The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1909-08-05
BEGGS CONTRACT
VALUABLE ASSET
ENGINEER BROUGHTON CONSID-
ERS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
POWER co. LUCKY
NEARBY TOWNS TO Be SERVED
Important Problem to Find Market
fOr-ExtensiOnS
Later.
NEARBY TOWNS TO Be SERVED

| Engineer ii. L. Br0ught0n, In charge
of the Kilhourn dam concerning the
constructing and value of Beggs con-
tract says
"The first ground for the dam was
broken in January, 1907, under the
supervisor of our chief engineer, d.
w. Mead. Perhaps less than the ad-
erage number Of setbacks in such a
work have been encountered and to-
day we are ready to turn on the Juice
for the Milwaukee wire. The present
output of the plant is rated at 5000
horsepower and when the extension
plans are consummated we will be
able to supply maximum output of
$4,000 horsepower. Our plant at pres
ent consists of four units of 1000
horsepower each, known AS 25-cycle,
3-phase alternating generators driven
by 5000 rated horsepower turbines
manufactured by Wellman, Seaver,
Morgan company of Cleveland, o.
Valuable Contract
'The greatest problem for all hydro
electric plants to solve is the market
for the power generated and in this
respect the Southern Wisconsin Power
company is indeed fortunate. The
Beggs contract in itself is sufficient to
pay handsome dividends upon the
money invested. Other towns in the
Immediate vicinity of Kilbourn are
anxious for service and their wants
will be supplied as soon as the ex-
tensions can lbe constructed.
ave have just completed out trans
mission line to Watertown, dis
tance of 20 miles. This consists of
two 3-phase circuits transmitted over
No. 10 strang copper cables, 4-10
inches in diameter, making in all 420
miles of wire. The supporting tow
ers have been constructed in the
most durable manner of the 4-post
pattern, built of galvanized steel of
an average height of 40 feet, spaced
525 feet apart, making total of 720
towers.
A Big Dam
"Interesting to tourist and to en-
gineers alike is the great concrete
dam. Constructed in the most mod
ern manner, the dam measures 325
feet in width with height of AZ feet.
At the base, including the apron, the
dam measures $50 feet, tapering off
to a width of Is feet at the top. On
the upper side Of the dam there is an
average depth OF 30 feet of water.
Every precaution has been taken
against damage by ice or flood, the
entire construction covering period
Of nearly two years.
"The first set of wheels was put in
operation OF June s, and the first load
carried for the entire twenty
four hours was on June 13. We are
now ready to perform our part of the
contract and send the current into
Milwaukee at moments notice"
ATTRACTS MUCH NOTICE
The plant of the Southern Wiscon-
sin Power company has attracted the
attention of both electrical and hy-
draulic engineers from all parts of
the country. Transmitting its power
for distance of 125 miles, it is said
to be exceeded by only two or three
other Iplants in the United States.
An interesting comparison of this
great splant with the largest power
plants of the world may be found in
the following table showing the ca
pacity, voltage and distance power is
transmitted
Horse Volt Dis.
power age mis-.
California Gas &
Electric Co... $4,000 $1,000 232
Washington water
Power Co. ...... 5000 $4,000 ITO
Guanajuanto Elec-
trio Power Co.. 2,4O0 $4,000 1O4
Los Angeles Edi-
son Co. ....2O,O 900 10000 139
Hercules Power
Co. ........... 1900 10000 $50
Southern Wisconsin
Power Co 10000 $4,000 125
1t will be seen at a glance that the
plant OF the Southern Wisconsin
Power company is one of the notable
high tension plants of the world, be-
ing the first in the state of Wisconsin
and the entire system being of recent