WATER-POWER FROM THE TIDES.

WATER-POWER FROM THE TIDES.

WATER-POWER, it is hoped, will soon Be developed from the tides of Long Island sound. An experiment looking towards that end, it is believed, will be tried during the coming season at Niantic, Conn., where the conditions are so favorable that a number of capitalists have taken the matter in hand. The method to be followed is that of C. E. Butts, of Hartford, who has already constructed a successful tide-water mill at Bangor, Me., which is used for pumping the water supply for that city. At Niantic, where there is an arm of the sea suitable for the experiment, advantage will be taken of that tideway, whose strong current, it is thought, will exactly supply what is required for the purpose. Across this tideway will lie fixed four immense undershot wheels, thirty feet in diameter, carrying twelve paddles, to be submerged ten feet in water at low tide. Three of the paddles will be submerged all of the time during the revolution of the wheels, and. whether the tide is running in or out, there will be a continuous movement of the wheels, except at ebb or full tide for a brief time. The wheels will be made of steel, and the power will ba transmitted by means of a steel shaft and spur-gear, and applied to the production of compressed air in a plant to be housed on the shore—the compressed air to be used for the purpose of running electric, or mechanical plants in the vicinity. The storing of compressed air for use in automobile carriages is one of the ideas in contemplation. Only one of the big undershot wheels will be set up at first, and the privilege has been obtained to occupy the tideway, which is sufficiently wide to afford room for the tide-power plant, without interfering with the way for vessels such as can get into Niantic bay.

WATER-POWER, it is hoped, will soon Be developed from the tides of Long Island sound. An experiment looking towards that end, it is believed, will be tried during the coming season at Niantic, Conn., where the conditions are so favorable that a number of capitalists have taken the matter in hand. The method to be followed is that of C. E. Butts, of Hartford, who has already constructed a successful tide-water mill at Bangor, Me., which is used for pumping the water supply for that city. At Niantic, where there is an arm of the sea suitable for the experiment, advantage will be taken of that tideway, whose strong current, it is thought, will exactly supply what is required for the purpose. Across this tideway will lie fixed four immense undershot wheels, thirty feet in diameter, carrying twelve paddles, to be submerged ten feet in water at low tide. Three of the paddles will be submerged all of the time during the revolution of the wheels, and. whether the tide is running in or out, there will be a continuous movement of the wheels, except at ebb or full tide for a brief time. The wheels will be made of steel, and the power will ba transmitted by means of a steel shaft and spur-gear, and applied to the production of compressed air in a plant to be housed on the shore—the compressed air to be used for the purpose of running electric, or mechanical plants in the vicinity. The storing of compressed air for use in automobile carriages is one of the ideas in contemplation. Only one of the big undershot wheels will be set up at first, and the privilege has been obtained to occupy the tideway, which is sufficiently wide to afford room for the tide-power plant, without interfering with the way for vessels such as can get into Niantic bay.