Generators, 10,000 kilowatts on 25 per cent. overload, say 6 at $60,000.. Exciters, 350 to 400 kilowatts each, say $7,500, 3 at $7,500. Exciter water wheels, say $3,000, 3 at $3,000.. Transformers, 11,000 v. to 110,000 v., 10,000 kilowatts on overload, say 6 at $30,000.... High tension switches and apparatus, wiring, etc.. Low tension switches and apparatus, switchboards, etc. Crane, 50-ton on 75-foot span, at $9,000... Crane, 10-ton, hand operated, 57-foot span, at $2,000. Crane, outside, for transformers, 50-ton, 20-foot span. Total. MACHINERY. $360,000 180,000 22,500 9,000 180.000 100,000 80.000 9,000 2,000 6,000 20,000 $968,500 ESTIMATED COST PER HORSE POWER OF THE PORTAGE DEVELOPMENT FROM ROUGH PRELIMINARY APPROXIMATIONS. First Stage, Portage Development. From table on page 194 we see that the average possible increase in power at present plants due to the use of all the water from the storage in the Portage reservoir would average about 20,000 net 24-hour horse-power for the dry half of the year, and it would, as a practical matter, increase to about this extent the power economically available throughout the whole year. The total cost of the Portage reservoir, if all the burden is put on this water power, and nothing on flood control or on betterment of sewerage conditions, distributed over this $5,044,000 added power is or $250 per 24-hour 7-day horse-power 20,000 a high price; or if this power was used on a 40 per cent. load factor basis, or as 11.2 hour-power, the cost for the mere additional water supply for power at present plants, exclusive of expenditure for new turbines, raceways, etc., would be about $100 per net horse-power. Portage Plant. For the second stage, with the Portage power-house built and the transmission line to Rochester completed, so that about 65,000 horse-power of 11.2 hour power, or power under 40 per cent. load factor, could be delivered to consumers from the Portage power-house, $9,107,000 the total cost would be about or $140 per net horse-power delivered from Port65,000 age power-house, under 40 per cent. load factor. But meanwhile the present plants at Rochester and Mount Morris would have made available to them water sufficient to add in all about 8,750 horse-power of 24-hour 7-day power, equivalent to about 22,000 net horse-power under a 40 per cent. load factor. which should carry a part of the above burden. If we put on this only two-thirds as much as on that generated at the Portage powerhouse, because of these sites having to meet the expense for raceways and hydraulic $9,107,000 machinery, the total cost distributed over 79,600 net horse-power gives 79,600 horse-power about $115.00 per horse-power as the cost under a 40 per cent. load factor, or for 11.2 hou power, and with no part of the burden carried by the flood regulation and sewerage im provements. This is a reasonably low cost and compares well with many modern develop ments. r LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY As a first rough approximation similar to that given for the Sacandaga on page 175, we may reckon for the yearly cost, as follows, making the estimate for the second stage, or the combination of reservoir and power house, instead of estimating the yearly maintenance for these separately, as on Sacandaga. Interest on $9,107,000, at 4 per cent. $364, 280 Annual payment to sinking fund, 50-year, 4 per cent., at .655 on total cost of enterprise 59,600 Taxes or equivalent payment to towns at reservoir and power house.. 15,000 25,000 66 66 66 75,000 66 66 10,000 $638, 880 Power house, supplies, oil, petty repairs and insurance. contingencies and forfeits, say.... attendance power house and transmission. Total yearly charges, reservoir and power house. Distributing this over the whole 65,000 horse power under 40% load factor from Portage, plus % of the 22,000 horse power added at Rochester and Mount Morris, or in all 79,600 horse power of 11.2 hour power we find $638,880 79,600 $8.03 per horse power per year delivered to consumers for power which could not be produced by steam and delivered, even with cheap coal and large units, for $20.00 per year. A word of caution is again necessary, that so vast an amount of power could not all be promptly marketed, and that special inducements of low rates for terms of 5, 10 and 20 years would have to be offered to new industries. All rates should be subject to revaluation at end of a term of years. From what has been said on page 178, and from these costs, it is plain that when developed this great power should be so developed as to get the most out of it for all time, and that the development should be under public control. CONCLUSION. In concluding this report I would again emphasize the fact that this is but a progress report and that the small appropriation and the four months of field work have permitted hardly more than a fair beginning of the broad study of how best to conserve the water power resources of the State of New York. In the two cases selected for special study we have first of all tried to make sure of our data on yield of water, and then to make sure of the extent to which reservoir storage could conserve this flow for use at a uniform rate throughout the year; for upon incorrect answers to these questions, which so vitally affect the quantity of power which a given stream can yield in time of. drought, have rested most of the disappointments in water power development. We have tried to study impartially the question of storage reservoirs for power in the Adirondacks and have found that these reservoirs can be so built as to add to the attractiveness of the Forest Preserve and that whether they make the scenery dismal or beautiful is simply a question of proper plans and supervision. We have tried to study impartially how the Portage Falls could be made to contribute most to the welfare and happiness of the people of the State of New York and have found that result would come when the time is ripe, through a broadly planned reservoir development under State control. In closing I desire to return thanks, on behalf of the engineer corps, for the kindly interest that all of the members of your Board have taken step by step in all of our work, and personally I desire to give public testimony to the zeal and fidelity of a corps whose members have week after week voluntarily worked long overtime and cheerfully given up holidays that the work of the first season might give some interesting and definite results. Respectfuly submitted, JOHN R. FREEMAN, Hydraulic Engineer. |