Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-28
WILL HARNESS
FAST WATERS OF
COLORADO RIVER
PLAN UNDER WAY TO GENERATE
GREAT ELECTRIC POWER
MINING PLANTS OF ARIZONA AND
NEVADA TO BE SUPPLIED
Colonel Appony Secures Right to strip
of Five Miles Along Stream
1903 Miles Above
Needles

After thirty-five years of planning
and study, overcoming seemingly in
surmountable difficulties, it is now be-
lieved that Col. c. e. Apponyi, Hun
garian nobleman, civil war veteran,
architect and civil engineer has solved
the gigatic problem of Harvesting the
Colorado river in order to develop the
water power available for transmission
to mining camps in Nevada and Ari-
zona.
1t is the purpose of Col. Apponyi to
| build power plant at the first rapids
above the head of high water naviga-
ton, about 180 miles by river from
Needles, Cal, and between Lincoln
county, Nevada, and Mojave county,
Arizona. Col. Apponyi has obtained
the water rights on a strip of five
miles at the place where the power
plant is to be established, and it is and
| has been his one great object in life to
make the whirling waters of the Colo
RADIO river do the work in the mines
which is now being done by thousands
of horses and mules.
Plan of Long Standing
| For this purpose a hydro electric
power plant is to be constructed, and
the plans and specifications as worked
| out by the promoter of this gigantic
task have been perfected to such an
extent that but little difficulty is being
experienced in interesting persons to
put forth the necessary financial back
| ing
Col. Apponyi first conceived the plan
of obtaining beneficial results from the
tremendous power of the Colorado
| river as it rushes along its course after
reaching the Grand canyon in 1871,
when he made the historic journey
down the river
His plan at first was met with ridi-
cule, as is always the case with great
| undertakings, but never did the colonel
give up his cherished plan, and de-
voted all his energies to studying how
he could have the project materialize
into q reality.
The proposed plant for developing
hydro-electric power is estimated to
generate at least 10000 horse power,
which can be delivered in mining
camps in Nevada as far away as To-
nopah, and in camps in Arizona as far
away as Prescott by means of high
tension transmission wires such as are
used at present in different parts of
California.
1t has been figured that power can
be distributed within a radius of ITO
miles from the plant and that it can
be accomplished. according to compe-
AOHo
power in transit.
The company which will have con-
troll of the project will be known as the
Colorado River Hydro Electric asso
citation, of which Col. Apponyi is to be
general manager as soon as the COM
pany Is incorporated.
Assessment Work Done
The preliminary assessment work
has been done, five miles of the river
having been appropriated under the
laws of Nevada and Arizona. Within
two and one-fourtn miles of this five
miles surveys show a falr of 263.34 feet,
with a minimum flow at the lowest
stage of the river of 1000 cubic feet of
water q second, rising at times to 35,-
900 feet a second.
The plan is to develop the power in
four successive turbo-generator units,
each working under fifty-foot head,
thus allowing the 1894 feet for changes
in the river level from low to high
water, for outlets and fall of bitches.
Each unit will have a theoretical to-
tai capacity of 22,l69,00O foot pounds a
second. or 1880, 100000 foot pounds a
minute, or an equivalent to 40, 307 horse
power.
With modern turbines, generators
and high tension transmission, 10,307
horse power is ample to allow for all
losses, leaving 10000 horse power that
can be delivered to Tonopah, New, 40
miles away, Prescott, Ariz., 100 miles
away, and to all intermediate points
Although it is said to be possible to
develop 10000 horse power, as there
is no present market for such an
amount only the upper unit will be
constructed at the outset, as 1t is fig
ured there will be no difficulty in dis
posing of 10000 horse power at an es-
tablished rate of SIS per horse power
a year.
Big Prospects Ahead
The location of the plant is to be in
a district in which there are great
prospects of development that it is es-
timated will not be exhausted in twen-
ty-five years.
Already 1880 shares of the 10000
shares have been sold, and it Is ex-
pected that before January 1 all will
have been subscribed for.
Col. Apponyi, who has planned the
undertaking, is well known in the
United States, coming from royal
blood, and one of the Hungarians who
rallied to the aid of the Union in the |
civil war, earning his title of colonel.
For years he was associated with |
Col. w. c. Greene in carrying out |
projects in Cananea and for the Mex
lean republic. He designed q number
of the large buildings on the Pacific |
coast.
He is now in his sixty-siXth year. but |
is as full of ambition as when he en-
listed in the United States army, and |
is happy at the bright outlook for the |
elimination of the one great project |
of his life.