Peter,
There is a large overshot wheel in the Fort Steele Historic Park
which came from gold workings on Perry Creek. Pictures of this wheel
(in its original location) can be seen in the B.C. Archives.
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/visual/visual.htm
Although write-ups in the park imply that this was used at the
turn of the century, it was actually built during the 1930's (and I
understand it drove a compressor).
Sandon, B.C. had its own power plant operated by a Pelton Wheel
before 1900. I assume that this was installed by one of the mining
companies. Although the town had largely been demolished by the 1960's,
the plant was still operating and producing electric power for all the
remaining inhabitants (one of whom, apparently, had obtained ownership).
The company at Britannia Beach, B.C. had its own power plant
(using a Pelton Wheel) to operate its large concentrator. There were
several companies involved in running this mine, and I have no idea who
oringinally installed the plant or when it was installed. I know that
in 1952 I was involved with grinding buckets for the wheel (the company
had its own foundry). If anyone is interested, I will try to obtain
more information about these wheels. I did get to see the Britannia
Pelton Wheel and was impressed that such a relatively small wheel (about
6 or 8 feet in diameter) could produce so much power. Of course, both
Pelton wheels (Sandon & Britannia) were located where there was a high
mountain above to provide plenty of "head".
Certainly the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (later
Cominco) became involved very early in the century with larger power
dams using turbines. Although these were operated under the name of
West Kooteney Power Power and Light, they were built under the direction
of C.M.&S(Cominco) to serve the needs of the company. Power from these
dams ran the Trail smelter and and all the Kimberley Operations.
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