8.-Angelica Creek, Angelica, N. Y.

There is no dam site below the junction of Baker and Angelica creeks. Just above the junction of these creeks and below Angelica on Angelica creek is a deep, narrow gorge through which the creek flows over a series of falls. This would make a good dam site, and there would be a large reservoir above, but it would completely wipe out the village of Angelica of about 1,200 inhabitants.

The Pittsburgh, Shawmut & Northern railroad also runs nearly the whole length of the valley, and would have to be relocated. A reservoir here, therefore, could not be constructed for anything like a reasonable figure, even if authority could be obtained to do it, which is very doubtful.

The drainage area is 65 square miles above the gorge. A dam to close this gorge would be of masonry about 75 feet on the bottom, and 200 feet, more or less, at the top, and 50 feet high. An earth dike 400 feet long with a maximum height of 30 feet would also be required to close the gap through which the railroad now runs.

The main dam would cost not less than $65,000, and the earth dike about $16,000. The reservoir created by these dams would be about half a square mile in area and contain 316 million cubic feet of water.

Estimating the land for reservoir at $1,000 per acre, as it is practically all in 'the village, and the railroad location at $50,000 per mile, and the buildings in the village at $300,000, the cost for reservoir would be $720,000, or a total cost for the storage reservoir, including the dam and dike, of $801,000, making the cost per million cubic feet stored $2,540.

The maximum constant flow of storage is estimated at 57 cubic feet per second, and if the power station is located at foot of rapids, a maximum net head of 95 feet could be obtained for six months in the year with a minimum net head of 45 feet. The power for six months would be 460, and varying the other six months from 460 to 217, making an average for the year of 400 net horse power. The estimated cost of developing this would be $29,400 additional for 2,000 feet of penstock, power station, and machinery, making a total cost for development of $830,000, or $1,800 per rated horse power developed.

9.- Campen Creek, Belvidere, N. Y.

The Erie railroad from Cuba to Belvidere parallels this creek for its whole length and as viewed from the train, it did not appear feasible to locate a reservoir of any size on this creek. The valley is uniformly wide (from 600 to 1,000) and with a descent of from 30 to 50 feet per mile. The drainage area is 59 square miles.

10.- Phillips Creek, Belmont, N. Y.

I did not go up this creek personally, but from descriptions of residents, do not believe there is anything in it of value for storage purposes. It is said to be a rapidly running stream, flowing through several narrow gorges with no large areas between, suitable for reservoirs. The total drainage area is only 30 square miles.

11.- Knight Creek, Scio, N. Y.

The total drainage area of Knight creek is only 24 square miles, and as no dam site or reservoir site could be found within a mile and a half of the mouth, and as the watershed above that point is so small, it was quite evident that nothing of value could be found above there. I did not therefore investigate any further.

12.- Vandermark Creek, Scio, N. Y.

There is a possible reservoir site about two miles up from the river where a reservoir, say, 1 mile long and from 400 to 800 feet wide, making a surface area of 114 mile and averaging, say, 10 feet deep, could be secured by building a dam approximately 50 feet high, from 60 to 75 feet long at the base, and from 150 to 200 feet long at the top at head of gorge. The foundation for the dam would be of disintegrated slate.

The dam is estimated to cost not less than $78,000, and would create a reservoir of 30 million cubic feet capacity. The cost for land for reservoir is estimated at $5,600, making a total cost for storage of $83,600, or a cost of $2,780 per million cubic feet stored.

The drainage area above dam is 19 square miles, and the maximum constant flow is estimated at only 11 cubic feet per second. This could be utilized under a head of 70 feet for six months and varying from 70 to 20 feet for six months by carrying penstock about 1,000 feet down the stream to the power station.

The maximum horse power would be 65 and the minimum 18, giving an average for the year of 53. The cost of developing this power would be $6,800 additional for penstock, power station, and machinery, making the total cost of development $90,400, or a cost per rated horse power developed of $1,390.

13.- Dyke Creek, Wellsville, N. Y.

The valley of Dyke creek would make an admirable reservoir, as it is broad and flat and the land is practically worthless except for a large oil pumping station, but there is no suitable dam site. The point selected as the most favorable for dam is about 1 mile east of the Genesee river and as estimated consists of a masonry spillway 200 feet long and an earth embankment 1,300 feet long and 50 feet high to the flow line with a maximum height of 60 feet. This would create a reservoir of .36 square mile in area and of approximately 200 million cubic feet capacity.

