The Republican journal., 1921-01-27

stations that dot the strategic points of
the company territory. the main trans
mission system, extending from Show
hogan through Waterville, Augusta and
Gardiner to Lewiston, is now capable of
handling and delivering at any point be-
tween the terminals of this line $4,000
horse power.
Handicapped as Maine is by transport
tation and climatic disadvantages, the
Central Maine Power Company has built
this new station, confident that the fun
damentally important thing was not to
dwell on what the great powers, all I'm
developed, might do at some distant time
in the future, but to develop them now
and have them ready for USE
Subscribers for the preferred stock of
the company, who have made the erec-
zion of the plant possible, may we'll take
pride in their building and the fine possi-
bilties that it faces.
1t is not only as permanent as the ge-
ology of the State, but it will supply an
essential service and make life more
worth living to thousands. The abun-
dant power now available should attract
bigger business to the State and should
return substantial dividends on the in
vestment for all time to come
The SkoWhegan turbines are perhaps
the largest in New England in size if not
in capacity. Under 81 foot head each
of the turbines is guaranteed to generate
1850 horse power. Efficiency in the con-
struction of turbines has advanced so
rapidly during the past few years that 90
to 90 per cent of the power inherent in
water will be developed by the Show
hogan turbines
While three turbines and generators
Will take care of the present needs of the
company. the power house has been con-
structed to accommodate four units with
! provision for extending the house to take
/ in atifth. 1t will thus be seen that the
immediate Installation is IL, $50 H. P.
but that the ultimate installation can be
81, ZOO H. P.
AT the present rate of increase it will
probably not be long before the fourth
and even the fifth unit will be needed
Engineers Invent New Devices.
Not only to plan and execute but also
to invent is the role of the modern engi-
neer. The Skowhegan station has given
the engineers abundant opportunity to
use their inventive genius.
| Among the innovations has been the
installation of a remote control switch
board. Switches are located in a room
entirely separated from the generator
room, but all are controlled from the
main switch board in the generator room.
The generator room is cleared by this
arrangement of everything except the
generators and switchboard. Should any
accident occur to an oil switch the dam
age would be entirely confined to the cell
In which it happened and no injury could
be done to the generator room by smoke
from burning oil.
The reinforced concrete head gates are
original with the Skowhegan engineers.
Instead Of the unsightly gears that usual
ly operate such gates an elevating crane
will quietly assume these duties.
A double trolley travelling crane within
the power house was first installed in the
| SkoWhegan station and by an inpenious
arrangement a reduction of fully 10 feet
in the height of the station was made
Not only have permanent operation
problems been solved but daily problems
of construction have been met and over
come with similar ingenuity and resource
fulness.
Now the station is done, the last two
units will soon be in place and Central
Maine Power Company has passed an
other milestone