Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-11-04
MORE LIGHT
THIS WEEK
New Plant Put in by the Citizens
Electric Company is Now Ready
to Operate.
MACHINERY OF LATEST TYPE
Modern Mechanical Appliances Elk
pIained-comparison of Old and
New Plants.

An Argus representative visited the
new plant which has just been Install
ed by the Citizens Electric company,
five miles up the creek from town,
last Thursday and was shown through
the plant by Chief Engineer Fellows.
The plant is a modern one in every
particular and would be a credit TO
a city several times the size of Lewis
town. The Citizens Electric company,
in putting in the plant, showed their
faith in the future growth of this city
by making everything OF the most sub
~stantial nature, and though the city
trebles its present size the company
will still be able to furnish ample pow
er to keep the town well lighted.
The ditch Is 5000 Get in length,
4,700 feet of which is numed. The
lume. for the most part, rests on a
solid rock foundation. so nothing but
an earthquake can ever seriously dam
age it. The flume is just now being
completed. the delay being occasion
ed by the inability to get the neces-
sary lumber. The penslOck is 225 feet
long and made of heavy irGn pipes five
feet in diameter AT the ilume bed and
reducing to 81 inches AT the entrance
of the building. The tall Is 60 feet
and generates 500 horse power. For
the transmission of the voltage OF g.
900 volts. three wires are used, the
system being known as the three-face
transmission.
The power house is built OF stone.
two stories high and cost about 81,
900. This is exclusive of the found
dation for the machinery, and whicE
in itself cost several hundred dollars.
In putting up the power house. so
that the machinery could be on a lev.
81 with the mouth of the penstock, 1t
was necessary to go six feet below
the bed of the creek and this entail
ed additional labor and expense. as
a pump had to be taken out and set
up to keep the water out of the foun-
dation while il was being laid. The
first story of the power house will be
used for the power plant. while In the
upper story will be the living rooms
of the station attendants.
The machinery consists of first, a
$50 kilowat generator, directly coup
led to the water wheel. which revolv-
es al the rate of $50 revolutions per
minute. The generator was made by
the Bullock Electric company, of Gin
c"innati, Ohio. and Is of the revolving
field type, now customary for all hiSh
yoltages. One rather unique feature
of the machine is that the EXETER arm
AZURE is fitted directly to the genera
tor shaft. a small pedestal supporting
the same. BY this arrangement belts
are eliminated from the plant and the
danger, not only to the machinists,
but to visitors, who happen to be go
ing through the plant. is partially les
sened.
The power equipment was built by
the James Leffel company. of Spring
field. Ohio. This power, which drives
the generator. consists of a pair of
wheels. located in the center of a
wheel casing and discharging out
wardly into W elbows on each side
of the casing. A peculiar arrange
ment for keeping the wheels perfect
ly balanced. and which Is a novel part
of this wheel machinery, are the two
water shoulders placed on each side
of the casing and arranged with valv-
es so as TO allow the water, under a
full head of 65 feet, into each one OF
them as the case may require. thus
preventing altogether any inthrusts,
thereby doing away with all friction
a wrack and pinion is provided fos The
opening and closing of balance gates,
controlling the supply of water. and is
so arranged that a Lombard governor
can be attached at any time.
Some idea of the size and power OF
the new plant can be gained from
comparing 1t with the old plant. The
old ditch is hut half a mile in length
while the new ditch, as stated above
is 5000 feet long. The old plant ditch
had but a few rods OF flume. while ov
er th%ree-fourths of the new ditch Is
fume. The old plant has a water fal
of but 90 feet with $50 horse power
while the head at the new plant is Ok
feet and has a 600 horse power. Will
the power generated by the new plan
the company could keep 5000 sixteei
candle power lights going, There arr
now but 1000 lights in the city, so ]
may readily be seen that when thu
new current is turned on, which vii
be tonight or tomorrow night. If Mr.
Fellows intentions do not miscarry
the city will be well lighted for year.
to come. The power will be turne,
on gradually and the service will
Therefore. be improved by degrees
but il will be but a few days unit
Lewistown. though down in a valley
will be like unto a city set on al
hill" and cannot be hid" and he
light will so shine that they 1.-THE pc