A GREAT PROJECT

Evening Star, Issue 14185, 9 October 1909, Page 6

A GREAT PROJECT

To bring the greatest river in Nebraska one hnnaped miles overland, crossing other rivers and streams en route, at a post of one and a-quartet mil Eons sterling is the latest project of the earth-moving American genius. The object of the great work is the development of force to the extent of 200.000 horso power for the use of the great packing-houses and flour-mills of Omaha. All plans have been made, tho scheme financed, and contracts let. Actual construction work was to have begun in September. Practically the entire Loup River will be diverted from its present bed and conducted across the country on an entirely different level than the one given the river by Nature. In its new course the Loup will cross the Elkhorn River, the fourth largest stream in the State, on a great concrete bridge high up in air. The same course will be pursued in crossing smaller streams and depressions too largo to fill. Naturally, the stream _ flows eastward, but the new river will be conducted northward seventoon miles to a vast natural reservoir, seven miles long, at the lower end of which a. dam, 120 ft high, will be constructed. From the top of this dam penstocks will lead the water to water wheels, 120 ft below, where 50.000 horse power will he generated and sent to Omaha over copper wires. After leaving tho dam the water will continue in the new channel provided for it for twenty miles, when another natural reservoir is encountered, and a fall of SOft obtained. At this point '30,000 horse-power is to bo generated, and sent onward to the big packing-houses at Omaha. Again the river will be made captive and conducted along its new channel to tho Maple Creek Valley, whore another plant is to produce 30.000 horse-power. Near Fremont still another plant will generate 40,000 horse-power, and then the last stage of the artificial river is to be begun.. Between Freipont and Omaha, about forty miles, tho greatest engineering feat of the development is planned. This is the crossing of tho river high up above the Elkhom River, which traverses a deep valley. The Loup will be conducted over this stream on a giAnt concrete bridge, tho largest in the country. From this point to Omaha the now river will pass through hills bordering on the Missouri River, and finally wall plunge over the very crest of tho_ highest of these into the Missouri in a cataract 7oft high, generating 50,000 horse-power. The total energy generated at the five falls will bo 200,000 horse-power. There is no coal mined in Nebraska, and every pound of energy must at present be generated from coal, on whiph enormous freight rates are paid. Once tlio Loup is harnessed it is calculated that the cost of generating power will be reduced 500 per cent. '