The cost of dam would be not less than $370,000, and the cost of land for reservoir exclusive of moving railroad, roads and pumping station, would be $11,500, making $381,000 total, or $1,905 per million cubic feet stored.

Estimating the cost of moving Erie railroad about three miles at $150,000, two miles of highway $2,000, and moving oil pumping station $50,000, the total cost for storage would be about $580,000, or a cost per million cubic feet stored of $2,900.

The drainage area is 72 square miles, and the estimated constant flow 52 cubic feet per second. This could be used under a head of 50 feet for four months and with a varying head from 50 feet to 0 for eight months, furnishing 220 horse power at switch board for four months and an average of 110 horse power for eight months, or an average of 146 horse power for the year. The additional cost of developing this for power station and machinery is estimated at $9,000, making a total cost of $589,000, or a cost per horse power of $2,670.

14.- Main Stream of the Genesee River of One-Half Mile Above Scio, N. Y.

A masonry dam 10 feet high and about 150 feet long could be constructed at this point, but as it would simply raise the water in the main stream over an area of about 025 square mile and would hold only 32 million cubic feet of water, it would have no value as a storage reservoir. The cost of this dam is estimated at $6,000, and the land at $1,500, making a total of $7,500, or $2,100 per million cubic feet of storage.

The drainage area is 295 square miles and the maximum constant flow not more than 118 cubic feet per second. This would give constantly 100 net horse power. The cost of developing this power is $5,400 additional for power station and machinery, making a total of $12,900, or $129 per horse power developed.

15.- Main Stream of the Genesee River About One and One Half Miles Below Wellsville.

A dam at this point would have to be at least 1,500 feet in length, and as estimated, consists of a masonry spillway section in present channel 200 feet long, 20 feet high, and an earth embankment 1,300 feet long, 20 feet high. This would flow the valley approximately 10 feet deep for 11⁄2 miles upstream, and from % to 4 of a mile wide, making a reservoir of about .28 square mile in area and about 78 million cubic feet capacity.

The cost of dam would be at least $81,000, and the cost of land at $100 per acre, $20,000, making the total cost, exclusive of the moving railroads, etc., $101,000, or a cost per million cubic feet stored of $1,300. Estimating the cost of moving 11⁄2 miles of the new Buffalo and Susquehanna railroad at $60,000 the

total cost for development would be approximately $160,000, or a cost per million gallons stored of $2,030. The drainage area at this point is 293 square miles, and the regulated flow 155 cubic feet per second.

The head for power purposes would be 20 feet for five months in the year and would vary from 20 feet to 0 for seven months, giving 260 net horse power for five months and varying from 260 to 0 for seven months, making an average for the year of 183 net horse power. The cost of developing this power is estimated at $17,400 for power station and machinery, making a total cost for development of $177,400, or a cost per rated horse power developed of $684.

16.- Main Stream of the Genesee River About Four Miles Above Wellsville.

A dam designed for this narrow point in the valley consists of a masonry spillway 50 feet high and 200 feet long, and an earth embankment 1,300 feet long with a maximum height of 60 feet. This would flow a broad valley, say, 1 mile wide in its widest part and about 2 miles long to a maximum depth of 50 feet and an average depth of 20 feet, having a surface area of approximately 1.5 square miles and a capacity of 850 million cubic feet.

The cost of dam is estimated at $370,000, and of land for reservoir $75,000, the moving of Buffalo & Susquehanna railroad 4 miles $200,000, the relocation of 5 miles of highway $5,000, making a total cost, exclusive of moving railroad and highways, of $445,000, or $522 per million cubic feet, and a total cost of $650,000, including removal of railroads, etc., or $765 per million cubic feet stored. The drainage area at this point is 166 square miles, and the estimated maximum constant flow 150 cubic feet per second, which could be utilized at a head of 50 feet for three months and varying from 50 feet to 0 for nine months, giving 640 horse power for three months and varying from 640 to 0 for nine months, making an average for the year of 400 net horse power. The cost of developing power would be $24,000 additional for power station and machinery, making a total cost of $674,000, or a cost of $1,050 per rated horse power.

The valley above this point is very broad, and no other possible dam sites were found in the six miles between here and the Pennsylvania State line. No investigation was made for Cryder creek, or the main stream above the State line, as, of course, New York would have no authority to interfere with Pennsylvania streams.

