The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-12-01
WINOOSKI WATER POWER
EXPERTS DESCRIBE THOSE THAT
ARE DEVELOPED I: THE
RIVER BASIN.
Head Developed Accurately Determined
Prem Surveys Whenever Made, But
Horsepower May Not BE Exact as
Definite Information About Wheels
Was Lacking In Some Cases.

Horsepower May Not BE Exact as
Definite Information About Wheels
Was Lacking In Some Cases.
One of the most important and in
teresting features Of the report made
by the experts who have been inves-
tigating the water resources of YER
mont, is that dealing with developed
water powers. In this the experts
Say:
Developed Water Powers.
The following brief description of
developed water powers in the Win
ooski basin are based upon data OBJ
, the report Of A. ID. But
terrified upon 81 veys maze IN 1910,
md from information furnished by
mill owners and Users of power.
The head developed Is accurately
determined from the surveys wherev.
err they have been made, but the
horsepower developed may be in error,
It's definite knowledge of the size and
rating of the wheels used is lacking
storage, the rated horsepower can in
general be developed tor only eight OF
nine months of the year, and in ma q
instances for a much shorter period.
WinOoski River.
The first developed water power
on the river is at Wnooski, about six
miles above the mouth. Here there
are two natural falls with dams. AT
the lower falls, on the right bank
are located the Burlington mills of
the American Wooden Co. A maxi
mum head Of about 81 feet is obtain
ed and four wheels aggregating ca
pacity of 400 horsepower, and in use
with an auxiliary steam plant of 200C
horsepower. On the left bank two
wheels are installed; one, under a 2t
power, is used to furnish electric pow.
er for the Burlington Traction Co.
the other, under an 10 foot head, de-
veloping about 100 horsepower, is uset
to run a FIGURING mill
At the upper falls, on the right bank
the tevens Machine Co., which is en-
titled to one-fftn of the total flow
develops about Is horsepower under
a head of IA feet; and the American
Wooden Co., entitled to three-tenthl
of the flow, has installed wheel o
about 800 horsepower, under a 17-foo
head, in a new spinning mill. On tn
left bank, the Chase Cotton Mill Co
entitled to ,one-ha"f the flow, has thre
wheels installed under 17-foot head
with 900 horsepower of auXiliar.
steam.
At the gorge, Just above Winooski
the Burlington Light and Power Co
operates five wheels under a head o
30 feet, aggregating about 1900 horse
power During low water, 500 horse
power of auxiliary steam is used.
The next dam is at Essex Junction
where the privilege is owned by tn
Burlington Light and Power Co. A
present only aoout 80 horsepower i
developed under an is foot head, an
is leased to S Brownell x Co
for running saw mill.
Just above arc the ruins of dar
and mill, where head of IA feet wa
formerly obtained This privilege
also owned by the burlington Ligll
& Power Co.
At Bolton Falls, near North DuX
bury, the Consolidated Lighting Co
of Montpelier owns dam and electri
plant, used to furnish light and powe
in Montpelier, Barre Waterbur.
Graniteville and Willamstown. Thi
is one of the best powers on the rive
A stone masonry dam built across
narrow, rocky gorge, affords hea
of fifty feet on the average. and tn
wheels installed develop from 700
$500 horsepower, depending upon til
amount of water There is an auXi
larry steam plant located at Montpelie
At MiddleseX there is a dam wit
a head of about 80 feet, the plant
the Vermont Power and Lighting &C
which furnishes electric power an
light for Montpelier and Barre. Abol
wheels, with $50 horsepower of auXi
larry steam.
At Montpelier, a fall of about
feet furnishes about 125 horsepowt
for the Cotton Manufacturing Con
pany's saddlery supplies factory c
the left bank and 125 horsepower fl
the Z. w. Bailey and Co.'S grist mi
on the right bank.
The next dam, about one and qua
ter miles above, and known as IL
Pioneer Dam, is owned by the Conso
idated Lighting Co.. but is not no
used for power. The head is abo
six feet.
Three-quarters of a mile above Il
mouth of the Stevens branch are |
Gated the electric power plants of Il
Cory, Deavitt, Frost Co. There a
two dams with Ions penstocks, abo
5000 feet and 100 iect respectivel
The head Of the lower plant is 60 fe,
and at the upper 80 feet 800 hors
power developed at lower plant
addition to a 20 horsepower steG
turbine. Wheels at 'lplnr plant n
yet installed.
At East Montpelier, r. W. Bail
and Co., own a dam with head of
feet. which develops about 1875 hors
power, used for running a grist mi
a saw-mill, and stone-dresslng mac
merry,
At Plainfeld there is dam, own
NV Arch BaChelder affOrding q he