San Joaquin Light & Power Company (Locke M-4425, M-2430)

[Trade Journal]

Publication: The Journal of Electricity, Power and Gas

San Francisco, CA, United States
vol. 28, no. 19, p. 415-452, col. 1-2

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SAN JOAQUIN LIGHT & POWER CORPORATION

By Rudolph W. Van Norden

Member A. I. E. E.. A. S. C. E.

 

The San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation of today is a natural evolution of one of the first long distance transmission systems to he built; in fact the first system to transmit electricity for power a distance of 36 miles.

 

 

 

 

The use of water from the streams of the Sierra Nevada under high head for the supply of power to operate gold mines is but part of the history of California, but the transmission of this power for use in the cities of the valleys, remained eighteen years ago as a great problem to be solved by the electrical engineer, backed by the indomitable will and courage of those who were destined to become the pioneers of a tremendous commercial awakening.

In 1896 the old "San Joaquin" plant was placed in operation. Comment of every degree was offered, not only on the boldness of such a transmission but on the daring of the development itself, due to the great head under which the pipe line and water wheels operated. This pioneer plant was operated for a period of fifteen years, while the system in passing through many stages of increased size and usefulness finally demanded its replacement by something more modern and efficient. In 1911, upon the completion of a greater power house, the old San Joaquin No. 1 passed into history.

Originally the system consisted of a transmission for the commercial light and power supply in the city of Fresno. In 1900 this was extended to Hanford, where power was sold to a local company. In 1902 the company, through a sequence of adverse local conditions, became financially embarrassed and was sold to a new company, composed of men, themselves pioneers in the field of electric transmission.

These men, Wm. G. Kerckhoff and A. C. Balch, assumed control December 1, 1902, and A. G. Wishon was made general manager in May, 1903. The first two were connected with the Pacific Light & Power Corporation, as president and general manager, the latter being one of the originators and a part owner of the Mt. Whitney Power Company.

Mr. Kerckhoff's interest in electric power was a natural sequence of good business training and fore-sight as to the future possibilities of the southern districts of California. In 1879 he became interested in lumber and organized a company which built a mill, this industry playing an important part in the development of Los Angeles. In the course of time a chain of docks was established and a great shipping business developed. In 1898, together with A. C. Balch, Mr. Kerckhoff organized the San Gabriel Electric Company. This was destined to become the nucleus of the great Pacific Light & Power Corporation, of which Mr. Kerckhoff is now president and Mr. Balch vice-president and general manager.

In 1902 the opportunity of acquiring the San Joaquin property, then bankrupt, and the perception of its immense possibilities prompted the formation by these men of the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation.

Mr. Balch as an engineer realized the feasibility of the plan which has now been established, and the story of this company, together with the subsequent development, until now a territory of 20,000 square miles is served, is one of exciting interest. A. C. Balch is closely associated with the early development of power transmission. Upon graduating from Cornell University in 1889 with the degrees of M.E and E.E., he went to Seattle, Wash., there becoming a member of the engineering firm of Baker, Balch & Co., but later became manager of the home Electric Company. This was consolidated with several other companies, to form the Union Electrical Company, of which he also was manager for a period of two years. In 1891 he became manager of the Union Power Company at Portland, Oregon, and here built a steam plant near the mill of the Northern Pacific Lumber Company, which for a time supplied all of the power to the local railway system. In 1896 he became associated with Wm. G. Kerckhoff in Los Angeles and in this year built the Azusa plant now a part of the Pacific Light & Power Corporation. In 1902 with Mr. Kerckhoff he financed the purchase of the San Jacinto Company. This deal was the culmination of a sequence of events caused by the pioneer struggle to develop and transmit power for pumping and thus developing a hitherto barren district. Mr. Balch has now many other large electric, gas and water interests.

As a real estate dealer in Visalia, Mr. Wishon foresaw the enormous possibilities to be derived from irrigating land suitable to orange growing about Exeter and Lindsay and set about to devise means to do so. Much of this land, now almost priceless, was bought for $15.00 per acre and much sold at a substantial profit. A plan to build a canal to carry water from the Kaweah River cost all he had and more, and, though unsuccessful, only served as a spur to determination.

After innumerable disappointments and many delays, Mr. Wishon made a sale of real estate netting $4000 and with this Wm. Hammond journeyed to England with the hope of financing the new project, through an introduction to a powerful syndicate by his brother. An elaborate prospectus had been prepared as there were then 25 steam-driven pumping plants for the irrigation of orange groves. The result of this trip abroad was to interest his brother, John Hays Hammond, in the project, and he agreed to furnish the necessary capital, offering Mr. Wishon and Wm. Hammond a fifth interest. This offer was accepted and a promise was made that within one month the money would be ready.

So eager was Mr. Wishon that he immediately visited all existing plants to learn if possible the manner in which the new problem of power transmission was being handled. With a good understanding of the primary principles but without financial aid or advice, he went into the mountains and rented mules from the Sanger Lumber Company, bought timber and hauled 1,000,000 feet of sawn redwood timber to the power site, to be used in the construction of a flume. Working in a frenzy of eagerness, sleeping under wagons and spending $15,000 of money furnished by himself, he completed six miles of flume. Meanwhile the power plant was constructed with all abiding faith of an eagerly waiting market.

But steam pumps were doing the work successfully,—arguments. cajolery, all, were of no avail. A mass meeting of farmers was held to hear reasons for the adoption of the new power, but without results it looked as if the builders of the plant really were dreamers, and that they had only a white elephant as a tragic ending of their hopes. There was some lighting business, it is true, and the steam plant in Visalia with its business had been purchased, hut it did not begin to pay expenses.

Then there was an idea—a big idea. A few farmers were approached and told that the company would install the motor and equipment for pumping without charge, if satisfied the farmer could pay for the outfit in six annual installments and 6 per cent interest, that the company would connect to existing pumps and if not satisfactory there would be no obligation. He had already told his plan to a Visalia banker and asked for a loan of $25,000 to buy pumps and equipment. Again he was laughed at. But a dozen farmers agreed to the plan and armed with the signed agreements he made application for the loan from a San Francisco hanker with whom he was successful. The starting of the first pump was a great event. hut it was a sad day for the jeerers.

Within a year all twenty-five plants for which the loan provided had been installed and the company was more than paving expenses. The next year was one of rapid growth. Thus it was that A. G. Wishon emerged from a purely commercial pursuit, one of the pioneers of electric transmission development. In 1903 Mr. Wishon took the management of the newly formed San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation and together with and under the direction of Mr. Kerckhoff and Mr. Balch was destined to transform much of the San Joaquin Valley, a vast semi-arid waste, into a gigantic garden for the support of millions of souls.

SOME 20,000 square miles embraced in the great San Joaquin Valley, the southern half of the great central valley of California, are served by this company. This territory extends from Merced on the north in a southeasterly direction for 200 miles and from the Sierra Nevada mountains on the east to the Coast Range on the west, a distance of 75 miles. Included in its scope are the counties of Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Monterey, equal to the combined areas of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Throughout this expanse there is not a section that is not or cannot be reached by electric wires.

There are a number of flourishing cities, two of them, Fresno of 40,000 and Bakersfield, of 20,000 population. But this, except as evidence of prosperity, is not an indication of the resources of this region, for it is the rural and mineral districts that give greatest promise in the cultivation of the fertile soil or the freeing from nature's treasure house, its wealth of liquid fuel.

The power system is operated in two main divisions. The northern with its nucleus at Fresno, covers a great and fertile agricultural district, and, reaching high into the Sierra Nevada mountains, embraces the two principal hydroelectric power plants on the San Joaquin River which ordinarily supply a large part of the current for the entire network. The southern division includes the Kern and Midway oil fields, the city of Bakersfield, where the office and directing head of this division are situated, and a great sweep of country, at present largely undeveloped, but whose potentialities can only he appreciated by viewing what has already been done by the application of water and then imagining the hundreds of sections and even townships which stand ready to produce as bountifully at the will of man.

 

 

The district about Fresno has long been known for its marvelous fertility, and illustrates what can be done by irrigation from the rivers. The city is one of wide shaded streets, handsomely built business blocks with many imposing public buildings of steel and stone, strong banking houses and large mercantile enterprises of varied character; in short presenting every evidence of unusual and well distributed wealth. For miles around, but particularly to the east of the city, are thousands of acres of vineyards which supply the great wineries and raisin driers for whose products this district is world-famed. To the north is the large park which was given to the city some six years ago, under the provision that $200,000 be spent in its Improvement. This has resulted in an arboretum which any city many times the size of Fresno might justly envy. The sight which visitors are shown with greatest pride is the Kearny Drive, a magnificent avenue leading seven miles from the city, to a great country estate and lined on both sides with giant palmettos behind which stand stately eucalyptus trees.

 

 

To the north, after crossing the San Joaquin River into Madera County, is a country equally susceptible of cultivation, but less developed because of the lack of irrigation possibilities. Here then, is where the opportunity for motor pumping becomes more evident. For water is almost at the surface and many a conservative farmer, who required a lot of "showing," is now irrigating his six crops of alfalfa and reliable fancy fruit trees, where, not so long ago he raised a crop of wheat,—if it happened to be a "good year"—and he has become the best boosting advertisement for the sale of power that can be obtained. These conditions embrace the district to the northernmost limit at Merced and extend across the valley so as to take in the west side towns of Los Banos, Dos Palos, and Mendota. Between these towns and the Coast Range is an immense area of gently sloping land capable of the highest cultivation. Water on the west side, however, is not so easily obtained as in the center of the valley or the east side. A pumping project, which will require 14,000 h.p. in large units and which will draw water from the river bottom lands is now being undertaken to distribute it over this section.

 

 

 

South from Fresno, through Fowler, Selma, Kingsburg and then easterly through Dinuba, Exeter, Visalia and Lindsey to Porterville, a veritable garden of Eden is disclosed—all through the touch of Nature's magic wand—water. In many of these sections the electric distributing lines become a network following crossroads and lanes, for the well-to-do farmer,—and they are all of this class,—must have electricity, not alone to drive the pumps, but for a generous domestic use.

 

 

Nearing the foothills and extending well up on their slopes are the orange orchards, not in isolated patches. but in solid ranks, mile after mile as far as the eye can reach. It is here that the possibilities of irrigation are most vividly illustrated. For there are many problems, each differing in the manner and method of handling the water but all dependent upon the ever-ready motor. The future possibility of this country is nowhere better shown than here; for this orange producing soil extends in a solid unbroken strip, five to ten miles wide and one hundred and fifty miles long following the Sierra Nevada foothills, past and beyond Bakersfield to the end of the valley, where meet the two mountain ranges which bound it.

