THE NIAGARA ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 36, 10 February 1903, Page 4

THE NIAGARA ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT.

A SERIOUS OCCURRENCE. Our cables recently stated that the great electric generating plant at Niagara Falls had been destroyed by lightning exploding the big transformer in the power-house. The following, bearing on the subject, taken from the Otago " Daily Times," is interesting The news of the destruction of the Niagara Falls electric generating plant is extremely serious, and, apart from the lojs to tlio Niagara Falls Power Company itself, this unfortunate occurrence will involve many large firms who absolutely depend upon the power they are supplied with by the company to carry ou their operations. The principal user is the International t'aper Company, using 3030 horse-power and producing 120 tons of paper daily. Amongst other users are the I'itteburg Reduction Company—one of the 1-trgest users of power for electrolytic work—which employs 50(10 horsepower for the production of metallic aluminium from the ore ; the Carborundum Company, which also uses some 2000 horse-power in carrying out electrolytic operations ; theCastner Electrolytic Alkali Company, which employs some 7500 horse-power in producing caustic soda and bleaching powder ; the Union Carbide Company, which produces practically the whole of the cilciura carbide used in the United States; the Niagara Ekctro-Chemical Company, whi h depends upon the power it receives for tho manufacture of a large and varied assortment of electro-chemical produce ; the Natural Food Company, which utilises 25'0 electrical horse-power; the International . chesou Graphite Company, which eraploys 1000 electrical horsepower in producing absolutely pure graphite ; and many others. But when all these large industrial fiims are mentioned, and the great losses which are likely to ensue from a probable euforced idleness of considerable duration are realised we are still very f*r from realising the full meaning of this disaster to the whole. State of New York. The great work of "harnessing" Niagara—one of the most notable achievements of engineering sciet.ce in recent years, after being ''in the air" for many years, at last became an accomplished fact about three years since, and in a district reaching from St. Catherines Canada, on the west of Lockfort, New York, ou the east, and extending through the tonowandas to Buffalo, with its suburban surroundings on the south, substantially every municipal electric lighc, every street car, motor, and trolly in use was supplied with energy derived from the falls of the Niagara River by the Niagara Falls Power Company. In the city of Niagara Falls 30,000 horse-power of its electrical current is used for manufacturing purposes, and the small village of some 12 years ago has grown into a great manufacturing centre, and is recognised as the home of the world's largest and most important uses of electricity for electrolytic and electro-chemical manufactures. Transmission lines carry without the city about 15.000 horsepower. Under its charter the company have the right to take sufficient water from the upper river to produce 200,000 horse power, so that the possibilities of what might be are easy to conceive from the magnitude of what was. The completed inlet canal and tunnel of the company already have capacity to deliver aud discharge sufficient water to develop at the available head 120,000 horse-power. The first power station of the company is located on the west side of the inlet canal frmi the river. "It is built of grey limustonc, is 475 ft. by 70ft., with a wing for offices In this station," says a writer on the subject, "are now installed 10 dynamos of aOOO horse-power each, generating two-phase alternating current at a pressure of 2200 volts, and at a frequency of 25 cycles per second. There have been installed also four smaller direct-current dynamos, used principally for iuciting currents. In order to be entirely independent one of another, each dynamo is driven by a separate turbine. All units may operate in parallel, thus affording a perfect reserve system. Connected with power house No. 1, by stone arches across the inlet canal, is the main transforming station" (which has been destroyed). " Here are lock ed 20 1250 horse power and seven 2500 hnr-.o juner static transformers. The list are used for the purpose of transforming the current transmitted to Buffalo to thee-phase current at a i initial pressure of 22,000 volts ; the others to transform to 11,000 volts current transmitted two miles from the power-house to a sub-station on the company s lands, where the current is stepped down for local distribution from thatcen're." Power-house No. 2, under construction, is similar to power house No. 1. with the exception oi one extra 5000 horse-power unit. The two houses are connected electrically, so chat anyone or all of the dynanus can be applied to any particular circuit or circuits, thereby securing the utmost flexibility. In connection with this source of electrical power, mention must be made of the electiical features of the great Pan-American Exposition. Five thousand horse-power was delivered on the ground of the Exposition, and every cornice, every spire, and dome, and every window, every roof line and entrance was outlined in a blaze of light, coming from the Falls 21 miles away. Upon the buildings and within the grounds 300,000 lights were controlled, as though but one from a single spot, so masterly and so adroitly that standing upon the Bridge of Triumph a faint pink glow could be seen everywhere, which, gradually spreading through the red of sunset to a yellow, burst silently and majestically into the white light of day, leaving an impression upon the mind difficult to describe and never to be forgoUen.