The pier construction includes a special river wall across 58th Street at the bulkhead line through which the condensing water will be taken from and returned to the river.  Immediately outside the river wall and beneath the deck of the pier, there is a system of screens through which the intake water is passed.  On each side where the water enters the screen chamber, is a heavy steel grillage; inside this is a system of fine screens arranged so that the several screens can be raised, by a special machine, for the purpose of cleaning.  The advantages of a well-designed screening outfit has been appreciated, and considerable care has been exercised to make it as reliable and effective as possible.

At each side of the center of the pier, just below the deck, there are two discharge water conduits constructed of heavy timber, to conduct the warm water from the condensers away from the cold water intakes at the screens.  Two water conduits are employed, in order that one may be repaired or renewed while using the other; in fact, the entire pier is constructed with the view of renewal without interference in the operation for which it was provided.

CHAPTER IV

POWER PLANT FROM COAL PILE TO SHAFTS OF ENGINES AND TURBINES

From the minute and specific description in Chapter III, a clear idea will have been obtained of the power house building and its adjuncts, as well as of the features which not only go to make it an architectural landmark, but which adapt it specifically for the vital function that it is called upon to perform.  We now come to a review and detailed description of the power plant equipment in its general relation to the building, and “follow the power through” from the coal pile to the shafts of the engines or steam turbines attached to the dynamos which generate current for power and for light.

[Sidenote:  Coal and Ash Handling Equipment]

The elements of the coal handling equipment comprise a movable electric hoisting tower with crushing and weighing apparatus—­a system of horizontal belt conveyors, with 30-inch belts, to carry the crushed and weighed coal along the dock and thence by tunnel underground to the southwest corner of the power house; a system of 30-inch belt conveyors to elevate the coal a distance of 110 feet to the top of the boiler house, at the rate of 250 tons per hour or more, if so desired, and a system of 20-inch belt conveyors to distribute it horizontally over the coal bunkers.  These conveyors have automatic self reversing trippers, which distribute the coal evenly in the bunkers.  For handling different grades of coal, distributing conveyors are arranged underneath the bunkers for delivering the coal from a particular bunker through gates to the downtake hoppers in front of the boilers, as hereafter described.