The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-29
Change in Plans and Accidents
Cause Delays.
A MODERN STATION
With 5000 HORSEPOWER Developed
by Turbine Wheels Making 514
Revolutions per Minute.

Big FORK, Jan. 26.-Since the COM
mencement of the construction of the
Big Fork Electric Light and Power
company's plant, there have been many
changes in the plans and locations of
buildings, which with numerous unfor-
seen delays have made the completion
of the fiume and power house at an
early date seem almost impossible,
but as a matter of fact not day or
hour has been lost, and were it posi-
BILE to get the machinery on the ground
the plant could be finished within
thirty days and electricity generated
by the aid of the waters of Swan
river, transmitted is miles into Kalis-
pell.
The most important change in the
plans was the selection of new To-
cation for the power house, which it
was at first intended to build on the
ground purchased from the Flathead
Rod and Gun club, just above the
Swan river bridge. After work on
the ditch and fiume had commenced,
it was decided that a more perfect
situation for the building was about
100 yards above the old location, and,
consequently, at point under the
end of the upper tlume, where the
w -,
ward over 100 feet, the power house
will be built. A force of men are
blasting and grading the ground for
the foundation, for what Mr.. +. b.
Fish, the constructing engineer says
will be one of the most modern and
complete electric lighting and power
stations in the United States.
Mr.. Fish was found busily engaged
going over lot of drawings, but took
the time to speak of the work under
way to the Bee correspondent, after
which much of the ground was gone
over. Mr.. Fish said
AT present two 26-nch, double dis
charge, horizontal turbine wheels.
driven at 514 revolutions per minute,
by 1000 cubic feet of water descend
ing through a steel flume 54-inches in
diameter, will develop the 600 horse
power which will operate the plant.
All arrangements have been made to
double the present capacity at no dis
tant day, and should it be necessary
5000 horse power can be developed,
as the company control, under the new
standard of measurement almost 90
ooo cubic feet Of water which, | be-
neve, is about one-third of that pass
ing over the rapids of Swan river dur
ing the driest season, and which
river is estimated capable of develop
ing 10000 horse power.
The fiume and ditch (Which are
completely, commences at the head of
the rapids at point where nature
has formed a natural back water. It
is 5.7S9 feet long, and from the head
gate to the point where the water en-.
tiers the turbine wheels, has a fall of
almost 100 feet.
This fall will cause a column of
water 81 inches in diameter to dash
through the steel flume 1870 feet at
.e rate of IL feet per second. and
When the fact of the enormous weight
OF column of water 1870 feet long
and OF such size is taken into con-
sideration. there will remain no doubt
IN the minds of any that the turbine
wheels will make the 5l4 revolutions
per minute mentioned,
Coupled directly without belts to the
turbine wheels, will be two $50 X. w
Westinghouse dynamos, guaranteed to
generate a 20 per cent overload. The
turbine wheels will be equipped with
Lombard water wheel regulators.
Just above the point where the
steel Hume commences will be locat.
ed the spill way, where all surplus
water, as well as that backed ND bv the
closing of one or both of the turbine
wheels, will be conducted through y
hume to the river below.
The company is constructing an
independent telephone line from Kal
ispell to the plant and work at stretch
ing both the telephone and electric
power wires was commenced TODAY
Without accident the wires will be ur
in seven or eight days.
The actual completion of the plant
will be influenced largely by the con
dition of the wagon roads between
kalispell and this point, as all machin
cry, as we'll as the huge steel flume
must be transported over them. The
hrst section of the flume is expected
today and much of the machinery is
already in Kalispell.
When finished only two men will
be necessary to operate the plant, one