The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-10-31
RAPIDLY NEARING COMPLETION.
Another Of the Many Important I'm
pr0vements at L'Anse Soon to
be Finished.

Of the numerous important improve
ments in and about L'Anse this sum
mer, nearly all are rapidly nearing
completion, and the ones to which oui
attention is directed just at the time is
the progress being made at the new
HYDRO Electric plant.
This wonderful piece of work which
was begun during the summer months
's now rapidly nearing completion and
1t will now be but few weeks before
all will be in readiness to "turn on the
juice. as the electrician would say.
That L'Anse is to have one of the
best water power electric light services
in the upper peninsula has already been
conceded by many who are. in posi-
ton to know. During the season a
number of engineers and men versed
upon the subject have thus expressed
themselves, and it is fact that with
the system upon which it is constructed
their statements can be no other than
the plain truth.
The water supply is to be obtained
from Falls river, and through the res
ervoir system. A solid concrete dam az
25 feet containing the necessary sluice
ways, gates and other appurtenances
for the conveyance of the water, inter-
sects the river at about two miles
from the village, on either side of
which is both natural and constructed
earth embankment of equal height as
the concrete work. To the south OF
this is also another earthen wing dam,
which with the whole forms a back
pond or reservoir of mammoth proper
tions, and one which will hold more
water by far than will be used during
the progress of lighting hours.
From the concrete dam to the power
house extends 1000 feet of steel riv-
eted pipe, 36 inches in diameter, through
which the water will be conveyed to
the power house.
At the power house this conveyor
makes sudden downward turn and di-
re IT'S the waters course to the wheel
pit, into which is to rest Samson
twin turbine wheel, one of the most
powerful of the James Soffell make al
Springfield.
TIE power house, which is of solio
concrete, is 38 x as feet and built ac-
cording to the most improved ideas il
this class of construction work. Two
concrete arches support the southerly
end and form the outlets for the water
pass ng through the turbines, while tho
north end rests upon solid rock bed.
The four walls are to be of concrete
and the whole rooted with an asbesto.
covering, thus making the entire equip
ment fire proof.
The dynamo is to be placed in the
north end OF the building and for it ha
been constructed concrete base rest
ing on the solid bed rock, which insure
its safety and relieves all vibration.
From the power house, running di
rectly north through the woods to tn,
corner of Broad street and the Gene
terry road, extends the right-of-way foi
the pole line. a distance of about on
mile. The work in connection wit
this is now progressing in splendi
shape, crew of six men being engage;
in erecting the poles and stringini
wire, duty which will require but
few weeks work. The change in tn,
location of the pole line is worthy o
note, as it was first planned to eXten'
it along the Broad street road to tn
corner of the section line and thence t
the power house, which would have bee
a distance of nearly three miles, where
as the new line lessons the distance b.
more than one-half.
The beauty of the whole plant whel
completed will be in the fact tina
should at any time the village be re
quired to add extra machinery, tn
plant is so built that additions may b,
made at very nominal cost.
1t is estimated that when all is done
the plant will stand the village in tn
neighborhood of $4,000, figure, whic
% many unacquainted with such wor,
seems wonderful, as some have carrie
the idea than the change would necessi
tate the expenditure Of thirty or thirty
five thousand dollars.
At any rate it is a piece of worl
which we may point to with pride, am
it is certain that the engineers and es
pecially Superintendent johnson are de
serving of unstinted praise for the ex
cellency of their work in this vast un
dertaking.