The New York herald., 1921-08-21

Special Cdbl- to THE New YoRK HERALD
Copyright, 1891, by THE NEW YoaK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris. Aug. 20.
The Harvesting of the Atlantic
tides continues to interest engineering
dreamers of both the United States
and France. 1t is now said here that
1000, 100000 francs are now available
in the United States for the latest
project of this kind provided the
Chamber of Commerce of Granville
(Manche) gives its sanction. Mean
while the French Government has de-
cided to carry out plans for capturing
whatever electric energy is possible
from the tides sweeping away from
the French coast, and experts esti-
mate that a plant which it is proposed
to erect in Brest will be capable Of
developing more than $4,000, 600, 900
kilowatt hours annually. which, If sold
at even half the current price. would
pay for the plant In six years.
Engineering Dreams.
If the Brest experiment Is successful
IL Is predicted here that the future OF
Frances industry will be assured, as
electric power can be developed along
every mile of her great coast line, prac-
tically making unnecessary the use OF
more than small percentage Of her
available coal supply.
Before the war France could not have
considered such great schemes. as much
of the machinery and material for the
plants would have had to be brought
from the United States and Germany,
but now that the Lorraine mines are on
the French side of the Franco German
border and as French manufacturers are
organizing for greater production than
even the Germans contemplated ii is be-
lieved that the next twenty years will
see tremendous engineering projects car
ried out in this country.
1t has not yet been revealed who is
behind the Granville project, but excite
ment is running high in that historic
town, as the people there see a new era
of prosperity ahead of them. The plan
involves the construction of a ten mile
barrier, through which the receding tide
would rush at a tremendous rate. de-
velopng, it is estimated. power enough
to operate all the French industries west
OF Rouen.
At Brest the tidewater scheme is not
50 extensive as the barrier would be less
than 100 yards long, but It would be
placed where the estuary tide was
strongest The barrier would be COM
posed of series Of reinforced concrete
caissons and Golfers. in the central one
OF which would be installed turbine
a,ternators.
Double Acting Basin.
In the right hand Golfer would be a
lock with a platform sixteen feet below
the high tide level, but sufficiently wide
to permit the passage OF fishing cratt.
This barrier would permit the damming
Of nearly 100000 cubic yards. SO that
a double acting basin would be provided
which would work the turbines, regard
less of tide conditions. The Brest tur-
bines. II Is proposed. will each develop
/. 900 horsepower, with two alternators
each producing 1900 volts. BY sup
Elementary dam In the River Dlourfs, u
Is estimated that power equivalent 70
that generated by 16,000.0o0 tons or coal
would be available annually.
The Granville plant VIII, u is pro-
posed. be so constructed that II VIII ~
able to take advantage of tide conditions
which have made Mont st. Michel IA
nous among French poets for centuries.
many of these poets having described
the fury of the waves there, which ap-
proach like maddened battle charger.
Engineers also are completing STUDY
OF tide falls between Boulogne ana Dun
kirk whith view to commencing WORK
ON a third power plant as soon as the
yrestern scheme is well under way.