The great valley itself, in a strip fifty miles wide, is equally ready for cultivation, and, with the exception of the west side, water is at or near the surface.

This vast area is suitable for the cultivation of alfalfa and fruit, particularly the former as it is a crop easily cultivated and always profitable. Below Lake Tulare there are already several colonies of settlers who within the space of three or four years have reclaimed land which heretofore had been considered but a desert waste. At their limits may be seen vivid examples of this cultivation, on the one side a knee-deep field of alfalfa, verdant and luxuriant, on the other a sparse growth of sage on an otherwise bare plain. In one district below Bakersfield, through which the lines are now built, there is said to be as much land available for fancy orange culture as is at present planted to orange groves throughout the State of California.

The northern and southern division networks are connected through a main transmission line, following the general southeasterly direction of the valley, passing to the west of Lake Tulare, through the McKittrick, Midway and Maricopa oil fields, and thence to Bakersfield. The branch lines of the northern division on the east side and similar circuits running north from the southern division practically meet, but there is now under construction a second main transmission line from north to south which will pass down the east side.

 

 

The other branch of the available power market is the supply for operating the pumps, derricks and drills in the oil fields; a business that, ten years ago the lay mind would have thought an idle dream, but now becoming more and more a stern reality, taxing the resources of the company in every direction to supply. The probability of a thirty horsepower installation at each of four thousand existing and operating oil wells furnishes food for much reflection.

Bakersfield is a city which has received its impetus in growth since the discovery of fuel oil. Like Fresno, it is well planned, with a substantial commercial section and strong business enterprises. The surrounding territory, not being in the state of complete cultivation which is true of Fresno, does not afford such great wealth to the city from agricultural pursuits. But the potential values are everywhere evident and the suburban development is as well assured as are the products of the soil when electric current is the medium of raising the underground water. A great sum of money has been invested by the power company in anticipation of the future development of this district and the wisdom of so doing becomes more and more evident as time unfolds.

The southern division boasts of one hydroelectric plant at the mouth of the canyon of the Kern River. This is the smallest of the hydraulic plants but it has done faithful duty since the early days of long distance transmission.

In Bakersfield is the steam auxiliary plant, the standby for the system. This new installation is modern and complete and offers an unfailing source of power in the event of failure of the transmitted power.

The company will eventually build two additional hydroelectric plants on the San Joaquin River. It also owns water rights on the Tule River, and a new plant is under construction. These, together with existing installations, will aggregate 100,000 h.p.

Outside of this territory the company furnishes power at wholesale to other companies, all of which except the Tulare Power Company are owned and controlled by interests coinciding with those of this company. These include Coalinga and the surrounding oil district, Paso Robles, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, San Miguel Stone Canyon and Santa Margarita, and add to the directly operated territory about 7000 square miles.

Business of the Company.

Covering such a vast region as does this system it is natural to expect that many different forms of power consuming enterprises will present a varied market for the sale of power. To the outsider, tin-acquainted with the wonderful possibilities of the territory covered, it may seem strange at first thought that a scattered score of small cities could offer a market for twenty-five thousand horsepower with an assured future prospect of several times this amount. Let the observer, however, see a few of the irrigating pumping plants surrounded by the magic results of their operation, or, visit the oil-fields with their countless derricks, each one of which, if not already supplied with electric current, is a probable future customer, the wisdom and foresight shown in the conception of this system and the enormous market possibility cannot but be forcibly impressed upon the most conservative mind. For it is from these two great industries that the system can draw its business. Of course there are many other industries forming a part of the market, of a more conventional nature, either in existence or in project, railroads, rock-crushers, mills, factories and immense ice-making plants, to say nothing of lighting and domestic service. But the steady pumping loads of thousands of motors ranging from 20 to 150 h.p., form the backbone of the load and make a business which, fifteen years ago was scarcely conceived.

 

 

Pumping for Water Supply.

A description of the lands suitable for irrigation from wells has been given, but a description of the methods in various localities may be interesting. One of the most striking illustrations of the efficiency of electric pumping may be had in the intensely cultivated districts on the immediate north, south and east of Fresno. This district has perhaps the most complete and comprehensive system of irrigation canals in the state, into which water is diverted from the Kings River. Even with this system, there are lands which are not reached by these canals and it is here that pumping from wells with electric motors has shown highly favorable results in comparison with the cost from canals and with the added advantage of having water free from weed bearing seeds which are likely to be distributed from the canals.

 

 

Throughout the San Joaquin Valley, except on the western slope, the sub-surface flow is never at a great depth. In the upper section of the territory, extending from the foothills, to and beyond the center of the valley, an unfailing supply of water is found at a depth of 15 to 30 ft. From the San Joaquin River, south to Lake Tulare, the water is often within two or three feet of the surface, and in the district about Corcoran, there are a number of flowing artesian wells.

 

 

There is seldom any question as to the fertility of the soil except, perhaps, in a few restricted sections in the center and therefore the lowest points of the valley where alkaline deposits have come to the surface, and these lands may be alternately flooded and drained to leach out the minerals. There is therefore full assurance of abundant crops, having invariably suitable soil and an ample supply of pure water.

 

 

 

In the northern and eastern sections of the territory may be found the conventional pumping plants, every ready for their duty of irrigation. The arrangement and size depends on the surface grade and the area to be irrigated. In many cases two or more wells supply water for a single pump; in many cases but one well is sufficient. These plants are quite similar and comprise two types. One is the direct connected motor-pump, in which the motor and single stage centrifugal pump are mounted together on a common cast iron base, the unit being placed at the bottom of a pit at practically the standing surface of water. The other form is, as a rule, more or less temporary in character and consists of a centrifugal pump with vertical shaft, placed in a sump at the water level, the driving motor being belted to a pulley on the pump shaft.

 

 

A typical farm equipment of the first named class consists of a concrete lined pit, 8 x 12 ft., with 8 in. walls, in which are imbedded steel I beams with L braces for stiffness. The floor of the pit is 27 ft. below the ground surface. There are two wells 4 ft. apart opening into this pit and between them is placed the pumping unit which consists of a Westinghouse 20 h.p. 3-phase induction motor, direct connected to a No. 6 centrifugal pump. Over the pit is erected a neat wooden house which contains the controller, switch and meter. The pole structure nearby carries three 7-1/2 kw. 6600/440 volt transformers, these are star connected on the primary side to the 10,000 volt lines. In providing service of this order, the company assembles and arranges the outfit in accordance with the standards adopted for the system and makes the installation for the customer. The latter pays outright for the pumping unit, the transformers and the section of transmission line which it may be necessary to build from one of the distributing lines. In building a line into a certain locality, the determined as nearly as is possible, and the line is located so that the least possible burden of cost will fall on the customer for his line.

In the plant described above, 1025 gal. per minute are delivered against a head of 42 ft., the vacuum being 14 ft. This requires 18.8 h.p. measured at the motor, which shows an efficiency for the pump of somewhat over 60 per cent.

The cost to the company of installing a rig of this sort, including the hanging of the transformers and making all connections is about $75.

Following is a list of material and costs of a standard pumping equipment:

 

 

In the district adjoining the hills south of Bakersfield, deep well conditions are met. The land is un-usually fertile and with water is particularly suitable for orange culture. The deep well pumps are of the plunger type, the pump cylinders being placed in the well below the water surface. The plunger is operated with a vertical motion by a bell-crank or walking-beam, which in turn is moved in its reciprocating motion from a crank mounted at the end of a counter shaft. To this counter-shaft is belted the driving motor. The whole is enclosed in a suitable wooden house. One of these pumps near Edison operates a well 175 ft. deep; the motor is a Westinghouse, type CCL, 40 h.p. The pump delivers 61 miners' inches (statute) of water equivalent to a flow of 1:22 cu. ft. per second. This will irrigate 320 acres of land at the plant level. The power bill amounts to $5.00 per acre per year, allowing one miners' inch to the acre and four irrigation per year. Still other pumps raise water from streams discharging into irrigation canals.

 

 

While there are hundreds of these plants installed throughout the territory, with many times the number to be installed as the population increases and the great expanses of uncultivated lands are developed, there are in project irrigation developments on a wholesale scale which will require large blocks of power.

 

 

On the west of Lake Tulare, is an enormous district of 175,000 acres. It is apparently arid and desert land and of little value without water. There is no substratum of water near enough the surface for economical pumping. Plans have been perfected to pump water from Lake Tulare into a system of irrigating canals, leaving at all times an area of water in the lake of 25,000 acres as a reservoir. This supply is to be supplemented by wells on the east side of Kings River. This will supply abundant moisture for the entire 175,000 acres, will be highly feasible and economical and will require 14,000 h.p. to raise and distribute the flow.

 

 

There are already throughout the valley a number of colonies which pump water in large quantities and distribute it throughout the holdings. At the Alpaugh Colony pumps, about 30 miles northwest of Bakersfield, there are seven wells. Each of these wells is equipped with a unit comprising a 20 h.p. induction motor driving a 7 to 8 in. centrifugal pump. Each pump delivers 1500 gal. per min. into a common canal. This carries the water eleven miles to the Alpaugh colony where it is raised 7 feet by a 50 h.p. motor-pump into distributing canals and thereby does duty in irrigating 8000 acres of what is now most productive land. The cost of this irrigation to the colonists is $1.25 per acre per year.

Another vast project is the irrigation of a section containing 250,000 acres west of Mendota, on the west side of the valley. It is proposed to install two pumping plants with units of 500 h.p. to pump from and drain the land adjacent to Kerman, the water being raised by a myriad of 15 h.p. well plants, raising the water to a level sufficient for distribution over the area. This will require altogether about 8000 horsepower.

A very interesting use of water from a small pumping plant is illustrated in an orange ranch near Porterville, on which the Skinner system of overhead irrigation is used. In this system galvanized wrought iron pipe is carried through the tops of the orange trees, a line of pipe for every other row of trees; it is supported 8 ft. above ground on 4 x 4 in. redwood poles. Suitable valves are provided so that water may be supplied to any row of pipe at will and the joints are so arranged that the line of pipe may be turned to throw the spray in any direction desired with reference to wind and sun. Holes for the nozzles are drilled in the pipe every four feet and Y4 in. brass nozzle bushings are screwed into these holes. These nozzles are drilled in three sizes, depending upon the amount of irrigation desired, the smallest hole being not much larger than a horsehair.

In the ranch in question the equipment on one 10-acre sidehill tract is 180 ft. of 1-1/2 in. galvanized pipe, 180 ft. 1-1/4 in., 170 ft. 1 in. and 100 ft. of 3/4 in. The lift of the sidehill is 32 ft. The well supplying water for this installation develops 10 miners' in. of water. It is found that it is possible to irrigate 30 acres at a time. The system cost $150 per acre to install outside of the cost of pump and well plant.

