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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1914)
' f Ui-V "" I i "r tsnyjirT"f' "-Tir--4 .' THE 8EMI-WEEKLV TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEDRA8KA. M . V Si I'l r.i H ffi u it it 3 Ri 1 " L CS numphnrt , ... ' mmm, HE history of electricity, written f.iffiMM , ' 1 IwlfiSi: ' &f JCH iB J largely in the last row years, ib WuWwmKliW1 IvSfeYs 'v "7 -rwT?i ) roploto with wonderful engineer- MLWklKW tiSM'' '-MH- ' "sV H ing nehiovomenta. But never be- famxmfflSrMKm jT'SpS-. &I ''''' Li--" fore lina electricity boon called iffirca&SIPr fi Kpn upon to do bo much, In such an BlgiKijpiHP , Sf$ r l$r&y h entirely now and novel wny, as ShlBf''-' ' M (?IkSJi Jl Br 11 at Pnnnmn- Tho hydroelectric HR"- '"'''' H'"W c '!$? "p- S generation of oloctrical onorgy HR ' -r" MiL '" Y&l j V nnd Its distribution, tho handling WK&K g&Z&mk ' r!JM 1 v I of tho ships by electric locomo- Atpi " BSHIt f 1 tlves, the novel system of con- v JWtfwtHmL $ ' I uuiiAuu Hwuuiiuuuiu tuunui iui y v ' OnfWIB Fw j HE hiBtory of olectrlcity, written largely In the last few years, 1b roploto with wonderful engineer ing nchlovoments. But never be fore has electricity been called, upon to do so much, In such an entirely now and novel wny, as at Panama. Tho hydroelectric generation of oloctrical onorgy and its distribution, tho handling of tho ships by electric locomo tives, the novel system of cen tralized switchboard control for the 'groat locks, is but another triumph 'for oloc- trlclty, a now doparturo In elcctrlcnl engineering nnd nn ndvanco In mochnnlcs oqunlcd only by tho Panama canal itself. It Is expected that tho surplus water of Gntun Inlto will ultimately supply tho electrical energy for tho entire canal zone. During tho building of tho canal a steam plant, located nt Mirnflorca, furnished tho oloctrical current necessary for tho construction work at the Pacific end. This steam plant will bo maintained as a resorvo in caso of ahut down, low water or damage to tho transmis sion lino. At present It seems certain that thoro will bo avallablo sufllclont wator to generate fully (5,000 kilowatts. -During tho rainy seasons, which prevail in tho tropics, wator will ho plentiful and -will bo allowed to run to waste" ovor tho spillway of tho dam. During tho dry season tho Btorago wator will bo drawn upon. Tho iriaxlmum quan tity of wator dlvortod for hydrooloctrlc develop ment is about seven per cent of tho minimum -wntor supply and la tho excess which Is not re quired for lockage, evaporation nnd lenkago. Tho electricity generated at tho Qatun powcr Iiouso will bo distributed for tho operation of tho throe big locks, to tho pormnnont machine shops, to tho dry dock, to tho coal handling plant and other auxiliaries. It will also bo used to light tho locks nnd tho villages of tho canal zone. In nil probability tho curront will also bo extenslvo ly usod for electric cooking in tho homes, as fuel is scarce and costly upon tho Isthmus. Thoro Is also undor consideration tho electrification of of tho Panama railroad, Tho distribution circuits will bo In duplicate throughout in order to Insuro a continuous sorvlco. As a furthor precaution, as abpvo stated, tho wator-powor station will bo connected to tho Btoam plant at Mlrafloros, which station will bo held In roaorve. Tho power system for tho operation of tho locks, towing locomotives, lights for tho lookB and buildings, and motors not directly connected with tho lock control. Is composed of: 1 A 7,500 kv-a, 2,200-volt hydrooloctrlc power plant at tho Qatun dam. Four thousand flvo hundred kv-a, 2,200-volt Cur tis turbo-geriorator electric powor plant at Mlrn florea for omorgoncy, lutolyusod to supply powor for construction work. A doublo 44,000-volt transmission lino across tho Isthmus, connecting Cristobal on tho Atlnntlc and Balboa on the Pacific with tho two powor idants namod. Four 44,000-2,200-volt substations, stopping down at Cristobal and Balboa, and up or down at Gatun and Mlrafloros, depending on which of tho two plants Is supplying power. Thirty-six 2,200-240 voit transmission stations for powor, traction and light at Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Mlrailores locks. Throo 2,200-220-110-volt transformer stations for tho control boards at tho locks. Tho hydrooloctrlc station la located adjacent to tho north