GOLDFIELD ELECTRIC POWER PLANT
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Scheme to Supply Mines With Power Being Carried Out.
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GRADING IS IN PROGRESS
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First Estimate of 2000 Horse Power Capacity Is Now To Be Doubled.
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COMPRESSOR IS INCLUDED
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An enterprise of great importance to the whole district, and especially to the mines in the Bull hill region, is the gigantic power house now being erected by the Smith-Moffat people at Goldfield.

Originally designed to furnish a 2000-horse power electric current of which half was to be utilized by the syndicate's mines, and the other by the Golden Circle railway, indications now are that the capacity will be made just double that figure.
This is because so many applications have been made to the management by the neighboring mines for power.

Graders are now at work leveling the ground, and the foundations will be laid very shortly.
The original plan called for a building 90x100 feet in dimensions, to cost between $125,000 and $150,000. The additional capacity which has now been decided upon will put at least another $100,000 on this estimate.
The mines to be supplied includes the Granite, the Golden Cycle properties, the Legal Tender, the Anaconda, and the great Victor.

In addition to the electric power thus furnished, the syndicate is seriously considering another big building to contain an enormous battery of air compressors to supply the mines.

Figures on the power furnished mines are deceptive. When a mine is using 100 horse power from a steam plant, the pressure must always be kept at that point, and though the engine is not actually running one-third of the time, the waste of fuel and steam is large.
When 100 horse power is furnished by an electric current, there is no waste. The moment the cage is stopped the current is cut off, and the additional power generated is stored up.
So that it really amounts to 300 horse power in the ordinary sense of the term. Looking at the matter in this light, it will be seen that the proposition to furnish a 2000 horse power current means in effect the supplying of 6000 horse power.

Work will be pushed with all practicable speed and a few months more will see a revolution of methods in the section reached by the Golden Circle road, and the compressed air pipes, and electric power line from the great Goldfield plant.

At Cripple Creek workmen excavating for a chamber through which smoke will pass from the boilers to the smoke stack of the Goldfield power plant, cut a rich lead of mineral several feet wide, assaying $60. It is supposed to be an off-shoot of the Legal Tender vein. This is the second strike made in excavating for the power plant.

Goldfield, Col.—The electric plant of the Smith-Moffat syndicate was started April 21 and is now supplying air for drilling purposes to the Gold Knob, Victor, Legal Tender and Granite mines, all of which properties are owned by the Moffat syndicate.
The works are the finest and most complete which have yet been erected in the West. They cost nearly $200,000. The two engines for electric generation are capable of developing 1,500 horse power, while the compressor has a capacity of about 700 horse power.

Within a few weeks now the La Bella Electric Light Co., the Goldfield company, controlled by the Smith-Moffat people, will have light and power for sale in this city. Yesterday an agent of the company was in the city, visiting about among the merchants, seeing how many orders he could get for the new juice, and he made the statement that that the current would be turn-on permanently within ten days or two weeks time.

The company obtained a franchise a year or more ago, and for the past year have been constructing a mammoth plant at Goldfield, which is just completed. The plant is one of the largest in America, and is provided with some of the heaviest and most ponderous electrical machinery in the world, which runs as light as a sewing machine when in full blast.

The company proposes also to deliver power to subscribers, there being two currents, and will rent it out to the mines and to all users of it, for that matter. For the past several weeks the line of poles has been steadily approaching this city, and now the work is all but completed, which explains the visit of the agent to this city yesterday, in an endeavor to see just what business it is to receive upon entering the new field.

Goldfield, Col.—The machinery of the monster power plant of the La Bella Mill, Water & Power Company, located here, was set in motion on the 19th inst.
The La Bella plant will, besides furnishing light, electric power for the mines and electric power for the Florence & Cripple Creek and Golden Circle car lines, supply air power for the operation of machine drills.

THE POWER PLANT OF THE LA BELLA MILL, WATER & POWER COMPANY.
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The Denver Republican's correspondent at Goldfield, Col., supplied that paper with a description of the above plant which we take the liberty to transfer in part to our columns as an exceedingly well-written and graphic exposition of a great composite plant that must have a highly beneficial effect upon the mining and other industries of the Cripple Creek district.
The plant was set in operation for the first time on the 19th of August. Miss Frances Moffat McClurg, granddaughter of David M. Moffat of the Smith-Moffat syndicate, pressed the button in Denver which started the ponderous machinery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT.
The La Bella Mill, Water & Power Company's plant is situated in Goldfield. The structure is built entirely of masonry and steel, is fireproof throughout, and is complete in its appointments.
The building proper covers a space of about 10,000 square feet, while the roof ridge is some 50 feet above the ground and nestles close under the slopes of the high Bull cliffs.

