Discussion on the Lochaber Water-Power Scheme.

Abstract

Diacuaaion. 'he President.The PRESIDENT, in moving the vote of thanks, observed that the Paper described a very remarkable work ; it was full of information, and would repay earnest study. It had been his good fortune, about a year before, to go to Lochaber, on the invitation of the Author, and visit the works described. He did not know what had struck him most-the beauty of the setting in which the works were placed, their magnitude and bold conception, or the attention to all those numerous points of detail which made all the difference between the success of such a scheme and its failure. He congratulated the Author on the successful termination of a very fine piece of work. Air.Mr. GEORGE BALFOUR remarked that perhaps the best service he could render to the members would be t o give the following bulk figures, relating to the carrying-out of the work, which did not come within the scope of the Paper. A sum of f75,000 was spent on camps. The works involved the building of more than 20 miles of transmission-lines, 20 miles of telephone-lines, and 20 miles of lighting-cable. There were used in the works 50,000 tons of Portland cement, 4,000 tons of ciment fondu, and 1,500 tons of gelignite, and 1 million tons of rock was excavated. A total of 202,256 linear feet of drill steel was used, and at one time 50,000 linear feet of drill steel was lying actually on the works. A total length of 22 miles of air-piping and 22 miles of water-piping was employed, and the ventilation-piping aggregated 15 miles. There were eleven fans in constant service until the holing-through was accomplished. Fifty pumps were employed. There were 26 miles of 3-foot-gauge track and 20 miles of 2-foot-gauge track, and altogether 526 wagons were in service on the works. There were twenty concrete-mixers and twenty-two electric locomotives. Twenty-two air-compressors with a free-air capacity of 750 cubic feet per minute mere used, and there were three stand-by compressors of 600 cubic feet capacity, as well as seven portable compressors of 222 cubic feet capacity. The Author had touched upon the difficulties experienced in obtaining parliamentary sanction for the works. Works of the nature in question would have been completed many years ago but for the difficulty, which the members would appreciate, of convincing parliamentary committees of the advantage of immediate action. He would like to say a word on the difference, in submitting Bills