[69] The Water Power of Texas. 23 
could be constructed as easily as it could be done on banks, and then the 
two depressions near each bank would afford alternate gateways through 
which the water could be played from side to side while the work of con- 
struction was progressing. In addition to this, Llano is the very heart 
of the best granite region in the world, and good building granite could 
be obtained within one mile of the dam site. Thus a good foundation, 
ease of construction and" convenient stone all unite in inviting the 
increase of the water power of the river. The flow here at the very low 
stages is about seventy-six cubic feet per second and a dam with an effect- 
ive head of twenty-four feet could be easily constructed, thus developing 
at the very lowest stages 168-horse power, and 200-horse power at ordi- 
nary low flow. By a judicious use of flash boards on the crest of the 
dam, and bv utilizing the power only ten hours per day, and conserving 
it at night and on Sundays, the very lowest power could be increased to 
475-horse power. To produce this power by means of the McAlester 
bituminous coal would require ten pounds of coal every minute, or seven 
tons per day — about twenty-five cents for each horse power. At ordinary 
prices this would cost $35 per day, $13,000 per year. There seems to be 
no doubt but what the granite industry at Llano will soon be one of the 
biggest in the country, and power will be needed at various quarries for 
shaping and polishing. This power will have to be developed by fuel or 
water. The cheapest coal fuel, as the results of the Rapid Transit Rail- 
way of Austin have so far shown, is the Rockdale lignite, which costs 
about forty-eight per cent, of the McAlester coal. The Beaumont oil 
saves about sixty per cent, of the money formerly spent for good bitumin- 
ous coal. To produce the 475-horse powers would cost about $5200 per 
year. 
The most elaborate and scientific experiments to determine the value 
of Beaumont oil as a fuel were made by Prof. J. E. Denton, of Stevens 
Institute of Technology, from November 27 to December 13, 1901. 
These results were published in the Engineering News of January 30, 
1902. We abstract the following: 
“Specific gravity of oil, .920. 
Weight of oil per gallon, 7.66 pounds. 
Flash point, 142° F. 
Burning point, 181° F. 
Weight of barrel of oil, 322 pounds. 
Gallons in barrel, 42. 
Calorific value per pound, 19,060 B. T. TJ. 
The net evaporation ranged from 14.74 to 15.16 pounds of water per 
pound of oil. Consequently for the two higher horse powers the net 
evaporation of 14.80 pounds of water per pound of oil may be considered 
to represent the best economy that is to be expected from the use of oil 
as a fuel with steam jet burners. 
