Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-03-16

n the stupendous undertaking Of
certain English capitalists Is carried
out to a successful conclusion Darkest
Africa will become Lightest Africa.
for with the unlimited power OF Vic
toria falls on the Zambesia harnessed
and transmitted into electrical energy
there will be no limit 10 the possibili-
ties resulting therefrom. The breadth
of the falls Is $500 feet and the fall OF
the water Is 800 feet TO the gorge be-
low. This energy now going to waste
Is 10 be- utilized and the electricity
generated transmitted over 600 miles
10 the gold mines at johannesburg.
How bold such plan Is can be appre-
clated when Il Is stated that the long
est transmission OF electrical current
up TO the present time Is Only little
over $50 miles. And so II the project
succeeds II will not only mark
marvellous development In the hand
ling OF the electrical current. but the
labor problem of the Rand Will md
easy solution. The firm OF Sir Doug
las Fox and partners are the en-
gineers-in-chief of the enterprise.
known as the Victoria Falls Power
company. Limited. the advisory board
including such eminent scientists as
Lord Kelvin. NJ. andre Blondel. OF
Paris. DIR. Kiingenberg. professor at
the Royal Technical college OF Berlin.
and DIR. 4. Tissot. OF Bale. amongst
the engineers associated with them
being Mr.. Ralph ID. Mershon. OF New
York, who has q worldwide reputa-
ton in connection with longdistance
electrical transmission. and Mr.. Ar
thur Wright. consulting electrical en-
gineer TO the boroughs OF Brighton.
Marylebone and Stepney: while also
connected with the project are such
weliknown names as Sir Lewis Nit
chell, general manager Of the stand
ard Bank OF South Africa. and Mr.. n.
Wilson Fox. manager OF the Chartered
company. and originator OF the power
scheme. The Victoria falls lend them.
selves admirably to the generation OF
electricity by hydraulic power. and
the construction OF the proposed
works offers no great engineer
ing difficulties. To begin with. cleo
trical plant for the production OF So
900 horse power viii be installed.
though the intake and the canal viii
be made large enough for double that
capacity. The intake will be on the
left or northern bank OF the river.
above the falls. and the canal Will con-
duct the water to spot near the top
OF the gorge at the first bend below
the falls. Hence II viii be delivered
through steel tubes 20 the power
house near the waters edge $50 feet
below. by high tension electric cur
rent the power will be conveyed 10
the Rand. and ut the main receiving
station a system OF hydraulic storage
will be- Installed. The object OF this
Is to store the energy not Immediate
~ wanted by pumping water 10 the
top of high hill. whence u Ii re-
leased, as required. for the production
OF fresh electrical power. Coupled
with this hydraulic storage will be
steam-driven reserve station. with a
capacity OF 10000 horsepower. as
standby In case OF temporary inter
rupt.on of the current from the falls.
another guarantee that users of the
supply will have absolute security for
its continuity. II Is well TO remember
that the enterprise will In no way In.
terfere with the beauty OF the falls.
for the British South Africa company
has fenced on a large area rs q pub
lie park. extending some miles along
both banks. The Victoria Falls Pow
or company will have a total capital
of 100000 The FIRST instalment
OF the work will be completed In two
years. and the company viii effect
saving OF s5.0oo.oco per annum In the
cost OF working the mines.
Mr.. II. Wilson Fox. the manager OF
the company. Is enthusiastic over the
project and In explanation OF the
plans u the English capitalists inter
ested he declared that the dificulty
which had been suggested that the
Kaffirs might climb the cabs, towers
and cut the wires was too absurd
even TO mention.
The objection has also been
made said Mr. Fox. that white ants
may eat the coverings OF the cables.
but the reply TO that Is that the cables
win not be covered. Ants viii not
climb so feet TO eat metal. and. n suf-
lciently athletic 70 make the attempt.