Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-09-22
HARVESTING OF THE WATERS.

HARNESSlNG Uf HE MA1Eho.
Continued from Sept. sth--reeeived too late
for last week. Parkinson" letter next week.
To complete the description of this
Kerckhoff power plant | must state
that, in addition to the massive and
intricate machinery inside the power
house, there is also an immense array
of it outside, of such nature that it
requires no protection from the wealth
er, the most conspicuous of which are
what the experts will tell you are the
transformer" of which there are
nine. In appearance externally these
devices are but six huge steels cylinders
set on end and resting on ledge of
solid granite back of the power house.
These huge steel cylinders are about 6
fit. in diameter and 9 it. high They
each weigh, with their contents, 70 tons.
The contents consist of complicated
series Of steel coils and bars through
which the subtle servant of man courses
on its journey. These coils and bars
are surrounded with oil, 5000 gallons
to each cylinder, 80 we have q, 600 gal
Ions of this specially prepared oil in
these nine cylinders, and all of this has
to be filtered through paper, as the
| laast impurity or smallest amount
of water in the oil creates a display of
fireworks such as no Chinese could con-
ceive Of.
Others, like myself, would like to
know Just the purpose Of these appian-
ces. Well it will require more elo-
quent pen than mine to answer, and
some one far better informed than is
this layman, but through my habit of
asking questions | learn that as the
electrical current passes through these
devices from the great generators its
power is increased sixteen fold. 1t
would be interesting to know or rather
see Just what is Transporting within the
bowels of these silent monsters, for ST.
lent as the grave they are, but how this
silence is possible is mystery when
we realize the fact that within is Gagged
the energy that represents the strength
of fifty thousand horses. Right here |
must relate a little story told me by
one of the employees who was assisting
in the showing of people through the
plant on the great opening day He
was explaining the great mysteries of
the plant to an aged lady and when he
told her that it was of $4,000 horse |
power the old lady innocently remarked,
My but where do you keep all those
horses, and it must cost heap to feed
them.
This power plant was put into opera
ton Just one year ago, and assure my
readers that that was great day at
"The End OF The Trail. There were
invited guests from all over the state
and many beyond. They were guests
of the company and represented dgni-
taries, prominent officials, teachers,
electricians and men of science, all in
terested in this marvellous development |
hidden away in this isolated spot in the |
mountains There were 485 autos on |
the way at one time, carrying 2, $50 peo
pie, and this small army was fed and
cared for throughout the day by the
company, and all were conveyed to the
great plant over the inclined and thrill
giving r. r. described in previous
letter.
think the most interesting thought
of all is the innumerable purposes to
which this vast power is applied, as it
diverted from the wires that carry the
full force. In the homes we find the
subtle current conveyed through a deli
cate thread of wire to the sewing ma
chine. the beautiful electric lamp, the
bread toaster, the carpet sweeper and
the electric range On the farm the
pumping plants and other machinery to
numerous to mention. Our factories
are rapidly substituting the electric
motor for the smutty coal and crude oil.
have seen the great rock crushers
driven by electricity grinding up the
Niger heads as big as a man head
into gravel for concrete building and
road beds, some Of il ground fine enough
for our baby chick feed But how little
people think when they press the little