figure 8. Inside the original wooden shack at Ames, showing operators with the original 100-hp generator, circa 1891 (image courtesy of the Fort Lewis College Center for Southwest Studies). AMES Hydroelectric Plant 100-hp Single-Phase Alternator Separately Excited wood pins, and glass insulators. Two no. 3 bare-copper wires were installed over the entire line. The cost of the conductors was about US$700, about 1-2% of the cost of the larger copper conductors that would have been necessary if a dc system had been selected. The main motor at the Gold King Mine was brought to synchronous speed by a single-phase induction motor, which received full line voltage. Synchronizing lamps were utilized to assist with synchronization. Circuits were closed with blade-type switches and opened with arc-light plugs. operating the plant was a hazardous endeavor, and it was a rule that operators always keep one hand in their pocket when using the other (see figure 10). Nunn hired students from Cornell University to help construct and operate the Ames power plant, along with the Gold King MINE 100-hp Single-Phase Alternator Self-Excited Used as a Motor Tesla Starting Motor Exciter Transformer Transformer Disconnect Switch Compensator Voltmeter Sync. Lamps Disc. Switch Ammeter Field Regulator Field Regulator Transformer Ammeter Plug Switches Transmission Line Original Synchronous Motor System at Telluride Power Generated at 133 Hz and Transmitted 2.6 mi at 3,000 V figure 9. A motor-generator diagram showing the original installation at Telluride (image courtesy of Alan E. Drew). 90 ieee power & energy magazine january/february 2014