Evening star., 1901-11-02
ELECTRIC ENERGY
As Shown in a Marvellous Suspension
Bridge,
800 FEET ABOVE HIGH tide
Is a Marvel Of Ingenious Engin-
eerlng.
LAST LINK COMPLETED
Copyright, 1901

Copyright, 1901
Written for The Evening Star by Walden Fawcett
More wonderful than the famous water
power institution at Niagara Falls is
plant in the interior of California on the
Yuba river, 200 miles from San Francisco.
The California plant has water wheels of
greater capacity than any others of the
kind in the world, and its big generators,
which convert a roaring mass of falling
water into electric power, are the largest
machines of the type ever constructed for
this purpose. The generated electricity,
moreover, Is carried farther before it is
used than such power has ever been car
ried elsewhere. Nor are all the superla-
tives exhausted in thus describing this har-
messed waterfall and its pathway of vi
brant lightning down to San Francisco, 209
miles away, for, in order to get the electri-
cal energy TO its desired destination, human
ingenuity, combined with characteristic
American daring, has just accomplished one
of the most remarkable achievements in the
history of engineering.
The Straits of CarquineZ, across which it
was necessary to carry the stored power if
the best market was to be open to it, con-
meet San Pablo and Suisun bays, which to-
gether form the northern portion of San
Francisco bay. Through this comparative
ly narrow channel the entire central por-
tion of the state of California Is drained,
and, in addition, there is an ocean tide of
about five feet, so that although the water
is over 100 feet in depth, there is at all
times heavy and dangerous current.
IF power cables cannot be laid under
meath the water, why not suspend them
above?' said the engineer, and, accordingly,
the construction of gigantic suspension
bridge consisting of four cables was begun.
Two slender steel towers, each as high as
an ordinary office building were reared on
opposite points of land overlooking this
mile-wide waterway, and the great wire
ropes were swung so high that the talIest
masted vessel afioat might sail underneath
without harm.
Higher Than Ship Masts.
The conditions were not easy which forced
resort to the amazing project of the giant
span a desperate chance; nor was the
decision hastily arrived at to undertake
what many experienced engineers pro-
nounced a foolhardy attempt. Many exac-
tionS were to be met also. For instance
the United States government in granting
permission for the crossing stipulated that
the cables should be suspended at least
2U' feet above the surface of the water
Shenandoah, the largest vessel of the Amer
lean merchant marine, is 1914 feet above the
water line.
The BLUM on the north side of the straits
on which the tower is erected is 162 feet
above extreme high tide and the great steel
skeleton itself is 225 feet in height The
tower on the south shore Is not in itself so
lofty as the other, but by reason of being
perched on higher ground its top is fully
eighty feet higher than that of the other
tower. The erection of these towers prob
ably called for more daring on the part of
the men who built them than any sky-
scraper that was ever constructed. They
are built of iron and steel throughout, and
so stanchly put up that they can with