1899.] SELLERS — TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY BY ELECTRICITY. 63 



Company, and later a similar exhibit was given at Lynn, Mass., by 

 the General Electric Company, the former by bi-phase generation 

 and transmission, the latter by tri-phase. 



After a most careful study of the subject from a scientific and 

 commercial point of view, the bi-phase system of twenty-five alter- 

 nations per second was adopted by the Cataract Construction Com- 

 pany. When such a low rate of alternation was discussed, it was 

 apprehended that the cost of static transformers would be so much 

 increased as to more than counterbalance the efficiency promised 

 by the lowering of the rate of alternation ; but, as in many other 

 cases, when a want is felt, the urgency of the want leads to improve- 

 ments that entirely change the conditions ; so in this case, while 

 many predicted that static transformers of this low period would 

 cost from fifteen to twenty or even twenty-five dollars per horse 

 power, still when tenders were to be solicited a guarantee had been 

 exacted that the price should not exceed five dollars per horse 

 power, while in actual practice, in healthy competition, the 

 machinery for the purpose was secured at a very much lower rate. 



As to the results reached by the system adopted, I must call 

 your attention to the remarkable character of the industries that 

 clustered about the central station. In 1893 there were no bi- 

 phase motors of high efficiency manufactured, as up to the last few 

 .years alternate-current electric lighting plants had not been adapted 

 to the operation of highly efficient motors to take the place of 

 steam engines. There were few if any applicants for power to 

 drive machinery. No cotton mills or other textile industries 

 sought cheap power when it involved the use of machinery that had 

 yet to be perfected. Existing direct-current motors could be had 

 in abundance, but manufacturers had not yet used them. The 

 largest cotton or woolen mills required not over 1000 horse power 

 to drive them, while most are on a smaller scale. 



The advantages offered by the elastic electric system at Niagara 

 Falls attracted industries that employed few hands, needed little 

 machinery, but required enormous amounts of power, which, at a 

 lower cost than steam and without an investment in engines and 

 dynamos, could be used profitably. 



The Pittsburg Reduction Company, engaged in the extraction of 

 the metal aluminum from its ores, was the first applicant for 1500 

 to 3000 horse-power electric current from the new power-house. 

 This process, known as the Hall process, required heat energy to 