The La Bella plant will be used to operate the Florence & Cripple Creek and Golden Circle Railroads in the district, and supply power, water and light to the mines, mills, samplers, etc., of the Cripple Creek district.

In the boiler room are to be found six large boilers of the Babcock & Wilcox type, arranged in three batteries. These boilers are capable of supplying the engines with steam for 3,000 hp. under normal conditions, and should the service require they can deliver readily steam for 4,500 hp.

The coal for the plant is handled automatically, and without the usual dust and dirt in the boiler room, The coal is damped from cars on an elevated track directly into the steel coal bins.
These bins are inverted pyramids supported from the roof, the coal being dumped through the roof into the bins. From the bins the coal falls into a weighing device, which in turn drops the coal to the automatic stokers.

Next to the boiler room is the pump room, and in addition to the pumps for supplying the plant's requirements, provision has been made for furnishing water to the railroads, mines, mills and other consumers.
Underneath the pump room is a deep basement in which is located the economizer or device for abstracting the heat from the smoke and gases as they pass to the stack.
This device thus saves the heat which would otherwise be carried away and wasted in the smoke stack. Next the economizer room is a well-appointed bath and toilet room for the use of the employes.

Extending the full length of the building and adjoining both the boiler room and the pump room is the engine room. This room is 110 feet long and 50 feet wide and contains a large compressor and three large engines, driving electrical generators. The combined engine capacity is 3,000 horse power.
Over the entire engine room spans a powerful traveling crane capable of lifting any piece of machinery in the plant. One of the conspicuous features of the engine room is the large compressor.
The compressing cylinders and the steam cylinders are both compound and the steam cylinders are condensing.
The high pressure air cylinder has a diameter of 22 inches, while the low pressure cylinder has a diameter of 40 inches, both having a stroke of 48 inches.
The capacity of the compressor being some 5,000 feet of free air per minute, 60 drills could be operated, and even at this high altitude, 10,000 feet above sea level, 35 drills can be operated.

This compressor supplies air directly to a large number of producing mines; in one direction a pipe line to the Victor Mine extends a mile, while a mile in the opposite direction is the Granite Mine, also supplied through a pipe line.
There are also pipe lines to the Golden Cycle, Gold Knob and other properties. The output from the drills operated by this compressor will therefore exceed 1,000 tons per day.

Adjoining the compressor are the large engines coupled to the huge generators of electricity. The electric power will be need to operate the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad from Alta Vista to Cripple Creek, and the Golden Circle Railroad from Victor to Cripple Creek via Vista Grande.
The surplus, however, will be used to operate the hoist pumps, compressors, crushers, etc. in mining mills, samplers, etc. throughout the district.

In the La Bella plant the water is used over and over again, and is cooled between each successive use. For the purpose of cooling the water, there is erected a large cooling tower, the purpose of which is to extract the heat from the water; the water is then returned to the condenser to be used again.
By the use of the cooling tower and the economical machinery condensing permits, 50 per cent. of the coal is saved, while instead of requiring more water for condensing, the quantity is less than one-half the amount that would otherwise be required.

Victor, Col.—An important contract has been signed by the La Bella Light & Power Company, whose big electric plant is located at Goldfield, and the Cripple Creek Electric Railway Company by the terms of which the La Bella Company has agreed to furnish energy to operate the cars to be run on the electric railway throughout the district.
The railway company will increase the number of cars and the result of the arrangement made will be a much better service. Its own plant at Lake Moraine was not large enough to meet the demands of the increasing business.

Denver, Col.—An article written by Thomas Tonge of this city, and published in a recent number of the "Engineering Journal," demonstrates the importance of electric power in a district like Cripple Creek where the water supply is limited.
It appears that the La Bella Mill, Water & Power Company has a capacity of 3,000 horse power, of which 2,250 is electricity and 750 compressed air.
The power generated is used largely for the operation of the mines of the Smith-Moffat syndicate.

Denver, Col.—The La Belle Electric & Power Company has placed orders for new machinery, which will increase the capacity of its electric light and power plant 33½ per cent.
The new machinery ordered consists of a 1,000 horse-power generator, and a 1,000 horse-power engine.

GOLDFIELD POWER PLANT.
The La Bella Power Plant at Goldfield is one of the most complete in the United States. The company furnishes light and power all over the district, runs hoists, and supplies air for drilling purposes, the compressors being driven by electricity. The new plant was opened the past summer, with one of the best equipped power houses in the country.

Denver.—It is proposed to convert the big building of the La Bella Electric Power company at Goldfield into a cyanide plant to treat low grade ores.

Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Another Cyanide Mill.
It is stated that the big building of La Bella Electric Light & Power Co. at Goldfield will be converted into a cyanide mill. The engines and boilers are now being removed. The solid construction of the building, as well as its situation, will admirably fit it for the above purpose.