The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-09
GREATER THAN NIAGARA.
WILL FURNISH MORE POWER THAN
THE MIGHTIEsT OF CATARACTs,

The Power House at Massena, N. ",
to BE the Greatest Electric Gener-
ntOr In the WOrId-Equippe with
Gigantic Machinery, Although Sit
uated in What Is Almost a wilder
ness, 1t Is Expected That the Plant
VIII Collect About 1t, by the At
fractions of Its Cheap Electric
Power, an Industrial City-Its Ire
mendOus Machinery Extremely
Simple of Control.
New York. June 7.-As a source of power
supply to the Pan-American Exposition,
so much is heard of Niagara as to estab-
fish general impression that 1t is the
most powerful source of electric current
in the world. This is not so. Niagara is
out-done in this respect by the st.
Lawrence, the vast funnel which conveys
the waters of the Great Lakes to the sea-
a river which from its head to the Thou
sand Islands flows with such force that 1t
forms q continuous waterfall for fully 175
miles. True, 1t is not a sheer descent like
Niagara, but a gradual incline which
really represents far more force than the
enormous power of Lake Erie's outlet.
Near the little town of Massena, in the
far northeastern corner of New York state
a thousand men have been at work for
several years past constructing what en-
gineers say is the largest power canal
in the world. It is practically completed.
and a portion of the st. Lawrence now
flows through it to the Grasse river.
Though only about three miles in length,
the canal is $50 feet wide and of sufficient
depth to provide what experts say is 90
feet head--vertical descent of the water
at the power house. The power house.
which is 700 feet in length and construct
ed OF stone, will contain machienry which
will actually generate more electric cur
rent that Niagara when II is completely
installed.
Fifteen sets Of turbine water wheels,
each containing six wheels, are set in
what might be called the basement Of
the power station. The sets are separated
into three pairs and turn upon horizontal
shafts. Each set OF wheels is connected
with an electrical generator, which will
develop power equal to the strength Of
5000 horses. Although It IS claimed that
the Niagara generators are of the same
caliber. electricians state that the St.
Lawrence apparatus represents from 100
to 200 more horsepower per set OF tur-
bines. An idea can be gained Of the size
of the generators when II rs stated that
each weighs l75 tons. The rim or "field".
is so large that when under construction
at the works Of the Westinghouse Com
pany in Pittsburg. three gymnastic
workmen stood upon each others shout
ders and the top man was just able to
touch the inside OF the upper rim with
his hands. Zach rim Is three feet In
width. and In the construction millions
OF feet Of wire were required.
In setting up the generators In the pow
erhouse, the great wheels were arranged
in n sort of tandem fashion, one follow
ing the other. To place them in position
a mammoth travelling crane operated by
electricity was placed IN position. trolling
along an overhead railroad. This crane
can lift So tons az one time. II held the
parts Of the generator while they were
being fastened together. The shafts re-
volve IN steel bearings 80 large that a
man Of medium size can crawl through
tho borning made 90 receive the shafts
end. Each generator is coupled" rs II
n termed. directly 10 a set OF turbine
wheels. which furnish the water power
90 revOlve A. This means that the shaft
turning the turbines Is continued on
through the hub Of the generator. and
thus no belt ~ required. IN fart II IL
doubtful n any combination OF leather
or rubber could DO made which would