The pumping plant is a 40 h.p. induction motor direct connected to a centrifugal pump placed at the bottom of a stave line pit 22 ft. below the ground surface. The actual power required to deliver 100 in. of water is 34.92 h.p.

The power bill for irrigating 155 acres as at present installed is $144 per month. This figure can probably be lessened as the equipment is increased and the plant becomes more systematized. This method of irrigation has a number of advantages. The water is delivered at a temperature of 65 degrees. This is a good frost preventative as the trees may be kept at near this temperature on cold winter nights. It is necessary to cultivate the ground but once a year and that when fertilizing. Clover may be planted between the orange trees successfully and this is being done.

When this system was first installed the fruit output was two boxes per tree per year. At the present time the crop is three and one-half boxes of fancy fruit. An increase of two boxes per tree pays for the plant the first year. The owner states that it is his full belief within the next three or four years by the use of this system the crop will become ten boxes per tree.

 

 

Oil Pumping.

The possibility of operating oil wells and derricks with electric motors in place of the steam engines used in common practice opened an enormous opportunity for the disposal of electric current.

The five oil fields in the San Joaquin Valley have about 4000 oil wells. This number is constantly in-creasing and while wells gradually become pumped out others are brought in in greater numbers.

The conventional operation of oil wells is so well standardized that any new method or system which might be a radical improvement in operating methods has been extremely difficult of introduction, and the conservatism of operators has been an almost insurmountable obstacle for the electric company to overcome, notwithstanding every advantage in favor of electric operation.

There are a number of glaring disadvantages in the use of steam engines. Principally among these are the low efficiency of the engine, the extreme losses in the transmission of steam, which are aggravated during cold weather, the higher cost of attendance, the almost prohibitive cost of water, and a very great depreciation, especially in the boilers.

 

 

All of these features are obviated in the use of motor drives. The costly boiler plant and water distributing system is eliminated, the efficiency of machinery is at the highest point and there are no transmission losses. During cold weather, when there is danger of uncertain operation by the engine due to condensation in the steam pipes, there is a liability of buckling the pump rods, and where there is a sudden increase in the steam pressure there is the danger of breaking the rods. These dangers are greatly lessened with electric drive as temperature conditions have practically no effect upon its operation.

In the Coalinga field a set of boiler tubes seldom last over six months, due to the nature of the water available. Throughout this field it has been shown that the cost of operation, including depreciation and overhead expense, with electric drive will average 40 per cent less than with steam engines. In some isolated cases this has been shown to be as much as 60 or 70 per cent.

The only competitor in point of cost of operation with the electric motor is by the use of a gas engine supplied with natural gas from the wells. The actual cost of operation is about the same. The cost of the installation, however, is somewhat greater. After eight months operation the depreciation costs of the gas engine plant begin to increase and shortly bring the costs of operation to a much higher figure. After an electric plant is installed, there is practically no depreciation.

There are also no standby losses, the expense of running the plant ceasing when it is not operating. The standby losses in the steam plant are very large and form a serious factor in the general cost of operation.

In the Coalinga field the following example of operating cost cover the supply to a group of wells of two-boiler plants having 12 boilers.

 

 

Total cost of electrical operation for above case, $715.25.

It is actually figured in this district that the cost of electricity for pumping a well is $1.00 per well per day. The cost of the motor equipment in comparison to the steam equipment is startling. A 30/10 h.p. variable speed motor with 3-10 kw. transformers and all connections will amount to about $800. The boiler outfit and piping for a steam plant alone will cost $1200.

The development of the motor drive has been the result of much study on the part of oil well engineers. While different localities require different operating conditions the type of motor and equipment has been fairly well standardized. In pumping, no two wells require the same speed of stroke and the same well may vary not only from time to time, but from hour to hour. Great care must be taken not to overpump and cause the well to "sand up." For this reason a closely graduated variable speed is necessary and it must be possible to control this speed instantly from the derrick. The motor must be capable not only of operating the pump, but also a hoist to be used in drawing the casing and also in drilling and cleaning out. These latter operations require more power than pumping.

 

 

In order that a single motor may operate efficiently with the various kinds of load, which requires about 6 to 8 h.p. while pumping and as high as a momentary pull of 50 or 60 h.p. when hoisting the bailer, when full, in most cases a two-voltage 30 h.p. variable speed motor is employed. The primary winding on this motor is designed for a delta connection, which enables the motor to develop its full power with a possibility of 100 per cent overload. By throwing a 2-way three-pole switch the stator of the motor is connected to the line in star; thus giving it a high efficiency under small loads. A rheostat and street railway controller throw in and out resistance to the secondary circuit, providing the variable speed feature. This controller is operated through an endless chain with a control wheel on the derrick, thereby obtaining the fine graduations of control which can be had from a steam engine. The great difference in speed between the motor shaft and the crank shaft operating the pump beam necessitates an intermediate speed reducing shaft. There are two methods employed to obtain this. One is to introduce a countershaft which necessitates two belts, while the newer and more compact method is a back gear mounted on the motor, thus requiring but one belt between the motor and the crank shaft. The former method however gives the best results due to the flexibility of the belts which allows a cushioning action upon the suddenly applied up-stroke of the pump.

In the Midway and Kern fields where current is supplied directly to the wells by this company, a standard motor equipment assembled at the company's shop in Bakersfield has been adopted. This equipment is efficient and complete and consists of a 440 volt 30/10 h.p. variable speed induction motor equipped with back gear shaft and pulley. The rheostat and controller are mounted together and at the side of the rheostat is a galvanized sheet iron box, with a double hinged door of the same material, the whole lined with asbestos board. Within this box are mounted the main switch, fuses and integrating wattmeter. The incoming wires are brought through steel pipe conduit and the connections between the motor and the control are also in steel pipe conduit. This standard rig costs as follows:

 

 

Many of the wells cannot be operated steadily due to the fact that the oil would be exhausted after a certain period of pumping. These are known as spasmodic wells and are particularly suitable for single motor installation. Where it is possible to operate a group of wells mechanically from one central point a device known as a jack is used. Jack rigs are particularly noticeable in the Kern field and are operated as follows: An induction motor of suitable size, generally about 50 h.p. is belted or geared to a vertical shaft. This shaft extends through the roof of the enclosing building and on its upper extremity are two eccentrics with bands, similar but considerably larger than the eccentrics of a reversible steam engine. Fastened to the bands are steel cables which extend in the various directions of the derricks which are to be operated. The cables terminate in a walking beam or reciprocating bell-crank which operates the plunger rod of the well. The movement of the eccentrics gives a reciprocating motion to all of the cable lines and thus the wells are all pumped from one motor.

With electric drive it will pay to pump a well which will not deliver over six barrels per day, while with steam the cost to operate per day would equal the selling price of ten barrels. There is, of course, a great variation in the amount of oil a well will give, and this in steady flowing wells amounts to as much as 120 barrels per day.

The change from steam to electric driving may be made in a few hours as the transformers can be set and the motor erected often without stopping the engine. The shutdown then only requires the time necessary to change the belting.

 

 

Portable drilling outfits are used by well drillers and can be moved from well to well. This outfit consists of a 30/60 h.p. induction motor with back gear and controller and a special change gear mounted on the same base. With this means drilling can be quickly and efficiently accomplished.

The actual saving in the installation of motor drive in the cost of operation alone will pay for the motor equipment in 18 months.

In the Kern River, Maricopa, Midway and Mc-Kittrick fields there are now installed 155 motors; in the Coalinga field 42 motors. Contracts are signed for additional installations that will more than double this number.

The first motor installed in the Coalinga field was in June, 1910.

The following statement of the average daily record for electric operation in both pumping and drilling of one of the large companies in the Midway field for the month of January, 1912, is as follows:

 

 

Transmission Circuits and Equipment.

FOUR classes of transmission and distributing circuits have been well standardized by the company. For the long distance transmission of power between the power stations and the main points of distribution, 60,000 volt transmission has been adopted. For shorter transmissions and distribution to secondary stations 30,000 volts is used. For the distribution of suburban and town orchard pumping and oil well service 10,000 volts is employed. In some of the larger towns and cities, 2400 Main Transmission Lines. volts is used for distribution, in most cases being a three-wire delta connection from the transformers, but in one or two cases the 2400 volt has been star-connected to give 4125 volts.

Throughout the system all transmission and distribution lines are star-connected from the transformers, the neutrals being grounded.

 

 

A spacing distance for poles on all lines of 15 to 16 to the mile has been adopted after a dozen or more years of experience in this section, as being economical and satisfactory under all conditions of operation. There are, of course, some exceptions to this rule in mountainous or rolling country, but by far the largest proportion of lines is in country which is practically level.

The main 60,000 volt transmission lines are mounted on 50 ft. round Washington fir poles. The wires form an equilateral triangle, two of them being at the extremities of the single cross-arm, the third wire being at the top of the pole, mounted on a malleable iron pin. Steel pins are used with lead and porcelain thimbles and standard Locke insulators. The cross-arm is fastened to the pole by the usual gain and a ¾ in. galvanized U-bolt which passes around the pole. In the mountains where trouble has been experienced by eagles in short-circuiting the lines, a novel construction, of mounting two of the insulators directly on the pole, one or either side, is being tried.

 

 

Where the circuits cross a railroad track or other wires, whether telegraph, telephone or power, a novel type of grounded cradle is used. This consists of a structural steel frame extending out from the pole a short distance below the lowest wires of the circuit. At the extremity of this cradle is a U-shaped guard to which the ground connection is made. The poles are so placed that should a wire break at any point it will fall on this cradle and be grounded and at the same time fall free from any possible contact with foreign wires.

Guying is resorted to in the ordinary manner, a wooden insulator being slipped over the guy from its point of contact with the ground for a distance up of about 12 ft. In guying fore and aft, a sling is used which is fastened near the extremities of the cross-arm but just inside of the insulator pins. Either end of this sling terminates in a galvanized ring to which the guying cables are fastened.

Both copper and aluminum wire is used on the 60,000 volt transmission lines. From the power station to the Henrietta sub-station No. 0 copper is used. From Henrietta to Bakersfield No. 000 seven-strand aluminum is used, except where entering substations, all entrance wires being of copper.

 

 

A very successful pole-type cut out for 10,000 volt circuits, mounted whenever a branch is taken from a main line, has been developed and is used exclusively by the company. This consists of a porcelain tube through which passes a fuse wire, mounted on a wooden stick either end of which has a copper blade. The blades engage jaws mounted on insulators, which in turn are held to the arm by a steel bent pin. At the center of the wooden bar on the under side is a threaded socket. In operation the lineman at some distance below all circuits inserts a long stick, the end of which has a male thread and draws the bar and fuse downward to disengage it.