The figures given in the previous descriptions are shown in tabular form in tables No. 1 and No. 2, below.

Table No. 1 shows the drainage areas, capacities and cost of storage reservoirs, together with the ratio of cost of each reservoir investigated to Rafter's estimate of cost of storage per million cubic feet at Portage.

Table No. 2 shows the regulated constant flow that can be maintained with maximum and minimum head; maximum, minimum, and average horse power, cost of whole development provided power is developed in connection with storage reservoirs, cost of development per rated horse power of plant and ratio of cost to cost at Portage.

CONCLUSION.

It will be seen from an inspection of these tables that the reservoir site at Caneadea creek is the only one of all those investigated that offers any promise whatever as a storage reservoir, and that the capacity is only 6 2-3 per cent. of the Portage reservoir, while the cost for storage as estimated is 1.44 times the Portage reservoir cost per million cubic feet.

The water power at this site could be developed at lower cost per horse power than at any of the other locations above Portage, excepting only the very small power on the main stream at Scio where 100 horse power could be developed for $129 per horse power, but the maximum constant power to be obtained is only 2 per cent. of that obtainable at Portage, and the cost is 38 per cent. greater per horse power.

The total combined storage capacity of all twelve reservoirs estimated upon, which are all that could be found on a two weeks' reconnoissance, is only 3,362 million cubic feet or 22 per cent. of the Portage reservoir capacity, while the total cost is 1.55 times more than Mr. Rafter's estimates for Portage.

The cost per million cubic feet stored at Portage was estimated by Mr. Rafter in 1896 to be $173, while the cost of the combined storage as estimated above is $1,200 or 6.94 times as great.

The maximum horse power that could be developed from all twelve reservoirs is estimated at 3,703 net horse power; the minimum horse power being 1,082 3 the average for the year being 2,847. The total cost of developing this Power in connection with the storage reservoirs is estimated at $4,400,000, or a cost of $1,190 per rated horse power. The minimum 7-day 24-hour horse power at Portage is estimated by Mr. Freeman at 30,000, or about 28 times the amount estimated for all twelve reservoirs, or in other words the minimum power for all twelve reservoirs is only 3.6 per cent. of that at Portage. The cost of development at Portage without transmission is estimated by Mr. Freeman at $277.00 per horse power, making the cost of development for the combined twelve reservoirs to be 4.3 times the cost per horse power at Portage.

The value of water power to be obtained from a storage reservoir operated primarily to regulate the flow of the stream cannot be equal to one operated for power purposes only.

In the first case the intention would be to so control the outflow as to give as nearly constant flow as possible regardless of head in reservoir.

In the second case, the maximum power could be obtained by using the power intermittently, never drawing the reservoir down beyond the point where it would not replenish itself before time to start up again. The flow in the stream below would consequently be very erratic, but by operating a number of reservoirs in conjunction during season of low water, it would be possible to keep the power practically constant for the twenty-four hours and much higher than would be possible by operating each independently. By operating in this way, the minimum and average horse power, as calculated in the above table, could perhaps be increased somewhat, as the figures in the table are based on using reservoirs to best advantage for steam regulation. The maximum horse power given, however, would not be changed by this method of operation, and as the cost of development per rated horse power is calculated upon this maximum figure, the conclusions as to value of power would not be changed.

Considered from the hydraulic standpoint alone, I think that we may say with perfect confidence that the Lord Kelvin plan is not feasible and could not with any reason be considered as an alternative to the Portage project.

In considering the electrical features of the plan, I would naturally hesitate to criticise anything suggested by so eminent a scientist as Lord Kelvin, but the scheme of direct current transmission as outlined in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle of May 3, 1902, is certainly not feasible, and it is contrary to all accepted ideas of transmission and utilization of electrical energy.

As Mr. Hollis French, the well-known consulting engineer, suggests in a recent personal letter, the reporter must have misunderstood Lord Kelvin, and that instead of direct current the new "constant current system " must have been intended. Extracts from Mr. French's letters in which he states some of the flaws in the direct current plan and also outlines the "constant current system," are given below, as also a brief resumé of the Lord Kelvin plan.

As the hydraulic development of the so-called Lord Kelvin plan is the controlling feature, and this is found to be impracticable, it would not seem wortn while to go very deeply into the electrical part.

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Respectfully submitted,

GEORGE G. SHEDD.