The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-10-17

The scene of the greatest activity
along mining lines in this section at
the present time is at the Seemann
tunnel, located on Fall river, some six
miles above Idaho Springs, and when
the plans of the prime mover, Capt
Henry l. Seemann reach full fruition
The Continental Mines. Power and Re-
duction Company's holdings will take
first rank among the really big min
ing enterprises of the country.
At the present time the efforts of
Captain Seemann are centered on the
installation of a perfect hydro-electric
power plant at the portal of the big
Sesmann tunnel, the idea being to
81 neither pains nor expense to
make it absolutely up-to-date and meet
all the requirements of modern min
ing. A short description follows:
The power house is 30x50 feet and
contains the most modern machinery
The transformer house is 14x14 feet
in size, lined with asbestos, and
equipped with the latest electrical de-
vices, the best brains of the electrical
World being consulted in the installa-
ton. The equipmnt consists of three
transformers OF the type H, form R. p,
go cycles, with a capacity of 100 kilo-
watts each, step-up from 440 to 10000
volts. Energy is supplied from water
taken from the head of Fall river,
conveyed hy ditch and fluale for about
two miles, ending in a pipe line down
the mountain side to the plant, giving
fall Of $50 feet. with pressure OF
approximately $50 pounds to the
square inch This force of water
feeds "a Hug water wheel of the over
hung type with revolutions of 400 per
minpte with rigid double noszles and
with lls-nch streams developing
72C horsepower. This wheel is direct
ly connected with Westinghouse
alternating current generator of 4oe
kilowatts. the EXETER being of the
Westinghouse type, with revolutions
of 100 per minute. The switchboard
consist of four panels of Vermont
marble, equipped with the latest -and
n1nt modern appliances for the test
ing and controlling rhe currents
This plant viii rot only supply
power for the driving Of the big See,
mann tunnel and the operation 'of the
Lombard mine and mill, but Will have
an abundance of electricity to furnish
to practically an Of the properties OF
the Yankee Hill district. the owners
of which have aIaiously awaited the
fulfillment OF Captain Sesmann's
plans.
With less thar ',wo years eef work
the heading Of the Seeman tunnel is
now 2,40e feet fBom daylight, and Is
forcing its way steadily to ats goal
which is directly Sseneath the summit
OF James Peak 1t is being driven by
contract with most satisfactory speed
at.the preseat time and large force
of men is employed. these .employes
being housed and fad in a tweive-room
hotel owned BY the company on the
ground adjacent to ithe portal of the
tunnel
The number Of veins to Ire inter
sected by the tunnel cannot ,even be
estimated, for the territory t. be ira
yersed is literally scanned anhsereased
with valuable miaezal veins which out
crop on the surface, aad but few OF
these have been more than scratched
owing to. the vast quantities Of aSater
in that section, the Aisstct being lik.
esAi to a sponge. bat the tapping Of
the veins " the tunnel VIII eliminate
that difficalty and render the pspp-
.erties easily accessible IL is exti-
mated that when the tunnel reaches Its
objective paiat 1t will have gained q.
vertical depth of at least $500 fest
The bore is SIS feet. doubleAracked.
CONTAINS cented waterway. 4 fifteen
saleh ventilating Qipe, the grade being
axproximately the same as the New
house tunnel. The walls. roof aud
floor are regularly formed and dfsraay
first-class engineering ability Asd
shoE Desmanency.
Power for the LomhAxd mill is con-
veyed By means Of . 7Jeo0-foot trans
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