 

 

This device is simple and positive and costs to manufacture complete, $1.80.

The construction for the 30,000 volt circuits is in two forms. On some of the main lines feeding at this voltage, comprising the older part of the system, it is quite similar to that just described; except that the triangle is somewhat smaller. The more modern construction, which has been adopted on all of the newer lines and is now standard, is for 40 ft. poles. There is a single cross-arm placed at the top of the pole. This arm carries three insulators; one at each extremity and one in the center. The method of guying and providing for crossing foreign wires is similar to that used on the 60,000 volt lines, but somewhat smaller in general dimensions.

 

 

 

The 10,000 volt distribution circuits are mounted on 35 and 40 ft. round poles, and have a single four-pin cross-arm. Three of the pins carry the three wires of the circuit. The fourth, which is invariably an outside wire, is the ground wire, being the grounded neutral of the system. This arrangement has been found necessary as it is difficult in many places to procure a good ground. It also saves the cost of constructing a ground connection at every transformer set. On both the 30,000 and the 10,000 volt circuits copper is used exclusively.

On the 10,000 volt distribution circuits, where there is no possible chance of extension, four No. 8 hard-drawn copper wires are used. For lateral lines there is a possibility of extension over a comparatively smaller territory three No. 6 and one No. 8 ground wire are used. On main feeders three No. 4 and one No. 6 wires are used, all being of hard-drawn copper.

To illustrate the difficulty of procuring ground connections for transformers in the west side oil field district from Maricopa on the south, through the Midway field to McKittrick on the north, a distance of 25 miles, there are but two ground connections, one at Midway and one at McKittrick. The ground connection at Midway is a 2000 ft. well in which a large quantity of charcoal was placed, but in which it is necessary to occasionally pour water to keep the ground in effective condition.

Standard insulators adopted for the various types of line are as follows:

 

 

The costs and specifications of the various types of line are carefully kept by the company and tabulated in such a form that it is an easy matter for the company's business agent to figure quickly the proper cost of making an extension to a new customer. The cost of a main section of 10,000 volt distribution is as follows:

 

 

 

Telephone wires are carried on all lines on a two-pin arm under the power wires. The telephone wires are No. 8 hard-drawn copper and on the transmission lines are provided with taps running down the pole so that a patrolman may cut into the line at stated points. The telephone equipment is of a high class, built to order by the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company and are standard bridging sets of various resistance from 1600 to 2500 ohms, depending upon the location of the instrument. Insulated stands are provided at every telephone instrument. The telephones are mounted upon iron pipe frames and are in many cases equipped with a marble panel switchboard for operating upon the various lines.

In operating a telephone system in conjunction with high tension transmission, there is always more or less interference from the inductive effect of the high tension current. This is especially true if there is any unbalancing of the high tension circuits or accidental ground on the telephone circuit. This problem of inductive disturbance to telephone lines has been a bug-bear to all transmission companies, but this company has overcome the difficulty to a great extent in a novel manner.

 

 

At terminal points a standard 3 kw. 2000 volt lightning transformer is introduced between the tele-phone wires before leaving the last pole. The primary winding of the transformer is bridged across the telephone circuit. The center point of the winding is carried to ground. The secondary winding is left open. This grounding coil serves to remove all static potential from the telephone circuit without in any way interfering with the clearness of speech. Between these transformers and the telephone instrument are inserted fuses placed in porcelain tubes as an added safety. This plan has worked admirably under all conditions for a number of years and seems to have satisfactorily solved the telephone difficulties for this system.

 

 

At all of the secondary substations where not over 30,000 volts is received, are placed General Electric, Wirts carbon resistance lightning arresters.

On the 60,000 volt circuits at principal switching points are placed General Electric outdoor type aluminum cell lightning arresters with horn discharge gaps.

A comprehensive system of distribution in the oil well sections is often made possible in the feeding of a group of wells from the fact that oil wells are generally placed with some regularity, about 50 ft. inside of the property lines, these in many cases being on quarter section lines. The accompanying cut shows half of a typical oil well distribution system to 22 or more wells.

 

 

 

 

In rural districts where the business of the company is both the supply of power for pumping water and for lighting and domestic purposes, if the district is sufficiently populous, a system of distributing lines along the road, which generally follow every section line, is used. It has been found that where service was introduced into a section, even against the prejudice of the inhabitants, it has been eagerly adopted not only for lighting, but for every conceivable domestic service which electric current can be put to; ironing, operating sewing machines, electric fans, washing machines, curling irons and even cooking.

 

 

Within the cities the conventional pole distribution is used for both 2400 volt 2 or 3-phase circuits and also series arc circuits. Where possible the lines are carried through alleys between the streets. This is particularly the case in Bakersfield, and here 60 ft. poles are used in the business section of the city. A standard type of transformer mounting is employed. The 2400 volt lines are carried on an arm at the top of the pole. About half way down the pole are the arms carrying the transformers and the fuse blocks are mounted on a separate arm below the transformers. The leads from the lines are brought down to the fuse blocks and then carried back to the trans-formers. This enables a trouble man to open the fuse blocks and insert new fuses without danger of coming near primary wires.

Series arc systems are invariably used with 6.6 ampere alternating current. There has recently been installed in Bakersfield a new street lighting system, using magnetite luminous arc lamps in series on direct current. The General Electric type M.S. regulator with a mercury arc rectifier, the primary voltage 2200 and rectified voltage 4500 with current of 4 amp., is used at the substation for control of this circuit. Arc circuits are brought out of the substations underground in lead-covered cable and carried to the top of the first pole, standard outlet bushings being used at the top of the pole.

Pole Treating Plant.

During the past years of operation, one of the most serious of the depreciation charges is for the replacement or repair of decaying pole butts. In 1908 a systematic study of this subject was begun with the idea of eventually correcting or preventing the trouble if possible. The poles in use were native redwood, cedar and yellow pine and Washington fir. During this year a line 30 miles long of native yellow pine poles was set after being thoroughly seasoned. Part of the poles were given a brush treatment of carbolineum and with creosote, the remainder received an open tank treatment of creosote, zinc chloride or crude oil. Stubs of untreated timber were set at intervals along the line for the purpose of comparative observation. In June, 1910, after a period of 27 months the line was inspected with the result that the untreated stubs were found to be completely rotted. The brush treated were found to be in a greater or less condition of decay, those treated with crude oil being in somewhat better condition than those given the carbolineum or creosote coat. About, one-quarter of the poles given the zinc chloride treatment showed signs of decay while 50 per cent of the entire line which received the open tank creosote treatment were in sound condition.

 

 

On the results of these tests an open tank creosote treating plant was erected at Fresno in 1911 and all of the poles now used on the system undergo this treatment, but for the butts only.

The plant covers about four acres adjacent to the railroad at the outskirts of the city and comprises a yard for storage of both treated and untreated poles. Poles to be treated are raised with a derrick operated through a double drum hoist by a 15 h.p. Western Electric induction motor. A 50 h.p. tubular boiler furnishes steam for heating the creosote bath. The treating plant consists of two square steel tanks placed at either end of a concrete trough, these are connected by a series of pipes and valves and supplied from large steel storage tanks placed in the rear. The pole which must be dry is lowered into the tank containing hot creosote. This for Washington fir is heated to 212 degrees F. and the pole remains in this bath for four hours. It is then placed in cold oil for an additional period of three hours and the resulting penetration is about three quarters of an inch. With yellow pine the penetration is greater, in some cases extending almost to the center of the pole.

 

 

Hydraulic Development and Power Plants.

THE water supply for the system, as operated at present, is derived from the north fork of the San Joaquin River. This supply comes from the water sheds of two tributaries to the north fork, the north and south. In 1909 it was decided to erect an immense dam at the site of the then existing dam in Crane Valley, this valley being part of the north fork of the stream. There were a number of serious problems to overcome in the construction of so large a Waste Weir No. 3 Canal. dam and the entire matter, together with the reconstruction of the old canal system and of the No. 1 power plant, was placed in the hands of J. G. White & Company of New York.

As completed, this dam has a total length on the top of 1860 ft. The height above the lowest point of the canyon is 150 ft. the crest width of the earth fill section is 30 ft. and of the rock fill section 15 ft. The corewall of 1 to 2-1/2 to 5 concrete extends throughout the length of the dam at its center. On the upstream side of this corewall the dam is a hydraulic earth fill. On the down stream side it is a rock fill construction.

In building the corewall the native granite was thoroughly exposed and a trench was made 10 ft. deep. The concrete was built into this trench and the wall gradually tapered until a width of 2 ft. was obtained at the crest. The batter on the down stream side is 1:50 and on the other side 1:75. The core-wall is reinforced with 1 in. plain square bars at the bottom and these decrease in size until at the top the bars are 3/8 in. Great care was taken that the base of this wall should form an absolutely water tight joint with the native rock.

 

 

In building the hydraulic fill on the up stream side earth suitable for this work was found near the dam. This material consists of coarse disintegrated granite with red clay and adobe, which, when mixed, form a very solid embankment. The impervious clay material was carefully placed next the corewall while the coarser granite material was placed farther out from the wall.

 

 

Water for hydraulic purposes was brought from a point about 6 miles away through ditch and flume and was delivered to the nozzles of the hydraulic giants under a pressure of 150 lb.

A large quarry was developed at the eastern extremity of the dam and rock was transported on trestles from which it was dumped in place in front of the corewall. Much of the rock was carefully placed by hand so that a compact fill was obtained. In proceeding with this work it was found possible, using two shifts, to deposit 19,000 cu. yd. in one month.

The configuration of the ground surface was such that it was not necessary to place a spillway in the dam proper. This spillway has been placed in an adjoining canyon east of the dam. The sill of the spillway is at an elevation 8 ft. below the high water level of the reservoir. The spillway has a length of 70 ft. between the end abutments and there is a pier in the center which supports the heavy timber framework of the structure. There are 12 gates in which are paced 3 in. planks to regulate the height of the spillway. These gates are 6 ft. wide and are constructed to hold the water level 9 ft. above the sill if necessary. The waste-way is cut out of solid rock but has a concrete floor at the sill.

The reservoir formed by this dam is about 5 miles long. It contains 51,000 acre ft. and catches the run-off from 52 square miles, adjoining the north fork, and 26 square miles of the south fork. The reservoir area itself is 1200 acres.

During the construction of this reservoir there was cleared off 3,500,000 board ft. of lumber. Part of this was used in construction work. The remainder was shipped out in the returning freight wagons.

