New-York tribune., 1907-04-29
HIGH ELEcrRLo PREssrREs.

When the first practical attempt was made
about fifteen years ago to convert the power Of
a waterfall into electricity, so that II could be
! used at distance from its source the necessity
arose for solving a number of new problems.
In general way It was known that the size Of
the conductor used for the transmission OF
current must bear some relation 10 the volume
Of the latter To actuate telegraphic instru-
ments hundreds OF miles from the sending sta
ton through a slender thread OF metal was
practicable because only very little electricity
was required. To send several hundred horse
power even a dozen miles away was a different
proposition. corresponding increase In the
quantity OF iron or copper used FOR the service
was out Of the question No pole line would
carry il, and its cost would DO enormous. There
was another way, however. 20 deal with the dif-
hcuty. BY increasing the pressure, or voltage,
ii was feasible 10 accomplish the same result
but the principle could not be applied without
elaborate mathematical calculation and much
experiment for the'd1.elopment of transform
ers' which would safely perform the duty Of
raising and lowering voitages.
Another essential 10 success was an improve
ment in the art Of Insulation. for the higher the
pressure the more readily would the current
escape from Il wire at the points where II was
supported. Indeed, the difficulty of guarding
against such losses has imposed the chief re-
strlctiOn on advances In electric power trans
mission still so admirably have these several
classes Of work been performed that amazing
progress has been effected IN a short time The
employment of 1900 volts on the line from
Niagara 10 Buffalo was. everything considered
at the time a remarkable achievement In 1898
the highest pressure anywhere in the world was
10000 volts. At present there are six lines
carrying voltage of 10000. two being in Call
fOrnia, one In Mexico, one in the State OF Wash
ingtOn. one between Niagara and Toronto and
one between Niagara and Syracuse These
range fn length from 20 to 21S miles, and two
Of them have been put in operation only within
the last few months. Finally, there is promise
Of a new record being made In Southern CalIfOr-
mia. Two or three years ago work was under
taken on the Kern River with a view to sup
plying Los Angeles with electric power the ca
paclty Of the station being upward of 28OOO
horsepower. 1t seems to have been the original
intention to adopt pressure OF 67OOO volts ON
this line, which is 12S miles long, but the man.
ufacturer Of some of the equipment declares that
10000 volts Will be tried, and the result OF the
experiment ought soon to be known.
The first effect Of any such demonstration. no
doubt, VIII be to encourage the projectors of
new lines elsewhere to undertake TO reach more
distant communities than could otherwise he
economically served, or, If no temptation Of that
metal they
use-an exceedingly inviting possibility I'm view
OF the extraordinary rise In the price OF copper
or late years Any revival OF the proposition to
supply New York City from Niagara Is aDDar
emily precluded by the check put on. further
power development at the Falls by the federal
government but equally ambitious schemes In
other parts Of the world would be prOmoted nv,
a conspicuous gain in the voltages which can he
employed. Perhaps, too, the electric power cons
panies which have done pioneer work for the
world may be led 10 consider whether they can
pront by the revelation An increase In press
ure on their lines would involve the use or
new insulatOrs, longer cross arms than were az
first adopted and change In transformers. The
last mentioned item of expense would he for
mdable, but II there was a reasonable nrosnact
OF meeting IT by an increase In the 0uantitv az
current transmitted and marketed considera
tiOns OF cost would not cause hesitation Tba
only remaining question to be disposed or then
apparently would relate to the temporary inter.
ruption Of service for purposes of reconstruc.
ton, and no trouble on that score wOuld ba an.
ticipated If, as a safeguard against accident
the line had been duplicated