The Republican journal., 1921-11-24
uvdro.electic Plant at Skowhegan

The capacity of the new Hydro-electric
,.nt at Showhegan has been increased
pDaaTiy 20 per cent by the completion on
55s,nrday, Nov. 18th, of the dam across
~ ~ North Channel of the Kennebec River
~ ps 2 months after the work was
G'b This is feat, that for uniqueness and
,sspuity of design, rapidity of construc-
pS tn and quality Of workmanship has
s,sr been equalled in this state.
J. nnri lg the latter part of August of this
.ar W. S. Wyman, General Manager,
aaIi7ing that if the Central Maine Power
,nmpany was to maintain it's wonderful
cord of supplying electric powe: to any
.sr in any part of our territory at any
.me it would be necessary to compensate
~ he loss of power due to the unprece-
soted low water condition by increasing
ss oDerating head on the new plant at
kovhegan.
orders for this work were given the
instruction Department of the Central
lane Power Company on the evening of
Ioust 25th, of this year, and at six
7irtv the following morning W. G. Elliott,
Supt., had 65 men at work
.sDs had already been completed by the
Department under the di-
,,rou of J. A. Leonard, Designing and
Engineer of the Central
lame Power Co., and on the evening the
,1ers for the work was issued, progress
,Isdule was made calling for the compile =.
nm of the work on Nov. IA, Just 2 1.2
,0nths away.
schedules of materials were prepared
nd on the day following the start all or
hrs fer stone, cement, lumber, structur-
! steel, steel, steel girders, Taintor
,a,es gate hoists and all the multitude
Mis- details required for construction
york Of this magnitude were ordered.
h eflciently did the purchasing depart
,,ot operate, that in spite of short no.
isf the work was not held up single
,ngte from lack of supplies or material.
The new North Channel dam, owing to
he diiIicult conditions to be provided
or. IS of extremely novel design. The
.npebec River at Skowheqan has a rec
-3 Of the enormous flow in flood times,
( j0 600 cubic feet per second. The
sn IS located in the heart of busy and
-osperous city and the banks of the
,ysr are bordered with thriving facto-
ues, expensive business blocks, and
g15some homes, which must at any
r,. be protected from damage by floods.
was, therefore, necessary to maintain
he same sized channel for the flood flows
ia. existed under the old conditions and
II the same time carry the water level
8ier ordinary river flow at the highest
9s, BILE point, so that every ounce of
ager in the river could be utilized.
A portion of the old dam had been re-
gt Il 1907 by replacing the old timber
no with a heavy concrete spillWay.
Ms concrete work was utilized by con-
.-g,.ing on it's crest concrete piers
reayly reinforced with steel at intervals
f 90 leet, these piers, carrying con-
,ee bridge. AS the water level had to
II restored to its original condition at
..l water but raised IL feet at low
gs.er, a removable dam (apd it should be
snambered that IL foot dam as ordi-
a- ~ ruilt of stone or concrete is quite
.5snl can be lifted clear of the concrete
res. Of the old dam and allowed to
ang down stream permitting the flood
grsrs to flow beneath. This is accom-
0.uad by hanging heavy steel | beams,
s ed stanchions, from the bridge, the
t lions in turn supporting timber
las boards of the required height
following the stanchion section near
b. inter of the river the log sluice of
ss d dam was located. During a hun
le. Years millions of heavy logs had gone
E lgh this sluice on their way to the
further down stream, and the logs
% re falling water together had gusged
tge rom the solid rock sixty feet wide
Id over twenty feet deep. To have filled
ls ole with solid gravity dam w6uld
ag yolved a concrete structure nearly
i1 5st wide on the base. To avoid such
o -spensiue structure, graceful but
rs this gap. The use of this arch
3-l hundreds of yards of concrete and
5l Of time, while in no way impairing
B. .y7ngth of the dam.
.-G' to the arch, across the main
-salel of the river, is a concrete spill
g 70 feet long.
ID spillway is fitted with heavy oak
" aplriS, bound with iron, and hinged
.e crest of the dam in such mapner
- 4uon approach of the floods, they
. be folded fiat upon the crest, allow
B., ae full area of the channel to be
q. aa for the passage OF floods and ice.
% raise and lower these very large flash
N-1si sections, each the size of barn
Der. wire cable nearly three inches in
3usfer has been stretched between the
acuents of the dam. Upon this cable
n,es a car containing the operator and
a3o an electric hoist.
y This means the dashboard sections
-a a.ways be operated no matter what
1' depth of the water flowing over the
Al may be.
Next 10 the dashboard section and ad-
ll1g the shore have been installed two
-..i gates that are probably the largest
4 New England. These gates are each
Zee, wide, the width of an ordinary
-y house, and would reach to the second
ae'g window sills, being II feet high.
Hey wJll together when fully open dis
large 5000 CUBIC feet per second, more
Van twice the ordinary flow of the river.
tleSe gates are of the tyne known as
ial.or gates, and instead of sliding in a
'5lea groove like ordinary gates, are
F'aon of horizontal cylinder, provided
s'A heavy steel radial arms projecting
loTn stream which are pivoled to steel,
pNo.s 6 inches in diameter, imbedded in
g.aaIete. By means of this construction
le enormous pressure of the water on
gie surface of the gate, nearly 250, 600
u.s. is carried on the pivots and the only
~.laon to overcome in lifting the gate is
us very SMALL amount caused by the
Uyi1e bearing of arms revolving around
'fs pvots.
hose gates are operated by electric
Tors and the mere throwing of lever
Guild will lift or lower these mas