Arizona republican., 1905-12-19

even though actual construction of the | big dam has not yet commenced. The
 contractors began eXcavating for the | foundation or at least the preliminaries ] for the diversion of the river flow during operations, but that work was
 all lost. together with much material and some machinery, in the recent flood. It is not likely now that the contractors will undertake to resume work in the river bed until the cable across the canyon has been placed in position. once this is done, in the event of another flood whatever ma chinery may be used in the river bed , can be quickly removed and saved | from destruction. The contractor, though, is busily engaged getting his camps in shape, cleaning up his quar- ries, and accomplishing the prelimI- naries necessary to the erection of the cable. There is a lot of work going on and MT. Wisner says the place looks very different from the appearance of
 things a year ago. The Roosevelt road
 has been thoroughly repaired and freighting has been resumed.
 A special telegram to The Republi- can a week ago Friday night announc- ed that the contract for electrical ma
 cninery for the Roosevelt dam had
 been awarded to the General Electric Co.,, of Schenectady, N. T., for $43,
 570. It was not understood here at the time just what machinery this was, and MT. Hill, on request, yesterday gave a very clear explanation of it, at the same time clearing up what may not be understood by a great many readers who have been confused in the use of the terms temporary power plant and permanent power plant"
 In the beginning, a steam plant for temporary purposes was erected on a bench eighty feet above the river and between the dam site and the cement mill, designed to run the cement mill and any other machinery needed in preliminary work, until such time as the power canal was completed, when there was to be erected a temporary electric plant on the same bench not far from the steam plant. The steam plant is now in use and will be for some time yet. But the plan for the erection of the temporary electric plant was abandoned a year ago. IL was decided that in view Of the fact that the safety of the temporary plants would be jeOpardized by being in the basin, as soon as the dam was eighty feet nigh, it would be better to begin work on the permanent electric power plant below the site at once, installing one or more units as soon as the power canal was ready to furnish the water for its operation. These initial units of the permanent electric plant would then be used for temporary or prelimi- nary work during dam construction, and they could be made ready for use before the dam was actually under construction.
 This initial electric plant therefore, will be ready to furnish power to the cement mill before very long and be- fore the dam has reached any notable height at which time, of course, the steam plant will have to be abandoned. In reality, therefore, there is no such thing as a temporary electric plant, an abandoned enterprise. The ma
 chinery ordered for the temporary electric plant, consisting of a water wheel, generator, and auxiliary ma chinery, has been erected on an eXca- vated shelf of rock at the site of the permanent plant below the dam, and of which it forms the initial unit It will be ready for use just as soon as the power canal can furnish water to the penstOCk. It was found, however, that still more power would be requir- ed before the dam is finished. so bids were asked for for the remainder of the remainder of the permanent pow CT plant, to consist of three units that is, three more water wheels and three generatOrs-and an option on two additional generators if required, together with the necessary auxiliary machinery. One of these units is to be supplied within six months, the other two within two years, and the additional generators when needed. It was this contract that was let to the General Electric company. There is, therefore, no temporary power plant to be later torn down or abandoned, eX- cept the steam plant now in operation. All work is permanent and the electric plant, as soon as the dam is finished, will be at once available for power to be transmitted to the valley by wire for pumping purposes.