The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-02

tral power station OF the seattle Electric
Company. TO cost between $I50,ooo and
$1,0o0.000, to which the Observation-Disclosures
has previously referred. have been re-
ceived in this city from Stone & Webster.
of Boston, and are now in the hands OF
local contractors. who will furnish bids
for the work between now and January !.
1901. Within few days subsequent to
that date, II is believed. the electric COM
pany will let the contract for the work.
The building when completed will be in
all respects the most modern and up-to-
date power house west OF Chicago.
In many respects the construction work
on the station will be something utterly
unknown in local building annals. To be-
gin with. the building Is to be constructed
on a foundation made by driving 1000
piles, surmounted with eight feet OF solid
concrete. The station win be built OF
steel. brick and stone. with scarcely any
wood. The floors viii be concrete. There
will be 1000 tons of steel used In the franz
ing and columns. Two immense engines
will generate electric power by direct con-
nection with the giant generators. The
boilers will be on the third story. and they
will be fed by coal through electric con-
veyors, with automatic stokers This fea-
ture Is new in the West and Is FIN de
steele in every respect. The building will
be finished during the year 1901.
The station will be operated in connec-
ton with the plant OF the Snoaualmie
Falls Power Company, which Is now sup
plying to the Seattle Electric Company
under contract the bulk OF Its power re-
ceiyed In Seattle. From this station. aid
ed by the power received over the wires
of the Snoqualmie company the Seattle
Electric Company will operate all Its cleo
trio railways. its electric lighting system
and steam heat power and hydraulic sys-
TEN which traverses the entire business
district.
From Superintendent Of Construction
landlord OF the electric company. the
following details OF the plans and general
character of the structure were obtained
yesterday:
Description of the Plant.
The building will be three stories IN
height, covering ground area 100 feet
square. II will be located directly north
OF the present power station Of the Seat
tie Electric Company. formerly known as
the Seattle Steam Heat and Power Com
pany plant. The first story will have an
outside finish of stone and the remaining
stories will have brick exterior.
Beginning at the foundation, work was
started several months ago. and two pile
drivers were kept busy for weeks driving
1000 piles. which form the footing of the
building In that respect the foundation
IL similar TO that of the government naval
station at Bremerton. The piles were
driven as closely together as possible.
They were then cut of al n point thirteen
feet below the level OF Railroad avenue, or
seven feet below city datum.
Jypon the piles a huge slab of solid ma
Sonry 100 feet square. has been built. IL
is eight feet Thick. and when completed
will in fact be one solid. immovable mono
nth of concrete. This will receive the
steel framework and supporting columns.
ON the Western avenue 'front.' OF the
building will be located the engine room
nroper This room will be 100 feet In
length bv Il feet in width. II VIII run
clear to the roof having n height Of -
feet In this room will be erected two
huge Mcintosh q seymour engines OF 1000
horse power each They will be directly
connected with alternating eiectric gem
orators. with a total capacity IN electric
power Of !, 800 kilowais, or approximately
$500 horse power.
Mig steel Crane.
one of the most interesting features OF
the engine room will be a steel travelling
crane. operated by electricity and com
pletely under the control OF single oper-
ator. This crane will have power TO IN a
niece Of machinery weighing nifty tons
sra carry !, 10 any part OF the room as
a.sIiv az a woman carries an empty shop
ntrx has nv means of the crane any
r.rt ~ Inc machinery in the engine room
can be easily and quickly moved either
from one end TO the other or uahtNefsety
across Il. and can be lifted TO any desired
ON IN. same level as the engine room,
but occupying ons-half Of the space De-
tgeeu Post street and western avenue
I will - located n room sxlvo ieet Tor the
| rotary eonvertsrs and transformers. The
Transformers will receive the hlsA tension
! current from the wires ~ the snoaasimis
I Power Company and reduce ne Fotase.
I The current for Operating tae away
lines % the company VII pass Tem 'hs
snoqualmle companys sifes 20 VIC ~
tary convertsrs which Siit e4sAsste " ,Feii
an alternating to dtfect eeitc1s e- -
the same current viii be reduced 20 from
Z 100 ~ - volts for ire sncanaesceni Hight
trx system ana from 20 10 20 volts for
operating small meters. etc
( IN thts room vii also be located the
Intricate and costly system % sNRcn
i bsards BY means q which thousands Ok
horse power in electricity car BE con
srolieA hy the simple movement of
snail lever.
usre-tiy above the roSartss ard trans
; formers wtll - roam tn which Wit b.
I ioeA,ea the pipe gallery and conVsyors
from which viii ran all steam and ny
( araulic pipes. ash and coal eonysyors ana
Z electrlcai wires ana eoneHits. birectV
eNseve .he tlipe gallery Vii be }ocated the
{ r.,ft.r vocrn - 6v 30 feet in size. Ioere
: xVf h, three batteries Of RaEcock a WI
- boilers having q rated capacity o.
Z 4 aa1 horse -soWer hat capable OF develop
tnxx 90 horse poNsr. These boilers VIII
4 furnish the steam. steam heat and n.y.
/ arauffe power for the whole system