American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1908-01-11

Wires connecting the transformers 10
the switch board are No. 600 lead cover
erred cables. The transformers are
equipped with quick break. high tension
switches. and the high tension lines are
equipped with arc breaking. opening
switches mounted outside the power
houses on the transmission line.
Modern living rooms are provided at
/ the power station by the company for
employees and their families. so that
power station attendants are immedi-
s,eiy available in cases OF emergency.
Shut down Of the plant is almost un-
known. for any cause. and less trouble
/ IL experienced from line troubles Of any
kind than is usual where comparatively
long transmission lines are maintained,
Power House No. 2. known as the
''fklsnd Power House. is situated on
lava island about 100 yards east Of the
west side power house. above described.
and the equipment IL an exact duplicate
[ of the above except that an open pen.
stock is used on the island power house.
while an cncssed wheel is used on the
Yves, side Of the river. Each power
house has exactly the same equipmcn,
and capacity.
The current generated at both stations
/ is carried across the river and on the
banks joins the main transmission line.
The generating stations are SO arranged
tina, either can be run independent OF
the other. or they can be thrown to-
gethcr.
The main development OF future pow
or will be on the east bank Of the Snake
river. at American Falls about 500 feet
below the Oregon Short Line railroad
bridge. Over SO. 600 has been spent on
cxcsvatinR and foundation work Of the
proposed power house. The same WAS
blasted down through solid lava rock,
distance Of II feet below low water,
ard l5a fec, long by lao feet wide. The
taiirace emptics out into the deep water
directly in front Of the power house.
During this development work in or
der to secure sufficient power for i'm
mediate needs. there will be one more
unit added to the present station on the
west bank of the river.
The darn will be eight feet high Of
solid concrete, and 2.02O feet long fol-
lowing the rim Of the falls in the form
of horse Shoe" the longer end Of
the dam being on the east side Of the
river, making the intake into the power
house.
The height of the dam where il
reaches the power house will be cigh-
teen feet. AS the rock bottom of the riv-
er gradually falls from the upper end
of the dam to this point.
This will give an overflow of 1000 feet
long. and as the river is only one thou
sand feet wide at the upper end of the
dam. this overflow will be very benef-
cial in case of high water, as the river
broadens out to about 1900 feet wide be-
low the dam.
The entire fall from the water level
above the dam to the water level below
the power house is forty-two feet, and
the dam will raise that eight feet high
er. which will give us total fall Of
fifty feet.
The minimum flow of this river has
been as low as 300 cubic feet per sec-
ond
However. the government il now put
ting in large system Of storage reser-
voirs 100 miles above this dam site to
be used on lands for irrigation purposes
fifty miles below this point, and when
that 10 completed the minimum flow Of
the river will be 6000 cubic feet psr
second. and the maximum flow about
20. 900 cubic feet, but this, Of course,
viii b greatly reduced when the rsssr-
vois are installsd, - they will impound