For controlling the outlet of water into the canal system a concrete tower has been erected in the reservoir, outside of the upper toe of the dam. This tower opens into a horizontal tunnel 722 ft. long, which is carried through the rock under the dam and into a concrete basin below the dam, on one side of which is contained an Ogee overflow wier. The gates allowing the flow from the reservoir into the controlling tower are operated through bevel gears placed on the top of the tower structure. These gates are placed at different heights, so that by proper manipulation, water may enter the tower from the surface only, at any elevation of the reservoir level.

Storage water from the reservoir enters the conduit system, which consists of a series of canals, tunnels and flume trestles, covering a distance of 4.22 miles, and is delivered into the regulating reservoir of No. 3 power house. The canals are in earth and have a trapezoidal section, the sloping sides being 1 to 1, the width of the bottom for part of the distance being 5 ft. with a grade of .15 ft. per 100 ft. and the remainder 6 ft. with a grade of .1 ft. per 100 ft. The depth of the excavation is 3-1/2 ft. and the canal is given a 3 in. lining of concrete. The tunnels, four in number, are 5 ft. wide, 6 ft. high, with a semi-circular roof and are concrete lined. They are built on a grade of .3 ft. per 100 ft. There are 13 semi-circular steel flumes 6 ft. in diameter, which are given the same grade as the tunnels. These flumes are some what novel in construction, being of 1/8 in. riveted sheet steel and are supported on timber cradles and bolsters which in turn are carried by standard 4 pile trestle bents. Expansion and contraction are provided for by an unriveted slip joint. This joint is bridged on the outside with a strap of heavy canvas which is held in place by a steel strip at either end. This homely device has proven economical and efficient. The capacity of this conduit line is 100 cu. ft. per sec. The tunnels and trestles comprise 27 per cent of the distance between the dam and No. 3 regulating reservoir.

 

 

After being discharged from power house No. 3 the flow is allowed to pass down the canyon of the north fork to a point near the junction of that stream and the south fork, where a small diversion weir of concrete serves to form a pond from which the No. 1 conduit system is supplied.

In this system there are 16 tunnels, having an aggregate length of 10775 ft. These tunnels are lined with concrete, 5 ft. wide and 6 ft. high, the top being semi-circular. There is 12,300 ft. of canal in earth and 715.5 ft. of concrete flume, at points where it would be difficult to maintain an earth canal.

 

[insert: JEPG-1912-05-11_3675-47.jpg; Diversion Dam for No. 1 Conduit. West End Crane Valley Dam. Settling Basin No. 1 Conduit. Trestle and Steel Flume. Spillway Crane Valley Dam. Diverting Dam and Concrete Flume. Downstream Face Crane Valley Dam. No. 1 Conduit.]

 

Where canyons are crossed the semi-circular riveted steel flume mounted on timber cradles and conventional trestle construction are used. This canal should be of particular interest to California engineers as a departure in the practice of building canals as ordinarily understood on the Pacific Coast. It was found that to maintain a canal in the natural material, which is a disintegrated granite, was a more or less uncertain matter, as the outer walls of the canal were not only unstable, but were frequently attacked by burrowing rodents. After considering the problem of a proper construction thoroughly and the absolute necessity of maintaining the flow during reconstruction, it was decided to build a corewall in the outer bank of the canal. Accordingly a trench 2 ft. wide was dug in this bank and carried down to about 1 ft. below the bottom of the canal. Wooden forms were used in building the corewall and were placed in the trench, being held by the earth. The bottom of the core wall was allowed to spread out but the wall itself has a thickness of 6 in. and is carried well above the berm of the canal. This wall is reinforced with 3 in. x 12 in. mesh No. 6.10 gauge Clinton woven wire cloth 7 ft. wide. There are two points where the canal is carried into gulches which by cross embankments, form small settling reservoirs of about one-third acre each. The embankment was constructed as a submerged rock-filled crib, the face being tightly sheeted and conventional corewall brought up above the ground surface.

 

 

In the south fork of this branch is a concrete diverting dam from which the water is carried into one of the settling basins already mentioned. This dam has a length of 110 ft. and a height of 20 ft. It has a vertical wall on the down stream side and a slanting wall on the up-stream side. At the west end of this dam is a single outlet gate 6 ft. wide and from this outlet a concrete flume is carried along the side hill to deliver the flow into the setling basin. This concrete flume is 5 ft. wide, and 5 ft. deep. The side walls are 6 in. thick and are reinforced like the canal corewall. The bottom is laid directly upon the prepared rock surface.

 

 

In the reconstruction of this line tunnels were employed wherever possible to shorten the line.

The canal is carried to the end or spur of the mountain, which divides the north fork from the main San Joaquin River, and delivers its flow into an 8-acre forebay reservoir constructed at a most convenient point for power development. It is oblong in shape and was formed by throwing up a simple and inexpensive earth embankment along one side. It has a capacity of 35 acre. ft. The location of this reservoir is not only unusually convenient, but is picturesque in the extreme, and a remarkable view of the surrounding canyons and mountains of the San Joaquin River and its branches may be obtained from this point.

A fall of — ft. from a diversion in the south fork to the Crane Valley reservoir, and the drop between Power House No. 3 and the intake of the second canal of — ft. form the sites for two new power installations to be developed in the near future.

 

 

No. 3 Power Plant, which at the present time is the highest in the system, is supplied through a tunnel from the regulating reservoir at an elevation of about 20 ft. below the high-water level. In this tunnel is placed a taper pipe for a length of 20 ft. varying in diameter from 60 in. to 52 in. and 3/16 in. thickness. After passing through a gate valve the main pipe line 52 in. in diameter extends to the power house, a distance of 3,131 ft. The fall at this point is 401 ft. The pipe varies in thickness as follows: 1141 ft. of 3/16 in., 170 ft. of 7/32 in., 160 ft. of 1/4 in, 680 ft. of 5/16 in, 320 ft. of 3/8 in., 100 ft. of 1/2 in.

There are a number of spring relief valves provided. The pipe is buried at least 18 in. below the surface of the ground and is anchored at intervals in concrete abutments.

The feeder pipes to supply the water wheels are taken off the main pipe at right angles and pass below the floor of the building, terminating in deflecting needle nozzles.

The plant is equipped with two main generating units. The generators are Bullock 1000 kw. 300 r.p.m. They generate 3-phase current at 550 volts. The armatures are Y connected with grounded neutrals. An unusual and somewhat unsatisfactory expedient is adopted with these machines in that the exciters are mounted on the generator shaft and stand between the main generator and one of the main bearings. The exciter is a 6-pole 125-volt d.c. generator. There are two overhung Doble tangential water wheels in sheet-steel housing, one at either end of the shaft. These are controlled by a Lombard type Q governor which in turn is operated by an oil pump belted to the generator shaft. The switch board contains 4 vertical panels and a 4-panel bench board and is equipped with Westinghouse and Wagner instruments. The 30,000-volt Kelman high-tension oil circuit breakers, of which there are three sets, are operated from levers mounted on the bench board. These high-tension circuit breakers are themselves mounted on steel brackets fastened to the rear wall of the building and the high-tension wires are mounted on insulators supported from steel brackets above the circuit breakers. A 20-ton Maris traveling crane operates throughout the length of the building.

The building is of concrete 36 ft. wide and 65 ft. long. The walls are 14 in. thick with buttress columns which support a reinforced concrete crane rail integral with the walls.

The roof is of corrugated iron supported on steel Fink trusses and steel purlins. The transformers, 7 in all, (1 being a spare) are contained in separate concrete compartments adjoining the rear wall of the building. These transformers are of the Bullock 350 k.v.a. type and are water cooled.

San Joaquin No. 1 Power House was placed In full operation in the summer of 1911 and replaced the original plant built in 1896 which was famous in its day for the high head employed and as one of the history-making power plants during the development period of long-distance transmission. The old plant has been dismantled and the building is used as a storehouse. The famous pipe line of 18 years ago still remains, however, in apparently as good condition as when installed. A new 30W kw. generating unit is to be installed in an addition to the power house and supplied by this pipe. This installation is to be used only on a 4 to 1/2 hour peak of the load.

 

 

Water for the new plant is taken from the forebay reservoir at a point on its south side through a heavy concrete head works. This consists of a double forebay with hand operated screw-stem sluice gates and provided with fine and coarse screens. The two pipe lines lead from this forebay and immediately take their course, which is somewhat diverging, down the precipitous mountain side. The pipes are well buried throughout their length and are anchored at a number of suitable points with heavy concrete piers placed in the bell holes excavated for riveting the pipe seams. The steepness of the mountain side and its rocky and generally rough character made the installation of these pipes a difficult feat. In addition it was necessary to do the work under the hot sun during the summer months when the men were constantly menaced by rattlesnakes which persisted in falling into the pipe trenches and necessitated the entire attention of one man to kill them and warn those working.

 

 

 

The maximum grade on the mountain side is 77 per cent. The pipes were laid beginning at the bottom and were filled with water as the work proceeded in order that the temperature of the metal might be kept as nearly uniform as possible. It was furnished in lengths of 30 ft., the maximum weight of sections being 10,000 lb. A tramway was built to assist in the delivery of pipe to the trench. Both pipes have a diameter of 34 in. at the bottom and a thickness of 3/4 in. and are lap welded. This diameter increases and the thickness decreases as the pipe proceeds up the hill until at the top the former is 44 in. and the latter 3/4 in., the greater part of the pipe being lap riveted. Near the top a Venturi meter equipped with an automatic recording device was installed in one of the pipe lines. The pipes, as they approach the power house, are deeply buried and anchored in solid concrete. They enter the building below the floor line and branch, each branch going to one of the four main water wheels.

 

 

The older pipe line is 24 in. in diameter and varies in thickness from No. 12 B. W. G. at the top to 20 in. at the power house, 5/8 in. thick and 4,077 ft. long, including a 30 in. diameter receiver.

Pipe connections to operate the two water driven exciter sets are taken from each pipe line. These 10-in. extra heavy steel pipe connections are brought first to the ground surface. A system of 4 cross gates and fittings makes it possible to feed either or both exciters from either or both pipe lines. A tap is taken out to supply a tank from which water for cooling the transformers is taken. This tap contains an automatic valve which keeps the tank full of water at all times.

The power house building is 148 ft. long and 71 ft. 6 in. wide. It is a heavy steel frame structure covered with two layers of Hyrib expanded metal and Portland cement plaster 11/2 in. thick. This method of building a double wall insures a dead air space and tends to lower the summer temperature, a necessary feature in this locality.

