The Westinghouse Company and the Niagara Contract

We print elsewhere in this issue an important communication from Mr. L. B. Stillwell, on behalf of the Westinghouse Co., which sheds a strong side light on the information embodied in Prof. Forbes' paper on the electrical features of the Niagara transmission plant. This communication, taken in connection with Prof. Forbes' own statements, would make it appear that so far as essential features are concerned; the promoters of the Niagara scheme deemed it wise to accept the advice of experienced constructors in preference to that of their consulting electrical engineer. And this brings us back to the old question of the relation between these two frequently antagonistic elements. The consulting electrical engineer's services have from the very outset been little availed of in this country, purchasers of electrical plants having in the large majority of cases left matters entirely in the hands of the contracting companies, which practice has, it must be admitted, given rise to but few conflicts. In the case of the work at Niagara, it would appear that the consulting electrical engineer, instead of confining himself to laying down the conditions and leaving to the contractors to devise the best methods of carrying out the specifications, actually entered into competition with them, with the result that might have been foreseen. According to Mr. Stillwell it would also seem that while the engineers of the Westinghouse Co., are in accord with Prof. Forbes on the selection of the methods adopted, they differ from him radically in the assumptions and reasoning which led them to advocate the final plans adopted.

It would be interesting to know the details of these differences and it is to be hoped that the electrical profession will not be kept in ignorance of them. For this reason it is perhaps a pity that Prof. Forbes' paper could not have been read and discussed on this side of the water also. Probably an early opportunity may be afforded by the Institute for such a timely discussion.