The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-31

Japan and Canada It will cost $4,000
coo and it's output will be quite 30 times
as large as that of the single unit at
No: ].
OF exceptional interest is the care
taken to provide comfortable and sani-
tary accommodations for every works
man. Houses for the most humble me-
gro and his family are models of their
kind. The only requirement made OF
those that occupy them is THAI they keep
their premises neat and clean. Between
1900 and 1900 are now employed, and
this force will be increased TO a MAXI
mum of 1900 The buildings are simila-
to those at the various eantonments in
the south. Provision is also made for
feeding these workmen at the nominal
rate of % cents meal. Two mess halls
have been constructed, which accommo-
date 800 men each in the small space of
40 minutes without confusion.
Plant No . is being constructed by the
air nitrates corporation, an organiza-
ton without capital stock. but financed
by the government and Differed by ex-
perts OF the American Cyanamid COM
pany. This arrangement has been per-
fected with a view to eliminating Off
cial red tape and expediting the build
ing of this plant. The Westinghouse,
Church, Kerr company of New York has
the main contract. doing the work under
tho direction of the air nitrates cor
poration. The j. G.. White Engineering
Icomporation is building steam plant
that win furnish $4,000 horse power,
while the Alabama Power company viii
transmit 10000 horse power from it's aux
iliary steam plant on the Coosa river
thus insuring 100000 horse power for the
operation of nitrate plant No. until
power dam No. - has bean completed
This plant, it is announced, will employ
upward of 4o00 men when in operation.
POWER DEVELOPMENT
Col Hugh l.. Cooper, who built the
Keokuk dam Or the Mississippi, who
has been identified with some of the
most important hydroelectric develop
ments in the United States and South
America, and who is an engineer OF
both national and international reputa-
ton, has been recalled by the war de-
partment from France for the specific
purpose Of building this dam. He is al
ready al Muscle Shoals and is now work.
ing out preliminary plans for this great
engineering feat.
! This dam, as now scheduled will be
built by the government to the point
where the hydroelectric power will be de-
livered on the switchboard for the opera
ton of nitrate plant No. 2 and for such
other purposes as nszy be deemed ex-
pedient
II win be $500 feet long and 1o4 feet
high and will be equipped with triple-
lift lock- 1t will require 100000 cubic
yards of sand, 1,600,00o cubic yards OF
gravel and 100000 barrels of Portland ce-
ment. 1t will be the largest concrete
! dam III the world and preliminary esti-
mates place the cost Az about $4,000, 600.
Three or four years will be required for
its completion. The probable initial in
stalation will consist of two units OF
10000 horse power each, and three of 4n,-
600 each, giving a total of 10000 hyro--
electric horse power.
Building of dam No. 2 insures early
construction of lock and dam No. /,
which will be for the sole purpose of
providing navigation on the Tennessee
river between the Florence bridge and
| dam No. 2. This will cost but little, as
| II is to be only 800 feet long and Is feet
high, and it is expected that the funds
will be furnished through appropriation
| by the rivers and harbors committee OF
| Congress.
| Dam No. will increase navigation
| through the Muscle Shoals stretch about
10 per cent. while it will afford only
part of the potential hydroelectric ener-
gy at Muscle Shoals And just now,
when President Wilson, Secretary of War
Baker and Director General of Railroads
McAdoo are urging DEVELOPMENT of in
land waterways for both power and nav
igation purposes on scale never before
the full recommendation of Maj, Harry
Burgess. corps United States engineers,
for construction of lock and dam No. 3,
will be adopted in due course The lat
ter will be located 10 miles north of No
2, and the initial installation at this dam
recommended by the United States army
engineers is 10 units of 1900 horse power
each. thus furnishing 100000 additional
horse power. 1t will be 6425 feet long
and 40 feet high.
Ultimate plans involve not only
maximum hydroelectric power on the
Tennessee river but also linking these
power dams with those to be installed
on Little river and on Tallapoosa
river. Both these streams have very
large storage capacity, while the nav
igaton requirements preclude storage
in the Tennessee river. Thus during
the months of low water and REDUCED
energy In the latter supplementary
power Will be transmitted from the
other two sources. The tying up of
these enterprises will not only insure
the maximum Of 100000 hydroelectric
horse power but will also render this
available commercially throughout tho
year. This will exceed by $1,000 horse
power the amount available on both
sides of Niagara Falls.
1t is estimated that this power can
be produced on the switchboard at one
mill per kllOWatt nour Win return
to the government of per cent In
terest annually on the sum invested
in the dams. locks and power houses
after charging off 10 per cent each
year for depreciation of machinery and
2 per cent for all other depreciation
1t is also estimated that 1t can De
prcfitably sold at 81 to 50 per horse
power year. The industries using the
power can be located not only at
Muscle Shoals but within radius Of
2f0 miles. the present established limit
of commercial distribution
| NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS
It's construction will not only in
sure this large increase in hydro
electric power. but it win also canalize
! the Muscle Shoals stretch of the Ten
nc ssee river its total distance of SG1s
miles and remove the one overwhelm-
Ping obstacle to navigation on this
stream through it's entire length OF
! $50 miles. 1t will provide six-foot
npvjgation with possible increase
| to nine feet If this becomes ces,r-
able. 1t viii thus open for easy and
rapid development the rich natural