The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-10

~ lew era has been opened in the
Industrial life of Richmond and. indeed,
in lie South. The date was February
81. 1891. on that day the first wheel OF
The. Virginia Electrical Railway and
IcvclopInvnt Conrany's power-plapt was
Iuri:ed. The James river was harnessed,
and the fail of seventeen feet was trans
formed into an indicated horsepower Of
14,0uo. This, in the opinion of experts.
is the greatest feat of its kind that has
been accomplished south OF the Potomac
,iyer. The Old Dominion has again
proved herself far in advance of her fell
lows in the sisterhood OF Southern States,
end has set the pace
Two years and seven days elapsed
between the time of the first stroke Of
work done on this enterprise and the
turning of the first wheel On February
20, 1893, the work of tearing down the
old Iaxall NILS, which occupied the site
Ok the power-plant, WAS begun The
actual construction began in June, 1889
The hcadcatcS We're built during the
summer of that year. and the spring Of
1850 saw the first actual work on the
dams begun. The slIpcTstructure Of he
present power-houSe was begun in the
spring OF 1900. and has been completed
and the machinery installed within the
last few months. The James river has
been so harnessed as 10 furnish power
sufficient to run all of Ricfmond'S great
manufacturing plants, besides furnishing
light. heat and power for q thousand AID
one minor industries. At present the
machinery installed is capable of show
ing aI Indicated horsepower of 1900.
When all the machinery is installed this
power VIII be doubled and more.
WONDERFUL POWER.
The Virginia Electrical Railway and
Development Company was incorporated
n 1893. a franchise was granted that
same --ear, and the actual work was
begun on the date already stated. Those
interested in the project saw the great
possibilities of converting this great horse
power into electricity. Situated. as Rich.
,pond is. within three miles of the limit
OF the tidal cbh and flow, the fall OF the
James river is e;ghty-folr feet, and
within nine miles the fail is H. Above
this point the watershed OF the river is
$500 square miles, and It's low summer
dow seldom falls below 1,500 cubic feet
per second. With a larger flow this
amount OF water is capable CT producing
1,5Gt. horse power, and for n large part
CT the year a much greater quantit,-
might be obtained. Unfortunately for
the best development of this power, it
has been divided among many independ-
ont industries. Owing TO the lack OF
means for distributing this power to the
1rany- users, none OF the users obtained
the best results. This. however, has been
overcome by developing it at one large
plant and Transformed into electricity.
Tho plant of this company, which viii
supply electrical energy for any purpose
Tor which it may be desired and within
any feasible distance, comprises at pres
ent:
\ dam across James river, controlling
the entire flow.
\ canal leading from the north end
OF this dam to the power-house, a. dis
lance of 200 feet.
The station or Dower-house. with its
machinery, having a total present Install
lation of $500 horsepower, and
The distributing system. consisting Of
large installation of underground con-
Quits and Edison tubes and several pole
line routes with overhead feeders.
THE DAM
The dam is n concrete masonry struc-
3ure. about LOO feet long, exclusive of
The guard wall at the upper end Of the
csaal. The average height of the crest
Is only about five feet above the solid
era mite bed OF the river, the maximum
height being about eight feet
Piers are built at intervals of forty