The steel frame consists of three lines of columns. two of them being along the front and rear of the building, the third down the center. Between the front and center line is the main generating space. Between the center line and the rear is the space occupied by transformers, switch board and ample storerooms on the main floor and on the second floor by the high-tension switching gallery of which there are two sections. An all electrically driven traveling crane operates the length of the generating bay.

There are four main generating units. The generators are General Electric 4,000 k.v.a., 2,300 volt, 3-phase, and operate at 400 r.p.m. The water wheel is a single overhung Doble runner enclosed in a cast-iron housing and is equipped with two needle nozzles. The upper or main nozzle is operated by a type Q Lombard governor. The lower nozzle is a by-pass and opens when the main nozzle closes, thus removing the water from the wheel without shock to the pipe lines. The automatic mechanism gradually closes the by-pass needle so that water may be conserved when it is not in use on the wheel.

There are three exciter sets, the generator in each case being a General Electric type M.P. 6 pole, 100 kw., 900 r.p.m., 250 v. d.c. machine. One set is driven by a Doble overhung water wheel at one end of the generator shaft and a 150 h.p., General Electric type I induction motor is at the other end. The second exciter set is similar but has no induction motor. The third exciter set is similar to the first described, having the induction motor, but no water wheel.

A three-crank oil pump driven by a 1-1/2 h.p. General Electric induction motor circulates oil to the transformers. There is also provided one 2-cylinder air compressor driven by a 4 h.p. General Electric induction motor. The transformers occupy four compartments open to the main bay but enclosed in concrete walls on the other three sides. In each compartment are three 1500 k.v.a. General Electric transformers mounted on 4 wheel steel trucks which in turn rest on rails in the concrete floor and permit the transformer to be moved out into the main bay so that it may come under the traveling crane. The transformers are wound for a star connection of 69,450 volts, are water cooled and the tanks are connected through a system of piping to a concrete oil sump-tank which is placed below and outside of the building. Connection is also made with a steel tank which holds enough oil for one transformer placed below the main station floor.

 

 

The switch board supplied by the General Electric Company is of black slate in 17 vertical panels, which control four generators, two exciters, 1 Tirrill automatic regulator, four transformer banks and the remainder for high-tension lines. Indicating and graphic recording instruments are provided in accordance with the most modern practice.

The 2,300 volt generator and transformer switches are placed in concrete cells directly in the rear of the switch board so that the connection between the operating handles on the switch board and the switches is entirely mechanical.

The high tension circuit breakers were supplied by the Kelman Manufacturing Company and are arranged in two rows. Between these rows are two parallel fireproof walls and between these walls the high tension leads from the transformers are brought up and then branched to the circuit breakers on either side. The space between these walls also contains series and shunt transformers.

 

 

 

There are two sets of high tension bus lines, each set being divided at its center point where a Kelman oil circuit breaker is placed. There are altogether 18 sets of high tension circuit breakers, each set being equipped with knife blade disconnecting switches. There is provision for six outgoing transmission lines, although but four are at present installed.

The method adopted by this company in carrying 60,000 volt lines from the building is unique. A Locke wall insulator mounted in a concrete slab is placed on an angle to an opening in the building wall of about 45 degrees. Above this is a lean-to roof, the whole being structurally connected. All of the high tension wiring, switches and insulators are mounted on structural steel framework.

This building contains no wood or inflammable structural material of any sort, the window frames being of steel and the windows of wire glass. This power house has a total capacity of 20,000 h.p. The hydraulic head is 1420 ft. The discharge from the plant is directly into the San Joaquin River. The lines leading from the plant are provided with General Electric outdoor type aluminum cell lightning arresters, equipped with horn gaps.

Kern Canyon Power Plant.—The Kern River emerges from the canyon through an opening in the sheer side of the mountain that appears as though it might have been cut by some gigantic ditching machine. It is V shaped and extremely rough, the precipitous mountain sides being strewn with jagged ledges and great granite boulders. About two miles above this mouth a granite ledge forms a natural dam across the river. On the north side and about 50 ft. back of this ledge is the opening into the tunnel which carries water to the power plant. This opening is covered by a grizzly of heavy iron bars, and within it is placed a sluice gate to shut off the flow, this tunnel opening being at all times submerged.

This plant is one of the first hydroelectric plants to be installed in California. and, while small, has had an interesting history. 'When first constructed, water was carried from the point of diversion along the face of the rocky cliff in a wooden flume. The high factor of depreciation and the danger of breaks with resulting interruptions in the operation of the plant made its abandonment advisable, to be replaced with a tunnel 8,500 ft. long, driven through the solid granite mountain. This tunnel is 8 ft. wide and 7 ft. high and has a gradient of 0.32 per cent. It is lined with concrete, and terminates at the head of the pipe line as did the old flume.

After leaving the tunnel the water passes through a 5-1/2 ft. diameter hydraulic piston operated gate valve and thence into the pipe line. This pipe is not buried but rests on the surface of the ground, being anchored at a number of points with steel cables turned about the pipe and fastened into concrete piers. The pipe has a diameter of 66 in. and varies in thickness from 1/4 in. at the top to 3/8 in. at the bottom and has a length, including the receiver, of 4,077 ft., and the total drop is 1,411 ft.

 

 

The power house is a frame structure at the river's edge just outside the canyon and contains three General Electric revolving field 450 kw., 3-phase generators driven at 257 r.p.m. through a flywheel coupling by Knight water wheels.

Water from the receiver is carried to the water wheels after passing a hydraulic operated gate valve. These valves are operated from a bench board near the main switch board, each by a brass handle and dial, as is also the gate at the top of the pipe line. Between the hydraulic gates and the water wheel are butterfly valves which are operated by a cast-iron hand wheel and column.

There are two exciters, the generators of each being General Electric 17.5 kw. operating at 1,100 r.p.m. One of these is driven by a Felton triple runner water wheel, the other by a Knight single runner wheel.

 

 

The switch board has 8 panels, 3 for transformer circuits, 1 for exciters, 3 for generators, and 1 for voltage regulator.

There are nine General Electric transformers, six of them are old style air cooled 160 kw. capacity with a voltage ratio of 500 to 10,000. The remaining three are of the newer vertical type, also air cooled, and are of the same capacity and voltage ratio.

 

 

Two rotary blowers driven by water wheels furnish the air for cooling the transformers. A third blower furnishes air which is driven into the revolving armatures of the generators for cooling, there being seasons of the year when the temperature at this plant becomes excessive.

 

 

A two-circuit transmission line conveys the current to Bakersfield, where it is synchronized with the other 10,000 volt circuits in this district. It is proposed, in the near future to erect a low dam at the intake of this plant, enlarge the tunnel and pipe, sealing the junction between, thus carrying the pressure head from the reservoir level formed by the dam. A single 3,000 kw. generating unit is to be installed in a modern concrete fireproof structure. FRESNO Power Station—The steam power plant in the city of Fresno acts also as a substation for the distribution both of the local city system and for a number of outgoing branch circuits which cover a large territory. This station adjoins the tower of the water works. The power station is inclosed in a substantial brick building containing the entire equipment in use at this point.

The steam section consists of four Babcock &Wilcox boilers, two of them being of 200 h.p. each, the remaining two being each 300 h.p. The conventional accompaniment of Worthington feed pumps, one Hooper exhaust heater, one Worthington condenser placed in the basement of the building, and outside under the sidewalk a cement tank with a capacity for 620 bbl. of oil.

 

 

Held ready for immediate operation at all times is a cross compound grid. valve, Macintosh and Seymour 750 h.p. engine. This engine is connected through a double 4 ft. belt to a pulley which forms a joint connection between two motor-generator sets. Thus, it is possible by manipulation of the clutches at either end of this pulley to drive the motor generators from the engine in case of failure of the supply of electricity ft out the transmission system. These motor generator sets consist on one side, of a Westinghouse 335 h.p. synchronous motor on which is directly mounted a 6 kw. 6 pole exciter. This motor is connected through a flexible coupling to a General Electric 200 kw. 6 pole d.c. generator, the other end of the shaft being connected to the engine pulley through a jaw clutch operated by a hand wheel gear. Connected to the other end of the pulley through a similar jaw clutch is a motor generator set of a somewhat later type, having but two bearings. This set has a Westinghouse 200 h.p., 2,200 volt, synchronous motor. The generator is of the same make, of 200 kw. capacity. The exciter is mounted on the shaft as in the first instance. The speed of the set is 450 r.p.m.

 

 

There has been recently installed an additional Westinghouse motor generator set, the motor being 580 h.p., operating at 720 r.p.m. The generator is 400 kw., equipped with interpoles and a ball thrust bearing. This set is ordinarily used to carry the local street railway load. There is, for this set, a motor generator and exciter unit, consisting of a Westinghouse 10 h.p. induction type, C.C.L. 220 volt motor, operating at 1,110 r.p.m. and driving a 6 kw. generator of the same make.

 

 

 

Ranged along one side of the building are five General Electric 50 light 6.6 amp. arc transformers for series arc circuits, together with their equipment of control panels.

The switch board is of blue Vermont marble consisting of 25 panels. These control the 3 outgoing 30,000 volt circuits, 2 of them supplying Selma and Reedley and Dinuba; the third, Hanford, Corcoran, and Coalinga. There are 8, 2,300 volt circuits for local distribution, and 3, 10,000 volt circuits for suburban distribution. The remainder of the panels control generators, motors, water works circuits and railroad circuits.

 

 

At the rear of the switch board placed in brick compartments which open only to the outside of the building, are four sets of Stanley water-cooled transformers, there being, with one exception, but two transformers to a set. They are T connected on the 30,000 volt side and are connected in open delta on the 2,300 volt side, and deliver both two and three phase current. The capacity of these transformers is 500 kw. There are in addition three General Electric air cooled transformers of 200 kw. capacity each. These are star connected on both primary and secondary sides and supply three phase current to the 10,000 volt suburban circuits.

The high tension switch gallery is a floor built over the transformer compartments and contains two lines of Kelman 30,000 volt oil circuit breakers, with a dividing wall between them, the entire gallery containing 15 sets of switches.

This station is the control point of the northern division of the system.

Bakersfield Steam Plant—This plant has but recently been placed in commission. It was built as an auxiliary emergency supply to the transmission system, and was placed at Bakersfield as the logical center of distribution for the Southern Division, and as the cheapest fuel depot. This plant is strictly modern throughout and represents the best practice for efficiency and stand-by service.

