Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-15
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ELECTRICITY IN CALIFORNIA.
Big State Is Run by Irresistible Power
Of Water.

Ithe Chicago Record-Herald from Los
Angeles, has made greater progress
than any other state in the Union
IN the transmission Of power by wire
rom her rivers and mountain cas-.
cades to her cities and manufacturing
centers. The long-distance trans.
mission of electricity is more general
here than elsewhere. The waterfalls
land rapids Of mountain streams have
been harnessed and made to rur
street railways, mills and factories
and to light streets and houses. There
are about a thousand miles Of lines
in different parts Of the state carry
ing about 100000 horsepower and
representing a money value Of more
than s50,000.000. This electrical
energy is about twice as great as the
combined capacity Of the completed
plants at Niagara Falls. Abou,
$4,000 additional horsepower will be
available here before the end Of the
year. and plans in progress or con-
temptation will increase 1t still fur
ther, to half a million horsepower
carried by 1000 miles Of wire.
| In the eastern states a relatively
larger quantity Of water Is used, but
1t falls a shorter distance. Niagara,
which Is the highest in the east,
falls only 10 feet and the great
majority of eastern plants utilize
water that falls less than twenty
feet. In California and other parts
OF the west, the streams utilized are
not large. but usually the fall is
very great, In one case exceeding
1000 feet.
Tracy Simpson, young engineer
who has made a study Of this sub
ject. tells me that "at the high
head of 1000 feet stream Of water
Is under a pressure Of about $50
pounds per square inch; its velocity
Is about four miles per minute. and
under these circumstances a stream
one inch in diameter will generate
700 horsepower. with the simplest
type of water-wheel. This consists
merely of a disc, on which are placed
metal buckets, and by directing the
Jet against them the wheel Is forced
to revolve and Is directly connected
with electric generators, which sup
| ply the current as II Is transmitted
over wires to the cities and towns
for the use of the street railways,
mills and factories, and for illumi-
mating purposes. These systems have
been developed to such a high state
Of perfection that not more than 10
per cent Of the energy Is lost.
"The longest transmission in Cali
fornia belongs to the California Gas
and Electric Corporation, and is
from De Saba to San Francisco, 240
miles. By this plant a waterfall
1850 feet high develops $4,000
horsepower. and the line pressure
is SO, 200 volts. The system Of which
this Is part has twelve plants and
nearly six hundred miles Of trans
mission lines in the region northwest
| OF San FFraneisoey-ssaad - furnishes
power for lighting. locomotion and
Industries at Sacramento. Stockton,
San Francisco and other places In
that vicinity. The first power plant
of this system was built at Folsom
in 1895 and was considered a Won
der. The company has a 10000
horse power plant near Yuba City,
142 miles from San Francisco, and
$4,000 horsepower plant at Elec-
ira, northwest Of Stockton. fifty-four
miles from San Francisco.
I'm southern California the trans
mission systems are also extensive.
They are controlled by the Edison
Electric company. which lights many
of the towns in that region, and the
Pacific Light and Power company,
which supplies power for nearly all
Of the street lines between Los An
geles and San Bernardino. as we'll
as power for manufacturing indus
tries in many places. The irrigation
in the valleys east Of Los Angeles
Is largely done by electric pumps in
connection with wells, with power
obtained from the streams in the
neighboring mountains.
| 1.-THE two companies named have
about 10000 horsepower and ten
plants. the longest transmission be-
Ing from the Kern river, 130 miles
north Of Los Angeles. There are
several large systems at Fresno,
Bakersfield and every other town Of
Importance throughout the state.
Electricity is largely used in the
mines, and there Is scarcely village
without a lighting plant. You find
them in farm houses also, for the
rates charged are comparatively
low"
The people Of Los Angeles boast
that electricity was first used sue
| cessfully as a motive power for
Ptreet cars and for manufacturing
purposes in their city. I have no
way to confirm that statement, but
1t Is certainly true that they have
been in the front rank Of progress
in this as in other developments.
However. electrical enterprise Is not
confined to Los Angeles. AS Mr..
Simpson says. you can scarcely find
a farm house that Is not lighted by
electricity. and few. even Of the
poorest farmers would consent to
live without a telephone. Down In
the San Joaquin Valley ordinary
barbed wire fences are used for the
transmission Of light as well as
telephone service. They are connect
ed with the regular wires upon the
poles along the highways and with
the houses and stables Of fruit
growers and farmers. Many Of the
ranches In this valley are very large.
In Merced county alone are ten with
: ore Ian $4,000 acres each. Many
are divided into sections and let to
tenants. who either pay rent In cash
or divide their crops with the own
ers. Each Of these sections Is con-
nected by telephone with head
quarters, and barbed wire fences are
generally utilized for that purpose.
The owner, or superintendent, can
thus communicate with his tenants
L H..