wall of Gatun spillway. Tho building in of concrete and steel, downed specially for a powor station In a tropical country. Tho building Is capable of being 'onlurged to house six 2,000 kilowatt units, of which threo have boon Installed. Tho building has but ono muln operating Moor, with a turbine pit and two gnllerlos for olectrlcal oqulpnient. Each unit or tho mechanical equip ment consists of nn individual hoadgato, pen Htook, governor, generator, exciter, oil-switch, and control panol. Water is tnkon from datim lake through a forobay, which la constructed as an Jr.togral part of tho curved portion or tho north Hj.i'lway approach wall. Prom tho forobay tho wato Is carrlod to thd turbines through stool plato pcBtocks 350 feet long nnd 10 foot 0 Inches In diameter The entrances to tho penstocka nro protected by bar Iron trash rackB to prevent Hunken debris from damaging the turblnoa. Tho Iieadgates are raised and., lowered by Individual electric motors. These, motors and tho gate ma chinery, are housed in a amall concrete gnto liouso erected in tho forobay. Tho turbo-gonoratlng unite are of tho vortical typo, rotating partB of tho generator and tho tur bine being mounted on the sumo shaft. Super imposed upon each turblno casing Is a generator rated at 2.000 kilowatts, which will dollvdr throe phase, 25-cyclo curront at 2,200 volts. Tho main control switchboard for tho control of tho curront Is located c )ho second gallery floor, whore Uiu mssm tfnsouGa: Gnmrwcx: OCVV0 TV G&l&ofjyEPjpR 2tf2zr operator possesses a good view of tho entire sta tion. Tho operator at the switchboard coniplotely controls all switching operations nnd, in addition, controls tho hoadgatea, tho governors, tho rheo Btata and tho field circult-breakors. Besides tho control switches tho main switchboard contnlns all Indicating and recording Instruments which aro ossontlal for an Intelligent operation of tho station. A storage battery, located on tho first gallery, will bo usod to supply lighting current, otc, when the plant is not running. When tho plant is in operation this direct curront will be supplied by two motor-driven exciter sots which aro oporatcd directly from tho 2,200-volt clicuit. Tho centralized control Bystom for tho Panama locks marks a wonderful ndvanco in olectrlcal onginocrlng. Tho locks nro oporatcd by elec tricity and tho controlling switchboards repro duce In mlnlnturo on tho board, by synchronous IndlcntorH, every dotall of oporatlon so tho man In charge boob tho comploto movement of all gatos, vnlvoa, fondpr chalna, etc., reproduced be fore his oyoa, eliminating any orrors which might otherwlsooccur. Tho spoclilcatlons for tho entlro generating, lock controlling and distribution Bystom for oper ating tho Panama cnnal wero prepared under tho supervision of Mr, Edward Schlldhnuor, olectrlcnl and mechanical engineer, Isthmian cnnnl couii mlsBlon, assisted by a Btaff of ablo electrical on glneora, Including Mr. C. II. Larzclorc, who w closoly Identified with tho lock control problems; Mr. "W. It. McCann, with tho generation and dis tribution of powor. Speaking of this great onglnoorlng feat, Mr. Schlldhnuor said: "Tho elcctrlcnl control systom has decided ad vantages ovor hydraulic or nlr systems. TIiIb will bo roadily granted when it is known that the flight of locks at Qatun, for Instance, extends over a distance of (5,152 feet and tho principal oporntlng machines aro distributed ovor a dis tance ot 4,115 feet, To control tho machines locally mount a largo operating forco distributed practically along tho full length of tho locks, which has Invariably been tho practice hereto fore. Such a forco would bo difficult to co-ordinate. Into -an ofllciont oporntlng system. Tho matter therefore resolved Itself Into contrallzed control, which reduces tho number of operators, operating expenses nnd liability to accident.' Morcovor, It fixes responsibility. , "Anothor argument for centrnllrod control Is tho ract that by having all control switches cen tralized on ono switchboard It permits tho vari ous control switches to bo mechanically Inter locked In a manner to mlnlmlzo, If not entirely fy prevent, certain errors of human manipulations.' Heavy fender chains aro stretched across the locks in front of all mitred gates which can be oxposed to tho upper level and nlso In front of the guard gateB at the lower end These are maintained in a taut position at nil times when tho gates behind them are closed, uud aro low ered when the gates aro opened for the passage of a ship. 