MR. FERGUSON: There were two feeders running from the station, feeding four large transformers. There were no pressure wires and no feeder compen sator. MR WAGNER: Mr. Walbank said something about the three-phase system. I do not want to say anything against it, but where lighting is the principal factor, the three-phase distribution cannot be made to regulate as well and give as satisfactory results as the single-phase or direct current. Mr. Walbank's business, I understand, is principally power. His motor business is greater than his light business, and in all the water-power plants he mentioned the current is furnished principally for power, and lighting is a secondary consideration. I could show you on the blackboard why it is impossible to regulate satisfactorily with three-phase circuits where the load varies differently on the different phases. It will vary in that way. where lighting is the larger portion of the load, and will not where motors only are used. A regulator must be placed on each one of the three wires, if it is a three-wire three-phase system of distribution; and the regulator used to boost up the pressure to compensate for feeder and transformer drop on any one of the phases affects the adjacent phases practically the same as it affects that you wish to regulate; and it is impossible to avoid this except by the use of a four-wire system. With a four-wire three-phase system this may be very much lessened, if not eliminated. THE PRESIDENT: Gentlemen, we have been kept so closely to it to-day that, with your permission, we will postpone until to-morrow morning the two papers that were scheduled for this afternoon's session. I should like to start promptly at ten o'clock. We have a good deal to do, and we shall undoubtedly have an interesting session. ANNOUNCEMENTS THE PRESIDENT: At eight o'clock to-night, Mr. Joseph Wetzler will deliver a lecture on "Electricity Direct from Coal." It is one of the possibilities of our business, and is a subject frequently discussed from time to time in the newspapers, and I think you will have a better appreciation of what you may read in the future if you will come and hear Mr. Wetzler to-night. I think you will find that he will give us a great deal of instruction. MR. FERGUSON: If there are any gentlemen here that care to visit the main operating station of the Chicago Edison company at Harrison street, or any of the outlying stations, we shall be very glad to arrange to escort you to visit these stations at the close of this meeting. You will see some very interesting things connected with our operation. Those of you who are connected with alternating-current stations will see there the use of alternating currents. by a direct-current company, and the direct-current men will see apparatus that I am sure will be useful to them in their business. THE PRESIDENT: The railroad tickets for your return passage have been extended until the eighteenth instant, to enable you to go west with the Northwestern Electrical Association. If you will notify the secretary of that association, he will arrange for your tickets. Ladies will be included in the party. With your permission, we will consider the meeting adjourned until ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Adjourned. I. 2. ORDER OF BUSINESS THURSDAY, June 9th, 1898. FIFTH SESSION, 10.40 A. M. Paper "Cost of Producing Electric Power by Paper "Transformer Economy." By I. 2. 3. SIXTH SESSION, 2.55 P. M. Report-Committee on Standard Candle Power of I. EXECUTIVE SESSION Report Secretary and Treasurer 2. Appointment of Committee on Legislative Policy FIFTH SESSION President Insul called the meeting to order at 10.40 o'clock, announcing the first order of business. to be the reading of a paper by Mr. W. McLea Walbank, of Montreal, Canada, on the cost of producing electricity by water power. Mr. Walbank read the paper as follows: LACHINE RAPIDS PLANT AND THE COST OF PRODUCING POWER FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY THEREFROM Mr. President and Gentlemen: In order to allow of a fair comparison with other plants, of the cost of producing power for generating electricity from the Lachine Rapids plant, the writer considers it desirable to give you a brief outline of the hydraulic as well as the electrical equipment of our works. The world-renowned Lachine Rapids, as you are all doubtless aware, are situated on the St. Lawrence River, a short distance from the city of Montreal. The idea of converting the wasted energies of these turbulent waters and harnessing them for the use and convenience of man was not new. As far back as 1866 a company was formed, whose object was to erect dams and construct large hydraulic works about a mile lower down the river than the site of the present power house; their object being to induce factories to establish their works at the rapids, for at that date the possibilities of electric transmission had not been demonstrated. The scheme, however, never materialized, and since that date various projects have from time to time been talked of, but never matured. In the fall of 1895 the Lachine Rapids Hydraulic and Land Company, Limited, commenced its operations. The directors began work only after having fully satisfied themselves upon the difficulties to be |