The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-31
BIGGEST POWER PLANT.
Located, Not at Niagara, but at Mas
sena, N. Y, on the St. Lawrence.
Capacity 100000 Horse Power.
From the Omaha Bee.

Pan American exposition so much is
heard of Niagara as to establish
general impression that It is the most
powerful source of electric current in
the world. This is not SO, Niagara is
outdone in this respect by the ST. Law
renee. that vast tunnel which conveys
the waters of the great lakes to the
sea-a river which from its head at the
Thousand Islands flows with such force
that it forms a continuous waterfall for
fully 17a miles. True. IL Is not a sheer
descent like Niagara, but a general in
cline which really represents far more
force than the enormous power Of Lake
rie's outlet.
Near the little town of Massena in
the far northern corner of New York
state, 1000 men have been at work for
several years past constructing what
engineers say is the largest power canal
in the world. II is practically complet-
ed and portion of the st. Lawrence
now flows through IL to the Grasee
river. Though only about three miles
in length, the canal is $50 feet wide and
of sufficient depth to provide what ex-
perts say is 60 feet ahead-vertical
descent of the water-at the power
house. This power house, which is 700
feet in length and constructed of stone,
will contain machinery which will actu-
|ally generate more electric current than
Niagara when it 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 calibre,
electricians state that the st. Lawrence
apparatus represents from 100 to 200
more horsepower per set of turbines.
An idea can be gained Of the size of
the generators when ii is stated that
each weighs 175 tons. The rim or field"
is so large that when under construc-
tion at the works of the Westinghouse
company in Pittsburg three gymnas site
Workmen stood upon each others shoul-
ders, and the top man was Just able
to touch the inside of the upper rim
with his hand. Each rim is three feet
in width and in construction millions
of feet of wire were required.
In setting UP the generators in the
power house the great wheels were ar
ranged in a sort of tandem fashion
one following the other. To place them
in position mammoth travelling crane
operated by electricity was placed in
position, trolling along an overhead
| railroad. This crane can lift S5 tons
at one time. 1t held the parts of the
generators while they We're being fast
| ened together. The shafts revolve in
steel bearings so large that man of
medium size can crawl through the
boring made to receive the shafts end
Each generator is coupled" as 1t is
termed. directly to a set of turbine
wheels, which furnish the water power
to revolve il. This means that the
shaft turning the turbines is continued
on through the hub of the generator
and thus no belt is required. In fact
it Is doubtful if any combination of
leather or rubber could be made which
would revolve these enormous discs
safely at the speed required.
Although when all the apparatus is
installed the power house will gener-
ate current equal to 100000 horse power.
| such is the simplicity of its control
| that but one man is required to start
and stop the machinery. In the center
| of the building, on a raised platform,
| is what is known as the controlling
| station, to which are attached num-
| ber of marble slabs with keys. such as
| are ordinarily used by telegraph oper-
| atOr. Each key connects with a series
| of air valves and pistons, working what
| are called switch stands, one to each
generator. a chemical battery furnish
| es an electric current To move the air
valves and pistOns. They convey the
necessary force to operate the switches.
| which break or restore the electric cur
| rent which in turn starts the turbines.
| This force is generated from a set of
| three smaller turbines, coupled to gem
| orators, which are called "exciters. "
and are merely used to stop and start
the main plant, like the steam cylinder
which moves the starting wheel on the
engine of an ocean steamship The
switches are so close together on the
| controlling stand that the operator can
sit in a chair and reach one with his
finger. Merely on the pressure of a
key the 5000 horse power it controls
ceases to work, Another pressure and
in moment it is again producing cur
rent.
| Ordinarily a great power producing
| plant Is located in some center of in
dustry where power is in demand for
many purposes. Therefore. it seems, on
first consideration, strange that the
greatest electric plant in the world
should be located in a little town far
from any considerable center of popu-
latiOn. But the company which has
established the plant believes that a
great city will grow up around it, in.
dustrial projects being drawn thithei
by the cheapness of the power. While
IL is expected that the plant will light
the city of Ottawa, Ont, eighty miles
distant, and operate it's street railway
system, the power will be principally
used for manufacturing, and already
several cOmpanes have made ar,
rangements to build in the vicinity
one will manufacture aluminium, which
depends upon cheap electric power fol
its production at low cost. The ST
Lawrence Power company, which con
structed the canal and station, ha!
spent 100000 900 on It. 1t is really al
international company, as both Londor
and New people are stockholders.
Smoke the Pocono Cigar, SC. ~