'These chains are ralBed and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder. In a method timllar to that followed In hydraulic elevators, with tho additional feature that If a ship approaches the gates at a dangerous speed and rams Into tho chain, the chain Is paid out from each end with a maximum resistance for gradually stopping a ship before It reaches the gates. Lowering the chain for the legitimate passage of a vessel and raising It ngaln after the vessel has passed are also under the con trol of the operator at tho control house, and each operation of rais ing or lowering Involves tho control of two mo tors; viz, the starting of a large motor driving the main pump supply ing .water under pres sure, and 'the control of a motor-operated valve which In turn controle the direction of move ment of the chain, ris ing or falling. At Gatun the control house Is located at the lower end of the upper lock. At Mlrailores the location Is the same, that Is, at tho lower end of tho uppor pair or locks; but there aro only one pair or duplicated locks downstream from the control house, tho same as upstream. At Pedro Miguel the control house s at the lower end of tho ono pair or lockB. Tho motors aro started and controlled by con tactor panel located near thom, tho contactors ot which hnndlo the main motor currents. These contactors aro controlled from tho control house. The canal and locks will accommodate the largest vessels. The ract that the control board Is a working miniature or tho lock which It operates shows the operator tho actual condition ot gates, height of water, etc., and, consequently, having tho whole condition In miniature under his eye he knows what to do next nnd when to do it, tho operator rocelvlng his lntorniation as to the movement ot the vessel from a towing mas ter. Tho engineers on the locomotives which take tho vessels through the locks, ns well as tho towing innstor. can see tho position or iiio gates, but tho position of tho fendor chains is indicMed by semaphore anna on the lock walls. Lot us tnko a vessel through a set of locks. It proceeds into tho lock forobay either under Its own powor or that of a tug, and comes to a full stop. It will then proceed under tho pocr and control of four electric locomotives two for ward to tako it along, ono on euch side, and two others ustcrn, ono on each side, to keep tho ves sol In tho middle of the waterway and to stop it when it hnB reached the prcper point. Arter the vessel comes to n full stop In the forobay Ub position la given by tho towing master to the switchboard attendant, who, by moving u control switch lover, causes tho lowering of tho fendor chnln and the mlnlnturo fender chain on tlie control hoard nfter lock gate la In proper position Tho fondor chain ts stretched across tho canal to prevent tho vessol from striking the gntcs It for some reason It should get beyond control. In such an ovont the fonder chain brings tho easel to n full stop. Now tho vessel advances Into tho lock by moans of tho electric locomotives. Tho fender chnlu Ib raised and then tho maaslvo gates aro shut bohlnd, tho miniature control board gates In tho monntlmo Indicating this movomont. When tho water on oppoaltfc sides of tho gates In front of tho vcssul hns been rnlsod or lowered, as tho case may be, until the water on both sldea la at tho same level, ns Bhown on tho wator level Indi catory on tho control board,' these gates arc opened nnd tho boat la pulled Into tho next com partment, and so on. NEWS FROM STATE HOUSE i Because of the mild Woathor of tho winter Just past, tho state has boon able to save thousands ot dollars on tho coal -UBed at tho various stato Institutions. Ton tubercular cows belonging to n herd that hud been condemned by Stnto Veterinarian Kigln wore killed at tho plant of tho Lincoln Packing company. Tho injunction sought for ngalnsl tho submission of tho $20,000 appro priation for an armory at Nebraska City .was denied by Judge Stewart in district court nt Lincoln. - All but two counties 'we reported to the state assessment board tho val uations, total tnx collections, and total levies for all purposes In tMc various taxing districts. This Is a require ment of a 1013 amendment to tho tax statutes. Chief Gnmo