The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-03

When these two operations have been accomplished the chain of electric lines clear across the state will have been completed.
 The power of these lines west of Syracuse has been contracted for from the Ontario Power company, which owns plant at Niagara Falls, said to be the largest single development in the world. Its ultimate capacity will be something like two hundred and fif- ty thousand horsepower, and the transmission lines distributing it's pow CT will radiate through portions of Canada accessible from Niagara Falls, and are already extended to Rochester, Syracuse and in the vicinity of Buffa- To- The transmission and distribution of this power in New York state has been undertaken by the Niagara, Lockport & Ontario Power company, which is said to be controlled by Vest inghouse interests, who expect to build small transmission lines radiating from the large trunk transmission lines. These trunk transmission lines start out from the power plant upon right ot way three hundred or more feet wide. As the power is distributed this right of way narrows down to two hundred feet, and still further to some thing like one hundred and fifty or one hundred feet. Steel towers are erected thereon at distance of about five hundred and fifty feet apart, making unusually long spans, Instead of cop per wire, aluminium wire will be used for the transmission of the current, it being, in the opinion of experts con nected with this company. more suita- be to long distance transmission where long spans and certain other qualities are of importance.
 Long distance transmission is no longer regarded as an experiment, it being in use in a number of places in this country and in actual practice it has proved subject to few or no inter- ruptions. For instance, the transmits sion line from Niagara Falls to Buffalo, a distance of about twenty-five miles, has hardly suffered a moments inter- ruption in many years of continuous service. All the lighting and power business of Buffalo is done by Niagara Falls power and one never hears of a breakdown. Since the installation of the plants and systems supplying Buf- falo, great progress has been made in | the art, and better and more reliable | service naturally results.
 The plans and developments in the identification of steam railroads, espe- cially those of the New York Central railroad company, are of particular in- terest to Connecticut people by reason of the fact that recent announcement has shown that the New York, New aven K Hartford railroad company is making actual progress in the electri- ] fication of it's lines. Inasmuch as 1t uses the tracks of the New York Cen- l tral after reaching Woodlawn, it neces- 1 sarlly would have to fall in more or less with their plans for the general use of electricity as a motive power. New York, New Haven& Hartford 4 railroad trains, it is understood, will, ! however, run outEof New York much i further than Woodlawn through the use of electricity; in fact, 1t Is stated as probable that passenger trains will be running as far as Stamford by the close of this year. The system adopt ed by the New York, New Haven X Hartford railroad company differs quite materially from that of the New York Central railroad, mainly through the fact that subsequent to the adop ton by the New York Central of Its plans, such Improvements were made in motors that other methods were made possible
 In treating the general question of adopting the use of electricity, 1t ap- pears that not only will it permit of
 greater efficiency, cleanliness and con
 tinuous operation, but at least will en-
 tail no increase in operating expense
 Cleanliness and freedom from the
 smoke nuisance are in themselves an important item and become more so as passenger traffic becomes heavier, due
 to increase in population served
 Whether the use of electricity upor
 lines which are now steam lines will
 bring them in closer touch with trt
 electric lines of the Consolidated rail
 way system, is not stated, but it seemt
 natural to suppose that the joint ope.
 ration of the two systems, when bott are moved by electric energy will be-
 come closer and more harmonious.