Niagara power line

Niagara Power in Buffalo.

At midnight, Sunday, Nov. 15, the long-distance transmission of electric power generated at Niagara Falls became an accomplished fact. At that time Secretary W. B. Rankine, of the Niagara Falls Power Company, turned the switch in the main power-house at Niagara Falls, thus diverting the current into the Buffalo transmission line, which covers a distance of about 22 miles.

With Mr. Rankine stood Hon. W. Caryl Ely, president of the Buffalo & Niagara. Falls Electric Railway; W. A. Brackenridge, chief engineer, and Paul M. Lincoln, electrical superintendent. In the transformer room was Mr. I. B. Edmonds.

At the Buffalo end of the lines were Engineer Moody, W. L R. Emmett, of the General Electric Company; George Urban, Jr., president, and C. R. Huntley, vice-president of the Conduit Company, and a number of others. At 12 o'clock, with watch in hand, Mr. Huntley called "time;" Mr. Emmett threw the switch and the rotary transformers in the power house of the Buffalo Railway Company at once commenced to revolve, thus marking the accomplishment of one of the greatest engineering undertakings ever attempted. Our special correspondent, who was at the scene of operations, informs us by telegraph that the three-phase current of 700 amperes dropped to 350 in 10 seconds.

Beside those named as present to witness the ceremonies at Buffalo were President H. M. Littell, of the Buffalo Street Railway Company; Mayor Jewett, of Buffalo; Horatio A. Foster, E. J. Hall, John McGhie and several other well known electrical people.

The current from Niagara Falls will continue to be delivered to the Buffalo Railway Company, and the efficiency tests of this system will be awaited with deep interest by the electrical profession.

An interesting account of the practical features of this remarkable installation is given on another page in this issue.