New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-28
ELECTRICITY IN COTTON MILLS.
Englands First Trial of It for Weaving and
Spinning.

A Manchester correspondent of the Engineering
Supplement of The London Times says that I'M
portant experiments are taking place in Lancashire
in regard to electric driving in cotton mills ana
the results are being swaited with interest by most
of those engaged in the staple trade of the county
The electrical transmission of power has been intro
ing mining printing paper making and variety
of other trades and the world now seems 20 De on
Is concerned. "a tI HeM Manmfacturinc Com
any other country driven wholly by electricity
teen hundred looms but at present only about
twelve hundred have be PIT Hewitt the Of SaH
chester and. though the mill has been running
only fsT weeks 9gh be aet ths the
scSeme IS not yet Completed it is said that,
BY electricity this pioneer effort is showing saw
Of sent IN fuel ii reg nG o he
working of the mill until the whole of the instaia-
ton has enfne M VI das he m is
trple-e expansion one, OF 1000 horsepower ana ~ IS
recipTocaing engine ever built. experimenting as it
to the ideal Of OF motor per syem Of
electricity is employed. with pilot engine WORKING
and other nj rposes after the main engine has been
stopped the three-phase dynamo, however. provid-
small platforms ranged Found the weaving shed
motors Of = horsepS%gr each
in the preparatory department As the ilghting Is
as IT would be If a separate plant were required
for the purpose
In the Burnley case II has been proved that there
are greater smoothness and steadiness of running
bv electric driving than is the case with steam
driving This establishes the suitability of the new
power for spinning purposes, for smooth running
of the machinery is even more important in
spinning mill than in weaving shed. Experts are
also of opinion that the gain in other respects
would be more appreciable in a spinning MILL
which. unlike weaving, shed IS built in floors
The Pendlebury mill is being erected for the Acme
Spinning Company Qimitedl and 1t will be the
first entirely electrically driven cotton spinning mill
in England 1t will be of six stories, and Will
contain Al coo mule spindles and $4,000 ring spindes
as well as the usual preparation machinery. The
current will be of the three phase alternating type
and will be from the power companys trunk mains
IL will be produced at the generating station at
Outwood, four five miles away. by large steam
turbines driving 1O.000-vOt dynamos. and Will be
transmitted at this pressure TO the mill, where II
will be transformed down TO 400 volts for the motors
and go volts for lighting AS Is the case at Burn
ley, motor driving will dispense with betting and
shafting. this being advantage which Will be
readily granted The BuSnley experiment shows
that with substitution of electricity for gas In
lighting there is a great improvement in the at
mosphere of the weaving shed. The new light is
nreferred by the operatives. as it is both steadter
and better distributed than is the case when gas Is
the uminant- m,
If the ultimate results at these two mills are
what the experts expect them to be. enormous pos
sbiiities will be opened up. 1t is quite possible