. weighing ,531 POS
pounds, which at Is cents per pound.
would cost $23O.OO0 or the power
would cost, at 10 per cent. interest and
depreciation on copper alone. $3.50 per
horsepower per annum in the first in
stance, and $3.50 per horsepower an
nun in the second case.
If. however, the pressure be raised to
5000 volts, and be used for transmit
ting 100 horsepower for ten miles. the
conditions would be entirely different:
for. instead of 40 No. OOOO wires. each
ten miles long, there would be required
for each leg but one No. 4 or two No.
4 wires each ten miles long, weighing
1890 pounds. which at 10 cents per
pound would cost $4,000, or the same
as transmitting the same amount of
energy only one mile at 500 volts.
The primary or fundamental ques-
tiOn is to ascertain the point at which
transmission of water powers will be
Il source of profit to the investor. The
cost of electrically transmitted power
is represented in the interest on the
capital invested; the depreciation; the
maintenance; the operating expenses
and numerous other small contingen-
cies, and besides. in some cases. the
amount of money that has to be eX-
pended for water and land privileges.
The sum of these accounts per year.
divided by the amount of horse power
actually sold, will be the actual cost
per horsepower for the case in ques
ton.
Probably the greatest competitor to
electric power is steam power. In
few instances power derived from gas
or petroleum engines may also COM
pete. The cost of producing steam
power in any given locality is fair
criterion by which to determine how
much electric power should cost. The
cost of power produced from other
sources can usually be disregarded.
The cost being ascertained Mt which
steam power can be produced in n Civ
en- locality, 1t can be determined what
cost per horsepower may be expended
on the construction of an electrical
transmission plant to make 1t prOfita-
ble to the investor. provided. again.
n sufficient market can be obtained for
power.
When electrically transmitted power
does not cost more than 800 to $40
per horsepower Installed, the invest
ment is apt to he profitable one. pro-
viding, of course, 1t is properly man.
aged.
The first item of expense is amount
required for water privileges. In some
eases this is rather an unimpOrtant
consideration. while in others it is the
chief expenditure. or 1t may involve
the buying of thousands of acres OF
land surrounding the stream. because
the necessary dams may cause to be
submerged n great deal of valuable
land. or large tracts have to be bought
for building storage reservoirs, or the
right of way for pipelines. etc. have to
be secured. When land is cheap these
considerations are often not objection
able. but where good farming land, or
land valuable for other reasons. has to
he thrown to waste, the question may
be perplexing one.
The cost of the dam. power house,
and hydraulic machinery Is. as rule.
dependent almost entirely on the char
acteristics of the stream being utilized.
Entering into the question is the
amount of water In the stream. both
under normal as well as abnormal
conditions mt various seasons of the
year: also the head or fall. and wheth-
er it is dependent on natural condi-
tions. or requires the building of large
dams. Generally speaking. other
things remaining equal. generating
plants. comprising the power house.
hydraulic and electric machinery. as a
whole cost less ns the head increases,
until certain limits have been reached.
When the head is low. ranging from
-four to ten feet. II requires II cOmpnrii-
lively large wheel for relatively
small amount of power. and then only
slow speeds can be attained. When
large units nre desirable. n number of
such wheels must he coupled together
in order to get the required power.
The speed required can be raised or
lowered to certain extent, depending
on the size of the wheel. If higher
speeds at low heads he desired for
large units many wheels must be opcr-
ated together. requiring not only n
great deal of room. and consequently n
larger power house, but considerable