Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-02-16

the railroad bridge between Davenport
and the island Of Rock Island. with a
crest elevation OF 2I.63 feet above low
water This elevation viii be IN
creased to 27.63 feet by the use OF
automatic steel fash boards which
lower automatically to allow floods ~
pass by. In addition to the AUTOMATIC
flash boards, discharge gates VIII be
placed in the dam 10 relieve flood con
ditiOns.
Careful gauge readings have been
kept under the supervision of the Uni
ted States government, and from these
records a discharge curve has been
produced for the discharge Of the
Mississippi river at Rock Island This
curve is based upon the daily guage
readings taken at Rock Island for the
Is years extending from 1901 TO 1915,
inclusive tsee Fig. discharge and
Rating Curve.
The plan OF development proposed
couremplates the construction OF a
dam and spilIway between the island
Of Rock Island and the Iowa shore. at
q point above the railroad bridge and
the construction OF walls and dykes
above the dam. for the protection Of
property and the reduction Of property
damage
Careful consideration should. how
ever. be given to a plan under which
the dam would be constructed oppo-
site Moline and the channel behind the
island Of Rock island used as q tail
race This plan VIII reduce the prop
erty damage and The protecting walls
required At the same time better re-
lief viii be afforded at times OF food
and the effective head viii be in
creased.
Annual Cost Of Operation.
The estimated cost of construction
is based upon the present high cost
of material and apparatus, due 20 the
war conditions in Europe 1t is as
sumed that money is worth o per cent
to the United States government De
probation charges are based upon the
economical life of the apparatus en-
ploFed. The cost OF coal has been
taken at 81 per ton at the mine IT is
believed that this price can be rea-
lied a. low grade and waste coal can
be utilized.
IL has been found that under the
above conditions the most economical
Development OF the water power al
Rock Island viii be approximately
100 GOO kiI0watts ll85 600 horse
Dowerf The estimated cost of con
structiug q 100000 kiIowatt power
plant In accordance with the plans
suggested VIII be SI9.4l700O and the
cost of power SS.26 per hOrsepow er
year However. if q gas producer plant
is Installed and the by-DrOduct sold.
the cost of power viii be reduced
So LIS per horsepower year.
From the above the great advantage
of using a bv-pr0duct gas producer
plant is self-evident. I'm the latter
case both the water power plant and
the steam plant are run continuously
the reserves being placed in operation.
The average load is thus increased
from 100000 kI0watt to 10000 IlilO-
watt Under these conditions the load
viii be 200 900 kil0watt for a period of
about two months and viii gradually
fall Off to approximately 10000 Elo-
watts for q period Of "a few days
Al 10000 kiloWatt water power de-
vel0pment can be made at an estimated
construction cost, including damages.
of STg55.550. The estimated annual
costs viii amount TO $105z per kiio-
watt year. OF $50 per horsepower
year.
A 10000 kI10watt water power de
seIopment with an auxiliary steam
plant Of corresp bonding size and gas
producer plant. can be constructed at
an estimated cost Of S11 ,563 $50. In a
plant of this size, operated az it's full
capacity, developing an average of 80.-
600 kiLOwatts throughout the year, the
water power deficiency being uegljgi-
BILE. after due credit is made for the
sale OF by-DroducCs, power viii be pro-
duCed at an estimated cost Of S6.54 per
kil0watt or Sass per horsepower.
Conclusion: In the project here
suggested for the deYelopmen of the
water power at Rock Island, it is be-
lieved that approximately 100000
horsepower for the nitrate plant to be
constructed by the government can be
obtained under the conditions set
forth. at a net cost TO the government
of not in excess OF 1925 per horse
power year The development of pow
err can bee extended 10 any amount de-
sired
On account Of its central location.
the fine labor market available, the nm
eEcelIed transp Ortati0n facilities in all
both by rail and water, the
safety of the location, and the fact
that at Rock Island the government has
its finest and best located arsenal and
largest arsenal reservation, it is urged
that the location at Rock Island be
given careful consideration in the Sc
lection OF the location of the nitrate
plant authorized to be constructed by
congress.