The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-11

/ - iNNd WIN y NlluN ~ tHV rectangular
aperture can he widened until tht
water flows just a foot deep over tn,
edge Of the topmost plank, Knowing
the width of the aperture IL linear fee
one can figure out the number d
cubic feet oi water flowing in tho
stream per minute, In larger stream,
the flow can only be computed BY
Soundings for the average depth and
Iusing floats 10 determine the flow,
But the water-power OF stream
must not be computed al a time when
the stream IL swollen by heavy rains
because the horsepower will not be
there during the summer season when
rains are not SO plentiful, A large
number Of streams, whose sources
are in snow-capped mountains or in
great swampS, maintain almost 4 con
Stant fow the year round Others
get very low during July or August
To secure reliable and permanent
source Of power in small built stor-
age reservoirs to store up the water,
which usually runs quickly 10 waste
| after heavy rain, 50 it can be used
when needed, SwampS and snow.
capped mountains are in themselves
storage reservoirs,
II Is possible in these days Of scien.
tihc research to determine very &C.
curately the amount OF power avail
able in any given stream, Weiring
the stream during the summer months
will show its average flow. a transit
in the hands Of surveyor will quickly
show the number Of feet OF fall avail
able for any distance. The surveyor
can also ascertain the number OF acres
In the watershed, and, BY writing the
weather bureau. al Washington, the
average rainfall Ia that section for the
season can be determined, showing
just how much water goes 10 waste
ID the spring freshets and just how
large reservoir would Be needed to
store that water for use during the
dry months Then anyone with head
for simple figures can determine the
amount Of power available and the
probable cost Of the equipment
So important is the development of
water-power in this country that the
General Electric Company aud other
large electrical concerns maintain a
large staff Of engineers whose duties
are to examine prospective water
power developments for enterprising
men who want to harness the rivers
and stream.
The building OF dams in rivers and
streams is very simple matter now
compared to what il was a few years
ago. All the new dams are made Of
concrete. Rough board forms are
constructed where the dam is needed
and the concrete is simply mixed and
dumped into the moulds and allowde
to harden. These dams do not cost
anywhere near as much as stone
and can be erected in a com
short time. 1t is argued
that the destruction OF the forests has
impaired the water'power Of the
country. This is true to a certain
extent, in that the forests formerly
acted as a storage reservoir or, giant
sponges which held the water back
and kept the streams from sudden
rises during heavy rains and from be- !
coming very low when it rained not |
at all. This damage can be remedied !
by constructing artificial reservoirs. |
Water.whecls OF the very latest pat |
tern are now made in all sizes from
The little fellow which fastens on the /
louse-tap to drive the sewing ma
chine to the giant turbine capable of
.urning Niagara's thousands of horse.
power into electricity for Buffalo, Nj
igara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse, and
Toronto. The water-wheel is con-
lected so as to drive an electrical gem
.rator which changes the energy into
electricity so it can be transmitted
my reasonable distance to be used for
,ower, light and heat
Of course one hears a great deal
bout the water-power developments
It Niagara and along such rivers as
he Hudson, Susquehanna; the Kern
nd Feather rivers in California; the
Nenachie, Columbia, Catawba, Yu-
.on and other large streams where
thousands and thousands Of horse
'ower are available but the smaller
tiles and villages are harnessing the
mall streams for light and power
nd even the farmers is slipping an
Iectric bride on the meadow trout
treams and bringing the six to ten
vailable horsepower to his house
nd barn to do the work about the
arm and to give him the comforts