The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-14
LITTLE RIVER GIVES
| ELECTRIC POWER
cHEERFULLY DoNs MANTLE
or LABOR AND DOES
MUCH.

ttlN iAiNH ~ M NNsANW W wAlA@ HtAa A"Ff""
en- route to its destination In the Bear
River, has been detaiHed little while
at this iatm where II cheeriully dons
the invisible mantle q Electricity and
does mosi 81 the mechanical work
about tlr premises, heats and lights
the budding and does the cooking,
washing and ironing and numerous
other small chores.
This diminutiye trout stream in
times Of high water Is d small torrent
but during the dry season L shrinks
20 few cubic inches a minute, 80 Il
was necessary TO utilize an old min
crs ditch for a reservoir 10 store up
a supply oi water against the dry
lmontbs. A part of this ditch, dug by
ghc early placer miners, was repaired
10 hold 100000 cubic feet Of water
! A six.inch riveted steel pipe, 44s
fee. In length, carries the water 70 the
/ foot Of the fall where the powcr-house
il located The little ,wo.fooi water
wheel In the powcrhouse works un-
der rs foot head and Is belted to =
I24Oyo six horsepower General
Electric generator The water enters
fthe water.wheel through IL inch
nozzle and develops more than six
Horsepower The heavy pulley wheel
takes the place Of balance wheel
land q small governor prevents any
Farcidcnt
| Current from the power-house is
bearried 10 the house, a quarter oi .
Isnile away, over small copper wire
strung on 2o.ioot poles The resi-
dvnce and d small log cabin, known
as Mr. Franklin's den, are lighted
with total Of about fifty 10 candle
power lamps Another lighting cir
cuit runs to the barns and out build
,iings.
In the basement 81 the house a
hree.horse-power motor operates Q
centrifugal pump. and with line shaft
ling drive washing machine, wringer
lehurn, cream separator grindsione
and a circular saw.
| II Is not necessary TO journey to
Ethe powerh house to start or stop the
machinery Near the switchboard in
tthe house Is small crank attached TO
q shaft ruAning through the wall 70
Ithe outside. BY system Of pulleys
this crank operates tive long galvan-
lized iron wires, running just beneath
the transmission wire, which open or
close the water-whcel gates as de-
sired, An electric buszGr on the
switchboard tells when the gate
valve is tightly closed,
! The residence Is beautifully lighted
| Lamps aggrcgating fully 900 candle
power make the rooms as cheerful and
pretty as any city home. Elegant
fixtures, harmonizing with The inter
ior. make one almost forget that he
lis fiying on On farm. Outside, the
broad verandas, with their pendant
electric bulbs and lanthcrns, add to
the charm OF this country home The
farm laborers also share In the luKury
OF electric lighting. In their little
cottage, which is apart from the resi-
denee, electric lamps are provided tog
the bedrooms and for the library
where the men pass their evenings
But lighting is only one use TO
which the power is put Down IN
the basement the three-horse-Qower
motor runs a horizontal centrifugal
pump, which lifts water from an al
most inexhaustible well TO a reser-
yoir dug in the hillside and connected
70 the pump by a two.inch pipe ESQ
feet long. The reservoir has cap
acity Of about 1000 gallons, and IS
placed 40 feet above the level OF the
pump furnishing kitchen, bathroom,
and laundry with water at good
pressure. In the front yard there is
hose connection with a hydrant
which furnishes water fir the lawn
and also adds security to the home IN
case OF fire.
In the kitchen electrical cooking
and heating devices are literally en-
ployed. During warm summer days
the electric stove Is often connected
to one Of the lamp sockets on the
veranda and the luncheon prepared
in the cooling breeze Of an electric
fan, thus avoiding the use OF the not
kitchen stove, The use Of electric
Aatrons also does away with the old
stove formerly so necessary on iron
ing day.
During the winter when, there Is
always sufficient water for continuous
operation at full load, electric heaters
are used instead of the small wood
stoves formerly kept man busy
.ast 10 tha time