Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-18

small COst 10 DC Set Up m uolnes
 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 South Thomaston Me) 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. Webber 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. At glance 1t can be seen that this tidewater. if it can be successfully controlled. furnishes limitless and never failing 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 it upon the market, though company has been formed for the build ing of a plant where their scheme will be tested.
 A plant where the tides will be utiliz- ed and compressed air will be manu- factured and put to practical use is to be erected soon in South Thomaston, on the Wessaweakeag river, where the tides ebb 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 a 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 a 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 to allow the water to return to the surface within the shaft, but outside the down flow pipe.
 The falling water curtains 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. A pipe Is connected with the separating tank, and through 1t 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. leaves no ashes or cinders and may be used in any ordinary steam engine without alteration. The motor or en- zine requires little attendances 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 Sower would be pro. duced a 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 be no freshlets. no droughts. no anchor ice. no auxiliary steam plant: there would be no repairs and no expense of main tenaDce worth noting.
 A number of practical engineers and capitalists became Interested in the scheme. and investigations and experi. ments were begun. After months of preliminary work patents have been SC. cured upon the necessary apparatus not only iE 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 a model of the plant which Is to pe erected. It has selected for the site a place where can be built a dam and where the ebb and flow of the tide can be utilized And any place along the coast which answers this simple requirement. can be util. Ized for a plant of any size which the company believes can be successfully worked All that Is necessary is to construct a dam from which will come a fall Of water of not less than twelve feet.
 The company hss done its work in an old tide mill notable for Its age and former importance. It was erected in IsI2 and for many years was the grist mill where all the corn and wheat that supplied Knox county vers ground With the coming of modern i methods the old mill lost its useful - .- ..a-- -al---.I.. and rauna Infr