Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-31
HARVESTING THE TIDES
Scheme TO Operate Mills by
Sea Power.
DESIGNERS SEEM SURE OF SUCCESS

Plant to Make Compressed Air Mt
Small Cost BE Set Up In Maine.
Theory of the Manufacture and
How the Product Can BE Utilized
Commercially.
One of the greatest problems which
today confront those engaged in manu-
featuring enterprises is how to produce
and transmit power which shall be at
once OF the highest utility and entail
the least possible expense. Upon such
a problem number of business men in
Rockland, Me, and civil engineers in
other places have been working for
many months. says a South ThOmaS tOn
C1eJ correspondent of the New York
Herald. They think they have solved
the question and that their discovery
will revolutionize the industrial system
of New England. Foremost among
these gentlemen is William o. WebGer
of Boston. a civil engineer. He is not
only consulting engineer of this new en-
terpriSe, but has shown his faith by
investing his money in it, The plan is
simply thiS-tO manufacture compress
ed air by the utilization of the tides
1t EisllNt IL Cill Dc Sttll lIiit lIlS
tidewater. If it can be successfully
controlled, furnishes a lfmitless and
never falling source of strength. But
how to control it? These gentlemen
are satisfied that they have found the
way. They are not however. anxious
to place ii upon the market. though
company has been formed for the build
ing Of plant where their scheme will
be tested.
a plant where the tides will be utiliz-
ed and compressed air will he manu-
featured and put to practical use is to
be erected soon in South Thomaston. on
the Wessaweakeag river. where the
tides cbb and flow from the ocean close
by.
Compressed air from fresh water for
use as power has been promised for
some time. At Magog. Que, under
twenty foot head of water. the first
plant of this kind was erected and has
been in continuous operation. day and
night The latest plant of this kind
was built near Norwich. Conn.
In order to obtain the desired results
such a plant had TO be constructed
near waterfall. A shaft is sunk into
the earth near the waterfall, an iron
pipe is placed within the shaft. at the |
bottom of which shaft lies Il tank. or |
separating chamber, to receive the air. |
The falling water is conducted to the |
top of the iron pipe and discharged |
therein, the water passing down |
through the pipe to the bottom of the |
shaft and returning thence to the sur
face. The shaft is made large enough |
20 oil h.
surface within the shaft, but outside |
the down flow pipe.
The falling water entrains the air in |
the form of bubbles. carrying these
bubbles to the bottom of the shaft. At
this point the air separates from the
water, remaining in the tank below,
the water continuing on its course up
the shaft and into the stream. \ pipe
Is connected with the separating tank,
and through it the air is conducted di-
rectly to the cylinder of an engine.
The advantages of power of this kind
are many. The air is accumulated
without much expense, it is absolutely |
safe, it is always ready to be used, i
leaves no ashes or cinders and may be
used in any ordinary steam engine
without alteration. The motor or en-
gIne requires little attendance, and
there is comparatively nothing to be !
paid out for repairs.
Several months ago it was deter
mined that If tidewaters could be
harnessed and made to produce com.
pressed air this power would be pro
duced Il great deal cheaper and would
not be subject to many of the draw
backs TO which fresh water power is
liable. For instance. with the utiliza-
ton of the tides there would he no
no droughts. no anchor ice,
no auxiliary steam plant; there would
be no repairs and no expense of main ,
tenance worth noting.
\ number of practical engineers and E.;
capitalists became Interested in the I
scheme and Investigations and expert
ments were begun. After months of
preliminary work patents have been Sc
cured upon the necessary apparatus
not only in the United States, but in ,
about every civilized country in the !
world
This company has options on large
tracts of land and several available sites
and during the summer completed at
South Thomaston model of the plant
which is to be erected. 1t has selected
FOR the site Il place where can be built ]
} dam and where the ebb and flow Of
the tide can be utilized. And any
place along the coast which answers
his simple requirement can be util- I
zed for q plant of any size which the ,
company believes can be successfully
worked All that is necessary is to I
construct dam from which will come
fall Of water of not less than twelve
eet.
The company has done its work in ,
n old tide mill notable for its age and |
orrner Importance. 1t was erected in {
S42 AID for many years was the
-rist mill where all the corn and S
-