The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-10-16

plant, two miles up the Tumwater can
yon, work on which began fourteen
months ago, and on which from 200 to
more than 400 men have been con-
stantly employed ever since, is rapidly
drawing to a close. 1t is believed, by
those who have good right to sup
pose, that by January 1st, 1909, the
plant, which ranks with the largest this
side of Niagara Falls, will be COM
pleted and ready to generate the cleo
tricity which will make it possible to
operate trains thru the Cascade tunnel
by other than steam power.
The two and half miles of 8-foot
6-inch pipe line which conveys the
water from the head gates to the power
house was completed week ago. Mr..
Coventry, who superintended the con-
struction of the dam, told the writer
that that part of the work was COM
pleted on Monday of this week and
that the water was rolling over the
great concrete wall several inches deep
for the entire length.
The two largest hydraulic motors are
in position and only require the work
of few more days to be ready for the
water. Two smaller ones are not yet
in position, but will not require more
than two weeks to complete. This
part of the work is done under the su-
pervision of Edward Miranda, of the
Platt Iron Works, Dayton, Ohio, who
make specially of this class of work.
Mr.. ]. T. Tanning, Of Minneapolis, the
designer of the hydraulic machinery,
was here this week inspecting that por-
ton of the plant. Mr.. Tanning has
made hydraulic engineering special
study and is recognized as an authority
on this class of work. Like every other
portion of the plant this was under the
direct supervision of an expert.
The electrical machinery and all
that goes along with it and, we want to
say right here that means whole lot,
is from the factory of the General Elec-
trio Co., at Schenectady, N. Y. The
installation of this is under the super
vision of w. S. Skinner, from Niagara
Falls, where is located the largest cleo
trio plant in the world. Mr.. Skinner is
both theoretical and practical cleo
trician. He is graduate of civil and
electrical engineering, and gained his
practical knowledge Of this modern
force in the erection OF some of the
largest power plants in different parts Of
the country. Mr.. Skinner is the per-
sonal representative of Mr.. Carey T.
Hutchinson, of New York City, the de-
signer and constructing engineer of the
Great Northern plant. He has been
the designer or acted as consulting
engineer in the erection of some
of the largest and most success
full electric plants in this country. 1t
should not be forgotten that this plant,
in the development and application of
electrical energy is built on altogether
new lines and will be the first of its
kind on the western continent. A plant
built along similar lines is now in sue
cessful operation at the Simplon tun-
mel in the Swiss Alps. Just what the
difference is we are not sufficiently
versed in the science to make plain to
the lay reader. But there is differ
ence and that the new theory is be-
lieved to be superior to the old may be
taken for granted, else the railroad
company would not have gone to a
large additional expense to adopt the
new theory.
The building of this plant has awak-
ened a considerable interest among
electrical engineers and already num-
Der from different parts of the country
have been here at various times during
its construction to watch the progress
of the work and take notes,
We cannot close an account OF this
important undertaking without calling
attention to the part taken by Mr.. Rob