The building, like all the recent work of this company, is of massive steel frame construction covered with Hyrib expanded metal and finished with plaster concrete walls. It is in two main sections divided by a fireproof wall, one containing the boilers and fuel supply apparatus, the other the prime movers, auxiliaries, transformers, and the switching apparatus. The building is fireproof throughout. In the boiler section along either side are 4 boilers, both sides being similar and consisting of two Babcock & Wilcox boilers of 450 h.p. each, and two Sterling boilers of 500 h.p. each. Natural gas, piped from the near-by Kern River oil fields, is the fuel ordinarily used, although oil burning equipment is installed as a reserve. Fuel oil is drawn from the large steel tank placed in the yard near the power house.

The other section of the power house has three floors, more or less broken up to accommodate the apparatus contained thereon. The first, or ground floor, contains the engine and boiler auxiliaries,—two Harrisburg (Fleming) tandem compound engines direct connected to Byron Jackson circulating pumps, two Alberger dry vacuum pumps of size 10x 18 x 18, three Worthington and one Epping-Carpenter feed pumps, and two Alberger surface condensers which are placed within the arch of the foundation under the main turbine generating units which are at the level of the second floor.

On either end of one side of this section are the two main transformer compartments. The first of these contains four (1 spare) General Electric 833 kw. water cooled transformers, whose primary voltage is 2,300. There are two secondary voltages of 10,000 and 66,000 with star connection. In the other transformer compartment are four Allis-Chalmers water-cooled transformers of the same voltage ratio as the others without the 10,000 volt windings. These have a capacity of 2.100 k.v.a. each.

 

 

On the ground floor and arranged along the rear walls of the building between the transformers compartments are all of the 2,300 volt switch cells and switches. In this space are also two motor generator sets, consisting each of a General Electric type I 350 h.p., induction motor, direct connected with solid coupling to a 6 pole, interpole, 225 kw. d.c. generator. These machines supply current to the street railway system in Bakersfield and vicinity. There are also two General Electric motor generator exciter sets, the motor being of 60 h.p., 2,200 volts, induction type, the generator being of 50 kw. There is also one steam exciter set having a 75 kw. generator driven by a Curtis non-condensing turbine and operating at 3,300 r.p.m.

The main generating units on the second floor level are two in number, the first being a General Electric horizontal set, having a capacity of 2,500 kw. and operating 1,200 r.p.m. The second unit, built by the Allis-Chalmers Co., has a capacity of 5,000 kw.

 

 

 

On the second floor gallery at its center is placed the main switch board. This was built by the General Electric Co., is of black slate, and consists of 23 panels. The panels are equipped in accordance with the most modern practice, with horizontal type instruments and remote control for all of the generating and outgoing circuits. On the iron pipe frame at the back of the switch board are mounted integrating and graphic recording wattmeters for each circuit.

 

 

 

 

Placed on the gallery at the rear of the switch board are all of the 10,000 volt General Electric oil circuit breakers, in such order as to cause the least possible confusion in the minds of the operators.

On the third floor or gallery are placed four sets of General Electric K-10 solenoid operated 60,000 volt oil circuit breakers. Two of these sets are on the two sets of transformers and two on the two outgoing transmission lines. The 60,000 volt leads of 1 in. copper tubing are brought up to the level of this floor through 3 ft. square ducts, and led directly to the oil circuit breakers. The connection between these and the outgoing line circuit breakers is made through a bus line and the customary intervening disconnecting switches. All of the high tension wiring is mounted on standard triple petticoat insulators on structural steel framework.

 

 

 

At the rear of the building is a structural steel rack which covers the entire side. This carries at their proper level all of the circuits which enter or leave the building. Near the building and connected to the 60,000 volt outgoing circuits are General Electric aluminum cell lightning arresters, for though lightning is of rare occurrence, these are deemed a necessary precaution.

 

 

Substations. TO maintain exact standards in the design of the various essential parts of any large transmission system is difficult, particularly in one of the magnitude and diversification in the distribution of this system. Especially is this true of the sub-stations, some of which have been in operation a number of years, and which were intended for smaller loads and more primitive transmission conditions than exist at present. Two new types, however, modern in every respect and providing for present and future needs, have been developed and are sufficiently characteristic as to deserve careful study as to its efficiency and comparatively low cost and safety.

In general the substations may be classed in three types. One contains transformers receiving three-phase current at a potential of 30,000 volts and delivering from their secondary windings a potential of 10,000 volts for feeder circuits covering a distribution territory of not greater than 16 miles from the station, these stations requiring no regular attendant. The other are of the newer order and receive three phase current from the main transmission lines at a potential of 60,000 volts and distribute to main 30,000 volt feeders or to district 10,000 volt feeders. These stations are constantly attended by an operator who lives close by. The third type is novel and, in fact, quite radical, there being no enclosing building.

In the towns and cities, where distribution voltages of 2,400 or 4,000 volts are maintained, the sub-stations are generally in buildings acquired in the absorption of local companies, or in connection with other enterprises maintained by the company, as gas or water works.

 

 

Of the newer type of substation there are four. The first, known as the "Copper Mine Sub," is situated where the foothills meet the valley, 16 miles northeast of Fresno. This is on the direct line of trans-mission between the power plants and that city, but acts as a distributing hub for the entire system, from its more northerly source of power. Two entering transmission lines deliver their current directly from the No. 1 power house, these lines being constructed for an eventual operation at 60,000 volts. Distributing from this station is a single 60,000 volt line, the main "west side" transmission which connects the northern and southern divisions and operates through to Bakersfield, passing through the "west side" oil fields. There are four 30,000 volt feeders, one for the Merced, Madera, Mendota and Los Banos districts, two to the city of Fresno, and one skirting the foothills to the south to the Santa Fe stone crusher on the Kings River and the intermediate country.

The station at Henrietta is midway on the west side line between Copper Mine Sub., and Bakersfield. just northwest of Lake Tulare. From this point diverge two 30,000 volt circuits, one going to Coalinga and one in the opposite direction to Lemoore. This, like the Copper Mine Sub., acts also as a switching station.

 

 

The stations at McKittrick and Taft in the Midway oil fields are identical in appearance and equipment, the former having two 10,000 volt local distribution circuits, the latter two 10,000 volt and 30,000 volt outgoing circuits.

A description of the substation at Henrietta will substantially cover the others.

This substation is a steel frame building 30 ft. wide and 60 ft. long. There are four Fink trusses of steel which carry steel I beam purlins. The walls are of Hyrib expanded metal in two layers, one on the outside and the other on the inside of the steel columns. On this reinforcement is placed cement plaster which gives an outside and inside solid concrete wall, each 1-1/2 in. thick. The roof is of the same construction, being plastered on both sides of the Hyrib, but having on the upper side a layer of asbestos board. Under the eaves are openings for the free circulation of air and in the ridge of the roof are three large galvanized iron ventilators, all of these openings being covered with No. 1/2 in. mesh woven wire screen to keep out birds and large insects. High temperatures are experienced part of the year and the rapid circulation of air is essential, especially in view of the use of air cooled transformer cases.

The 60,000 volt line is led into the building through the standard type of inclined wall bushing adopted by the company, through disconnecting switches mounted on standard insulators supported on an angle steel frame, to the Kelman circuit-breakers and thence to a bus line which extends the length of the building and which, passing through a switch equipment, similar to the one just described but reversed in order, to the continuation of the transmission.

 

 

Taps are taken from the bus line to feed the transformers, the current first passing through a disconnecting switch set and Kelman circuit-breakers, all mounted on a steel frame. The high tension wiring is all of N in. copper tube.

There are four Allis-Chalmers 500 k.v.a. lowering transformers. These have voltage ratios of 41,000/17,000, being Y connected on both sides for circuits of 60,000 and 30,000 volts respectively. In the stations having 10,000 volt distribution circuits the low tension windings deliver 6,600 volts which are Y connected for 10,000 volts 3-phase. The fourth transformer is a spare, in case one of the others fail from any cause. The transformer cores are immersed in oil in cast-iron tanks which carry an outer shell. This arrangement provides a space between the tank and shell which allows of a rapid convection of the air currents and a continuous supply of cool air from the floor to carry away the heat generated from within and conveyed to the case through the oil within.

The secondary lines are carried on insulators mounted on a steel structure to a secondary bus which supplies the various secondary distributing circuits, after passing through Kelman, three-pole single-throw oil circuit breakers. A single panel of Vermont marble contains three ammeters, a volt meter, integrating wattmeters for each outgoing circuit and a graphic recording voltmeter and in some cases a wattmeter of similar type. A complete telephone equipment with the various protective devices is included. Mounted on concrete bases, outside of the building, is a set of General Electric, outdoor type, aluminum cell lightning arresters and horn gaps, and mounted on the first pole structure from either end of the building are outdoor disconnecting switches.

The older type of station used on distributing lines is of corrugated iron on a wood frame. In most cases the buildings are 30 ft. long by 20 ft. wide. The 30,000 volt circuit is led through a gable end through openings 12 in. in diameter. Kehnan 30,000 volt, overload release, hand operated circuit breakers are used. There are three and, in some cases, six lowering transformers; these being Wagner oil immersed and air cooled, the latter action being assisted by steel fins radiating from the sheet steel cases. These stations are all equipped with Wirts carbon resistance gap lightning arresters. The outgoing circuits are controlled by Kelman switches. There is no switch board, but integrating wattmeters are mounted on a steel framework close to the outgoing circuits. These substations require little attention, except for throwing switches and reading meters. There are seven of these substations as follows : Madera, Kings River (Santa Fe rock crusher), Kerman, Reedley, Stone Correl, Selma and Corcoran.

In the towns where substations contain a switch board for local city distribution and arc lighting circuits, the local conditions govern the installations, as in Merced, Lemoore, Fresno (already described under the heading of power plants) and Bakersfield.

The distribution system and substation at Coalinga are owned and operated by a separate corporation who purchase power on their own transmission line at Henrietta.

The local distribution for the city of Hanford is also owned by a separate corporation who buy power, delivered from a 30,000 volt circuit from this company at their own distributing station.

The substation at Merced is a steel frame concrete building, 30 ft. wide by 50 ft. long and adjoins' the gas works. The roof is supported on five deep Howe steel trusses between the gables. This station contains three 150 kw. General Electric water cooled transformers wound for 11,000 volts primary on Y connection and 2,300 volts secondary for local city distribution. These are arranged along one side of the building and in line with them are two General Electric 50-light, a.c. arc transformers with their accompanying panel-boards. There is also a one-panel switch board on which is mounted two oil switches for city circuits. Behind this is a General Electric, 2,200 volt, 38 kw. potential regulator.

The remainder of the floor space is provided for four lines of three lowering transformers; at present but one set of three is installed. These transformers are similar to those described, having a capacity of 117.5 kw. each, being wound for Y connection voltages of 30,000 primary and 11,000 volts secondary. There are two outgoing 11,000 volt circuits. Kelman automatic overload release oil circuit-breakers are provided on all incoming and outgoing circuits.

