Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-12-24

for power purposes by the old method
for generations. The dam, Quilt In the
sixties, has a crest of 1000 feet. For
hydroelectrical purposes the old ca-
nal was widened a few years ago
and a power plant installed which
yields 1000 horsepower In this way
the energy of the turbulent river has
been rendered possible of transmission
far beyond the river bank. Today
new dam is being built and engineers
are extending this canal with a view
of wrestling still greater power from
the river by leading it to a point tive
miles below where another fall of sixty
feet will produce electrical energy
equal to 10000 horsepower
The power which is being developed
of Turner's Falls is sold to a number
of allied companies which act as dis
tributers. In this way it reaches many
towns. including Riverside and Millers
Falls. Through the Greenfield Electric
Light company it reaches South Yer
non, Mortified. Bernardson, Deerfield,
Colerain Buckland and Greenfield and
through the Amherst and Easthamp-
ton Gas companies Amherst, Sunder-
land. Whately, Hatfield, Hadley, East
hampton and Southampton Turner's
Falls is but forty miles from Spring
field 1t is aimed to extend the trans
mission lines ultimately to supply in
ddstrleS not alone in Springfield, but
in Chlcopee and Westfield In many
OF these towns, particularly Turner'S
Falls. hundreds of factory sites are
within easy reach of this power, whose
price necessarily cheapens as the
length of transmission shortens.
Another recent New England hydro
| electric development is that at Rum
| ford Falls. 1t has resulted already in
| converting what was twenty years ago
a wilderness into a modern city with
a population of 10000 people. Here
where the Androscoggin river has a
| ninety nine foot fall station has been
built developing 10000 horsepower.
over million dollars has been spent
on two great dams. Instead Of canals
the rushing waters at Rumford Falls
are led through great steel tubes into
the power station. The mills Of the In
| ternational Paper company take over
| 1900 horsepower alone. The Oxford
Paper company consumes 5000 more
and the Fort Hill Chemical company
1880. The Central Maine Power COM
pany, located at Oakland on the Mes
saloushee river, is still another devel-
opment with $3.50 horsepower devel-
oped and $4,000 undeveloped
Connecticut is not without it's hydro
electric development for at Bulls
Bridge, on the Housatonic there has
been for some years in operation o
plant developing $4,000 horsepower.
Besides running the trolley lines of the
Connecticut company in Waterbury
and New Britain, the latter fifty miles
away, this power is today running sew
eral Industrial plants besides local
lighting interests.
These are but a few OF the most ina
portant of the central hydroelectrfe
stations already established and In
process Of construction in New Eng
land by which a partial utilization o<
the immense energy Of its water
courses may be accomplished and the
power thus generated sold commercial
: ly. Scattered throughout this region
at the present time are thirty-ene
plants designed to sell power CONNER
cially as distinguished from the scores
of mills which still take power directly
/ from the streams on whose banks they
are located.
That these stations have already had
the effect Of cheapening power to some
extent for the manufacturer there Ii no
doubt. The increase Of such plants,
) which is bound to occur. Is certain to
have still greater effect in this line
all of which will rebound to the advan-
, tage of the manufacturer who seeks
, New England.
r Today the rates for large quantities
r of power vary from mills per kill
j owatt hour at Rumford Falls, Me- "a
a 16 mills in various parts Of Connects-
o cut.
!. II used in large quantities there Il
8 without question a considerable SAVING
a over steam according to those comps-
o tent to judge the results.
e In order to aid this development TIT
: industrial bureau of the New England
q lines has collected a LIST Of availabl.
= water power sites in New E>nglant
8 and already the e have been many In
n Quiries for the same.
n 1t il also about to undertake care
" full tabulation Of all the development
n work at present under way and whicl
b will rebound to the benefit Of Nev
le England's Industries. whose promotis'
is one of the chief aims Of the Ney
'e England lines.
n That manufacturers are beginning 3
d appreciate the advantage New Ens
RI land possesses in opportunities fo
ID such development coupled with he
&c supply OF skilled labor there can be n
70 question. 1t was her broad rivers an
rushing streams which aided her set
% Element and stimulated her develop
e ment in the early days Of her histoE;
by afrordinx easy means Of communt
II cation and furnishing power to tuz-
n the water wheels of her infant indus
1t tries. Today these same streams ar
70 stored with a dynamic force whic
when converted into electrical energ,
Is will be sufficient to move her mills an
Y. DO the means of a new industria
II growth rich in promise for generation
IS yet to come. And the supply II inex
e haustiblo.