Warden Gits mitenbeck declined to lssuo licenses to selno in public water of Nebraska last year und adheres to that policy this year. During tho jear 1912 between 200 and 500 licenses to solno were Issued by the state gnmo warden. State Veterinarian Klgln will go to Scotts Bluff to Investigate several cases of horse disease, reported by tho owners to bo glanders. When animals having this malady aro killed by tho stato veterinarian's order, the horsea must have been In tho stato for ono j ear. All commissioned officers of tho Ne braska national guard arc being ex amined nt the present time in 1013 army regulations, 1911 infantry drill regulations and small nrms firing manual for 1913. Circulars are being sent out to all branches of tho service containing Instructions on mobilization. Adjutant General Hall has been elected brigadier general of tho na tional guard troops In Nebraska. He received 105 of the 107 votes cast by commissioned officers. Ho now holds the appointive ofllco of adjutant gen eral and the elective ofllco of brigadier general, and Is the youngest person up to this time in tho history of the state to hold such ofllces. Ono of the most successful ,short courses or tho boys' and girls clubs over held at the Nebraska college of agriculture closed Friday, May 1. Young peoplo from a large number of counties came to mako their first visit and to recelvo elementary Instruction concerning seeds, soils, dairying, ani mal husbandry, farm machinery, and homo economics. Co-operative pruning and spraying demonstrations are being made by tho horticultural department of the Ne braska College of Agriculture with many of the farmers of the state. Skilled men nro being sent out from the Unlvoralty Farm who aro at pres ent treating 3,500 trees. In tho conn ties having farm demonstrators tho work Is being done in co-operation with the farm management associations. Five hundred peoplo leave Lincoln every year for Europe or some other foreign country, according to tho esti mates ot railroad and steamship agents. Agents in tho city sell more than ono ticket a day to some travolor going back to the "old country," or off on a sight-seeing tour of tho world. All year round people leave ior the seaports to embark for some Jand across seas. Farmers and townsmen nro showing more, than ordinary alacrity this year In their purchase of automobiles. Records at the ofnee of tho secretary of state show that tho total number of registrations In Nebraska, Includ ing several thousand motorcycles, has reached 51,355. April 24 a total of 120 automobiles wero registered and on April 30 and May 1 a total ot 153 cara were licensed. Educational trust funds of Nebraska have accumulated almost to tho $10, 000,000 point, according to tho monthly report of Stato Treasurer George at the closo of business? for April. Tho total amount In theso funds Is $1.GG1, 904, and moro thnn four fifths or this belongs to tho permauont school fund. Thoro nro four other runds In the class doslgnntod, known respectively as permanent university, agricultural college, university building nnd nor mal ondowment funds. Revenues collected by the state pf Nebraska from tho occupation tax levied upon corporations doing busi ness for profit will bo doubled this year, ns compared with 1913, on nc count of tho Potts law, enacted by tho legislature a year ago, which creates a now sliding Bcalo multiplying tho tax upon tho largest companies. A year ago tho stnto derlvod $00,000, In cluding penalties, from this source; this year tho tncomo rrom corporation tnx Is estimated at not less than $125,000. Acting under n decision ot tho at torney general's department Dr P. K Hall, Row A. L, Weathorly and Rev. II II. Harmon, members of tho board for the enre of dependant children, have turned ovor their burdens to tho stnto board of control, comprising ox Governor Silas R. Holcomb, Judge Howard Kennedy and Henry Qerdes. STATE BOARD ISSUER WARNING FARMERS URGED TO ENFORCE EFFECTIVE QUARANTINE ON CHOLERA. GOSSIP FROM STATE CAPITAL Item of Interest Gathered from Re- liable Sources and Presented In Condensed Form to Our Reader. Wentorn Newspaper Union Ncwb Scrvlo. Serum, tho prevention of hog chol era and the precautions to bo taken by farmers is tho subject of warnings being emphasized by the state board of directors. Farmers are urged to en force an effcctlvo quarantine when cholera breaks out