The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-10-16
MILLION DOLLAR POWER WORKS
Construction Work on the Great Northern Power Plant Now
Drawing to a Close
POWER MAY BE TURNED ON BY FIRST OF YEAR
The Pipe Line Completed Last Week. Dam Finished Monday The Hydraulic
Motors and Electrical Generators Will Soon Be in Position

| ert t1erZog, the Great northern super
vising engineer, who has been on the
ground ever since the work began.
Indeed, he spent almost a year near
the site of the plant taking measure
mentS of the water flow at different sea-
sons and such other data as were es-
sential to proper understanding of the
climatic conditions. Besides being a
pleasant and agreeable gentleman, al
ways willing to give out such informa-
ton as it was proper to divulge, Mr..
Herzog is recognized as reliable au-
thority on matters pertaining to this
class of work.
One of the two large electric genera
tors, intended to develop 1000 horse
power, is being set in position this
week. The largest single piece weighs
over twenty-eight tons and is valued at
some eight thousand dollars. Ten
men were engaged for the greater part
of this week in removing this piece of
machinery, which is not large, from the
flat car on which it was brought from
the factory to its seat. The car was
hauled up to within ten or twelve feet
of its resting place inside of the power
house, and yet with the assistance of
2O-ton electric crane these men, who
are accustomed to handling heavy ma
chinery, were days in moving it few
feet. If it were not delicate piece
and easily injured the job would not be
so difficult. 1t will require two weeks
to set up and put into position its twin
mate. Then there are two smaller
generators, each capable of developing
1000 horse power, yet to be erected.
These, however, will not require so
much time in placing. The water
wheels and the generators, while the
largest and perhaps the most important
part of the plant, are by no means all
of it. There are wires by the hundred,
brass and copper and porcelain fixtures
by the thousand, to say nothing of iron
pipes and castings, and innumerable
things large and small that are neces-
sry to the complete working of the
plant, that are beyond the understand
ing of the uninitiated in the mystery of
electricity. Many of these connections
are already in place, while still hun
dreds of others remain to be put up.
But for the steel tower, 21O feet
high, holding in place the equalization
tank, the brick power house would
attract little attention from passing
observers, for its plainness is severe.
But it was built for use rather than
looks.
The excavation of the ground to a
depth of twelve feet below the bed OF
the river was a trying task, in which
immense pumps were necessary to keep
the water out while the men worked.
A solid cement foundation was built up
from bedrock to several feet above high
water level of the river, which, at the
power house, is roaring rapid.
The house is 76 by III feet, three
stories in height. The two upper floors
are brick. Steel frames are used
throughout, and the building when
completed will have an iron roof. In
the pit room are the entrances for the
two feed pipes which are to drive the
two water motors, each in turn driving
4,000-horsepower dynamo, for the
three-phase system has been adopted.
The two small motors with connecting
dynamos are located by the side of the
two larger ones and will each generate
one thousand horse power.
Not thing in connection with the
operation of the entire plant but will
be new, the dynamos as well as the
locomotives and other equipment be-
ing built by the General Electric COM
pany from special designs prepared fol
this plant.
The plant will generate 10,5oo horse
power. The 5000 volts will be carried
by three wires to the east end OF the
tunnel, where there will be substation.