PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 43 



Darling Harbour, with the railway alongside, but the 

 demand for current has extended to such a distance from 

 the city proper that it is no longer central. 



The generating plant first installed consisted of three 

 reciprocating steam engines driving three-phase alter- 

 nators of a total capacity of 1500 kw., generating a current 

 of 5000 volts 50 cycles per second. In 1906 additional 

 machinery of 1200 kw. capacity was installed, in 1907 a 

 steam turbine driven generator of 2000 kw. was started 

 and duplicated in 1908. This did not suffice for long, as in 

 1911 two similar plants, but each of 4000 kw., were found 

 necessary, and in 1914 a 5000 kw. turbine driven generator 

 was added, this being of German make, and I am pleased 

 to be able to say that those of British make previously 

 supplied, have, I believe, proved themselves superior 

 machines. 



Some of the earliest installed plant has been sold, being 

 too small to operate economically, the plant having thus 

 grown from a capacity of 1500 kw. in 1904 to 26200 kw. in 

 1914, when its growth was checked. 



Steam is generated in boilers of large capacity fitted with 

 automatic chain grate stokers, and superheaters. 



The coal used is delivered by railway waggons into hop- 

 pers after having been weighed, and from there raised to 

 an overhead coal bunker from which it is delivered by 

 gravity to the automatic stokers, being weighed on its way, 

 so that the performance of each boiler on each shift can be 

 checked. 



The ashes are handled by conveyors and elevators and 

 delivered into overhead hoppers, from which they are dis- 

 charged by gravity into railway waggons. 



The high tension switch gear is arranged in special 

 chambers under the engine-room floor, and is operated 