One of the newest, most pleasing and efficient of the substations, sufficiently different from the others to deserve special mention, is that of the Fresno water company. The building is of brick, 27 ft. wide and 30 ft. long and equivalent to two ordinary stories in height. The roof is of concrete on Hyrib expanded metal with asbestos board covering and is supported on three Howe steel trusses, two of them being in the gables. There are three transformer compartments along one side, the barriers between the cells being of brick. The cells are closed on top by a mezzanine floor 4 in. thick of reinforced concrete and upon this floor are mounted two sets of Kelman automatic overload release oil circuit-breakers, one on each of the two incoming 30,000 volt lines. These circuit-breakers are connected through a bus line of 9/32 in. copper tubing, the bus in turn being divided by double break disconnecting switches. From the center of these switches are led the lines through openings in the mezzanine floor which feed the transformers. The transformers are Allis-Chalmers, 300 k.v.a, water cooled and are delta connected on the high tension side. The low tension sides deliver current at 2,300 volts. This substation is designed to be used eventually with 60,000 volts incoming lines and the transformers are wound so that they may be star connected for this potential. The switch board, or rather steel switch rack, extends the length of the building parallel to the other side. On this are mounted General Electric 3-pole oil switches and above them disconnecting switches. An ammeter is mounted on the rack for each circuit. There are eight outgoing circuits, with space for three additional; each circuit is carried through conduit under the floor out of the building, to and up the first pole, each eventually being carried to one of the eight individual pumping plants.

At the Los Banos and Mendota are two "outdoor" type substations. All apparatus except the in-struments are arranged for open air operation. The high tension Kelman switches are mounted on steel frames and have a weatherproof covering. The 60,000 volt connections and transformer bushings are of a weatherproof type. A small house, large enough for the instruments and telephone, is situated somewhat away from the main apparatus. There is no regular attendant, and it is calculated that the chance of losing a transformer in the absence of an attendant does not equal the interest on the added investment of a fireproof building and the wages of a man. This type of installation is in great favor with this company.

Following is the location and equipment of all of the substations:

 

 

Water Works Systems.

THE company owns or operates the water works in Fresno, Madera, Selma, Kingsburg, and supplies power for the operation of water works pumps at Bakersfield.

In all of these places the water is pumped from wells by motor driven centrifugal pumps into elevated tanks and also direct into the distributing mains.

 

 

The most important of these systems is for Fresno. This system is operated by a separate company owned by interests closely identified with the power corporation. There are nine wells scattered about the city, with one more about to be equipped. At each well is a substantial building, enclosing a concrete lined pit whose floors are on an average of 6 ft. below the ground surface. An 8 in. centrifugal pump, direct connected to an induction motor of from 50 h.p. to 700 h.p., completes the equipment. These pumps deliver directly into the city piping system against a pressure of 50 lb. Separate 2400 volt circuits are carried from the substation at the eastern edge of the city to the pumps, but a connection is also made from the main substation in the city to assure an unfailing supply of power. The substation at the city limits is connected to both incoming transmission lines and was placed at this point on advice of the Fire Underwriters to insure the first call on the transmission lines in case of damage to the lines within the city.

The company owns or operates the water works in Fresno, Madera, Selma, Kingsburg, and supplies power for the operation of water works pumps at Bakersfield.

In all of these places the water is pumped from wells by motor driven centrifugal pumps into elevated tanks and also direct into the distributing mains. The most important of these systems is for Fresno. This system is operated by a separate company owned by interests closely identified with the power corporation. There are nine wells scattered about the city, with one more about to be equipped.

At each well is a substantial building, enclosing a concrete lined pit whose floors are on an average of 6 ft. below the ground surface. An 8 in. centrifugal pump, direct connected to an induction motor of from 50 h.p. to 700 h.p., completes the equipment. These pumps deliver directly into the city piping system against a pressure of 50 lb. Separate 2,400 volt circuits are carried from the substation at the eastern edge of the city to the pumps, but a connection is also made from the main substation in the city to assure an unfailing supply of power. The substation at the city limits is connected to both incoming transmission lines and was placed at this point on advice of the Fire Underwriters to insure the first call on the transmission lines in case of damage to the lines within the city.

A water tower containing a 250,000 gal. elevated tank operates as a stand pipe and will supply water for the city's uses for a period of 20 minutes in case of complete interruption of the supply.

 

 

Water for the Madera system is pumped from two wells situated near the substation. A brick building with the walls carried down to a point 12 ft. below the ground surface encloses two pumping units. The units consist of Krogh No. 7 centrifugal pumps direct connected and driven by Westinghouse, 75 h.p., 440 volt and 1,120 r.p.m. induction motors. Water is pumped directly into the pipe system and there is a wooden elevated tank of 50,000 gal. capacity which acts in connection with the system.

The water works at Selma is enclosed within the substation building. Pumping is done from two wells 180 ft. deep by two pumping units. These are placed on a level, 10 ft below the ground surface. These units are No. 6, 8 in. pumps, direct driven by General Electric, 3 phase, 35 h.p. induction motors. Connection is made between the wells, pumps and the main through a series of four check valves and two gate valves, so that either pump alone will maintain a pressure of 35 lb. on the system, which is the ordinary mode of operation for winter service; or the two pumps in multiple delivering water under the same pressure; or, by changing the position of the gate valves, the pumps will be put in series and deliver a pressure of 70 lb. which is used in the case of a fire. There is a steam pump auxiliary in a separate building near the gas works having its own well and a second motor pump auxiliary drawing from the same well.

The water works at Kingsburg are enclosed in a concrete building which also is used for a fire department house.

Gas Works.

The company owns and operates the gas works and distribution in Merced, Selma and Bakersfield. In Merced, as already stated, the gas works adjoins the substation. The plant was purchased from a local company and since its acquisition many necessary improvements have been made to bring it to its present state of efficiency. The gas making equipment consists of two "straight-shot" generators, each having a capacity of 7,500 cu. ft. per hour, one engine blower, one blower driven by a 10 h.p. induction motor and two 100 h.p. return tubular boilers. There is one 30,000 cu. ft. gas holder.

 

 

 

 

At Selma the gas works is enclosed in a corrugated iron building. The equipment consists of one "straight-shot" generator having an output of 5,000 cu. ft. per hour, one Western generator of 6,000 cu. ft. capacity, two 80 h.p. return tubular boilers, one 30,000 cu. ft. storage gas holder and one 10,000 cu. ft. relief holder. At a suitable distance from the building is placed a 500 bbl. steel oil storage tank.

At Bakersfield natural gas is used exclusively, although there is a plant, similar to those described, for making gas, which can be placed in operation on short notice.

Street Railway System.

The only street railway system owned and operated by the company is in Bakersfield. This system has been in existence for a number of years and has been operated on a small scale by a former company. After the purchase by the present company the system was entirely remodeled and has been extended in a number of directions. Bakersfield has had a remarkable growth since the advent of the adjoining oil fields and is a city of good prospects. The wisdom of re-equipping the existing lines of the railroad will undoubtedly be manifest in the near future, because the possibilities of suburban extension in all directions are evident. As operated, the present system has 9.92 miles of line, including six miles of double-track. New Trilby 114 lb. rails have been laid and new trolley supports and connections make the equipment modern in every respect.

There are at present in regular use nine cars, three of these being reconstructed from the older equipment. The remaining six are of the latest California P.A.Y.E. type. They were built by the American Car Company at St. Louis. They are equipped as follows: Trucks—Brill No. 27 G. E. I.

Motor-2 G. E. No. 203.

Gear-15.83.

Controller—G. E. K. 36 G.

Air Compressor—G. E. Type C. E.-27.

Air Valves—Style 9, Form F.

Headlight—Crouse-Hinds Imperial luminous arc with lens.

Trolley Catcher—Ideal. The cars of the company are handsomely finished in a light orange color with black trimmings and add greatly to the general street appearance of the city. Power is delivered to the trolley wire directly from the steam power plant of the company.

Management and Operation.

The company is operated in two divisions-, the headquarters of the Northern being at Fresno where is also the main office for the system. The Southern division is managed from Bakersfield. The main divisions are divided into districts and each of these is presided over by a district agent. It is now proposed, due to the extensiveness of the system, to give the district agents practically complete jurisdiction of their several districts, attending to all of the business of the district, maintaining their own office accounts and, as far as possible, relieve the main offices of all detail. A high class of men are employed in these positions, who have been carefully trained and selected to carry out the liberal and straightforward policy of the company.

The districts are as follows:

Northern Division.

Merced—Merced County east of San Joaquin River, all of Mariposa County.

Madera—Madera County, except generating plants and canals.

West Side—Los Banos, Gustine, Dos Palos, Mendota, Firebaugh.

Fresno—San Joaquin generating plants and canals, Fresno City, Clovis, Sanger, Malaga, Calway, Kerman, Friant, Piedra, Big Creek.

Selma—Kingsburg, Layton, Selma, Fowler.

East Side—Dinuba, Reedley, Father, Wahtoke, Sultana, Orosi, Stone Corral, Woodlake.

Corcoran—Corcoran, Waukena, Stoll, Angiola, Alpaugh, Lemoore, Hanford.

Southern Division.

Bakersfield—Bakersfield, Famoso, Wasco, McFarland, Pond, Edison, Lerdo, Kern River oil fields.

Midway—Maricopa, Sunset, Taft, Fellows, McKittrick.

Coalinga—Coalinga, Bradley, San Miguel, Paso Robles, Templeton, Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo, Pismao, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, San Lucas, San Ardo, Kings City.

It is the policy of the company to maintain close friendly relations between the heads of departments and the men in all positions, and the latter are taught to maintain by every means possible the very liberal policy which the company has adopted in its attitude to the people at large. In this connection the company has always maintained that they were able and willing to show their good faith and desire to give the greatest satisfaction and maintain the best service and have made it a rule to build lines into a new country having possibilities for business where it might have been difficult to get the business first, but by so doing gaining the confidence and good faith of prospective customers. The good results of this policy are strongly evident on every part of the system. Disputes or grievances are given the closest attention without regard to the reasonableness or difficulty in reaching the party in question and are not dropped until thorough satisfaction is administered. In the transmission line maintenance there is one hard and fast rule—no lineman is permitted to work upon a live circuit or upon a circuit where there is another live circuit on the same pole.

The record for service, which might be expected from an organization as well systematized as this, has been good, notwithstanding the many recent changes in adopting the newer standards, and throughout the system is well worth the time necessary by the transmission engineer to study the many unique and characteristic features, the result of a development to fit the very special conditions of the territory involved.