The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-28
ELECTRIC co. BUYS
A RIGHT OF WAY
SECURES STRIP OF DIRECT LINE
FROM TAYLOR'S FALLS.
Current of $4,000 Volts Will Be Trans
mitted, and Public Must Be Protected
from Deadly Powers Station Bought
Near State Farm Means Cheaper
Power for Consumers

After nearly three months of quiet
work, the, construction company operat-
ing for the Minneapolis General Elec-
trio company in it's plan to bring cleo
trical energy from Taylors Fails to Min
neapolis, has secured the right of way
over which the 50,000-volt current will
be brought across the state. A sixty
foot right, of way forty-one miles in
length and running almost as direct as
the crow flies from the powerhouse at
Taylors Falls to the site Of a new Min
neapolis transforming station has been
purchased outright. In this way the
company will be actual owner Of the
entire route over which the heavily
charged current will be transmitted and
at it's discretion can fence it and pre-
vent it's use by the public:
In addition to the right OF way the
company has also secured a four and a
in Ramsey county and little north
| west of the state fair grounds and the
state agricultural college. An extension
Of Broadway street NE to the belt
line railroad to New Brighton would
reach very near the site selected. This
| is about two and a half miles from the
General Electric company's Main street
generating plant.
Work Under Way.
The work of building the transmission
line has already been carried some dis
lance toward the city. Fourteen miles
| of poles are already in place and ready
for equipment. Oregon poles will be
used much of the distance, but at points
where there is special strain on ac
count of open spaces and long spans
steel towers will take the place Of the
wooden poles. The wire used is heavy
\.1> half al, A4or
The insulators are of porcelain and
weigh twenty-five pounds each.
In handling high-tension currents
such as will be brought into the city
the greatest care must be used to pre-
vent damage to life and property. A
5O,OOO-volt current running loose is {
thing, to be avoided. AS insulating vii
this tension, the interests of the cleo
trio company will be safeguarded by
the sixty-foot right of-way. Trespas
signs will be posted and there will be NJ
necessity for persons not connected witt
the line to come near the poles or wires
In cases where heavy-traveled roads are
| encountered, the line will be carried
down and run under the road thru con
duits.
How It Will Be Handled.
A three-phase system of transmission
will be used, requiring three wires OF
each line. The current will be gen
Grated at the plant now under construc
tion at the falls at $500 volts. 1t will
be boosted to $4,000 volts for transmits
sion, as there is less loss in high-pres
sure currents. At the transforming sta
ton, to be erected on the site just pur
chased, it will be reduced to $4,000 volt
and sent out for use. Two lines O.
three wires each will transmit the powe
from. the transf orming station to thu
present plant of the General Electric
company on Main street Sc. Here i
will be further converted and dis
tributed to consumers. Part will ais
be. sent direct to the other .substation
ton and distribution will take place.
Eventually, another line will be rul
over the right-of-way for the power t.
be used for st. Paul. At first but on
line capable Of producing 25,000-horse
power will be- constructed and will b.
used exclusively for Minneapolis. Thi
will greatly increase the amount O
power available in the city, and a re
duction in cost of electricity to tn
consumer is contemplated. Work Of
the dams and other construction a
Taylors Falls is being pushed with tn
hope of completing it before frost set
in and stops all concrete construction
The wet weather and high water hav
! int orforo5 oonci