This 1926 image depicts the foundation work of a New York Edison Co. cogeneration plant. of 700 MW, supplying electricity and steam, and powered by coal.
The site was located on the banks of the East River at East 14th Street in Manhattan. During the excavation there was seepage from the river, so a cofferet was built along the bank.
All building materials were delivered directly to the site by barge. 20,500 yellow pine piles 30 feet long were placed to support the base.
Five-ton tower towers delivered sand, gravel and aggregates to the mixing bins. The mixture was delivered by conveyor belts to the bucket elevators, which took it to the mixers where cement and water were added.
Two channels, one 289 feet long and the other 304 feet long, were maneuvered by masts using boom lines to deliver the wet mix. The plant mat was 206.5 feet wide by 1,092.5 feet long and 7 feet thick, requiring 60,000 cubic yards of concrete placed over 12 months.
When operating at full capacity, the plant used 800,000 gallons of water per minute to condense steam, drawing it directly from the river.