on a farm. It Is n mistake, It is claimed, to neglect sanl tnry precautions and to roly wholly on serum. Tho serum Is useful, not so much to euro sick hogs, as to prevent other animals from taking tho disease. Tho following precautionary meas ures are necessary: "Do not locate hog lots near a public highway, a stream or a railroad. "Do not allow neighbors or strangers to enter your hog lots and do not go Into your neighbors' lots. If you aro compolled to pass from ono hog lot to another, clean your shoes and wash them with a 8 per cent solution of the compound solution of crosol. "Do not put new stock, either hogs or cattle, In lots with herd already on tho tarm. "If hog cholera breaks out, separate tho sick from the apparently healthy animals nnd burn tho carcasses of all dead hogs on tho day of death. "If hog cholera appears on tho farm notify tho stato vetorinarlan at once. "Serum Is furnished from tho state agricultural college. Tho department or agriculture does not distribute serum direct to tanners." Officials Deeply Puzzled. Stato officials aro deeply puzzled over tho manner in which tho univer sity location proposition should bo submitted to votera this fall. The form meeting with tho greatest ap proval thus far, but which Is not alto gether satisfactory, puts It up in this form: "(A). For removnl of tho university to tho state farm campus." At the end of thjs lino will be a square over which are printed the words, "For re moval to the stato farm." "(B). For extension of tho univer sity on tho present campus." At the end of this line will bo a square ovor which are printed the words, "Against removal to the stato farm." Tho aim is toward simplicity. The officials want to avoid the least con fusion in the matter. Tho question has been raised with regard to the above form, that if the largost vote Is cast "against removal to the state farm." that the proposition B, provid ing "for extension or tho present cam pus," might not bo held to have car ried. On tho other hand, if the squares for the crosses of tho voters are la beled "for removal" and "for exten sion," respectively, the officials be lieve the proposition will not bo as simply stated as It should. Aboriginal Implements. Nebraska university museum has been furthor enriched by another con signment of aboriginal implemonta from eastern Nebraska's underground house ruins rrom R. F. Gilder or Om aha, which have arrived at tho state muoseum. The objects contained in tho shipment comprise an exception ally flno lot ot decorated pot rims, bone and stone implements, shell spoons, digging tools manufactured rrom the shoulder blades ot buffalo, bone needles and punches, arrow heads, a large assortment of stone knives and blades, grooved and nn grooved stone axes, peculiar In design to tho builders ot tho underground houses, sandstone implements for smoothing tho ahart or arrows and spears. The shipment or specimens just received at the stato museum U tho last of tho material secured by Mr. Glldor last year while acting as archeologlst in tho field for tho uni versity and Is considered a splendid addition to tho anthropological collec tions which have made the institution famous. Duncan McEwan or Chicago, a rep resentative ot tho company now oper ating a chair and turnlturo ractory at tho state penltontlnry, has offered the plant for sale to tho stato upon tho expiration of tho contract under which It Is now operating. The contract will not expire for about ono year. At the present time, fifty men aro employed in tno factory. A law passed by the lost legislature does away with tho working of tho Inmates on contraat labor following tho expiration of the present contract. Tl o State Insurance company of Omaha has arranged with the state lnsurnnco commission for leave to re insure Its business with tho National Flro company ot Hartford, Conn. Food Commissioner Hannan la sending out a bulletin to Ico cream manufacturers, calling their attention to tho lcnl requirement that ordinary Ice cream must contain not less than 1-1 per cent of butter fnt, and fruit ico cream at least 12 per cont. Artificial flavors must bo labeled on tho con tulners of Ico cream whenovor they aro. used. The containers must also show tho net contents. This does not apply to packages sold by a retailor. Tho bulletin also directs the notico of manufacturers to the sanitary re quirements of tho law.