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The Leogra Valley Hydroelectric Power Stations 2/2
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In order to build the Ponte delle Capre Hydroelectric Power Station(16), A. Rossi continued to purchase the productive establishments which held concessions and rights to exploit the falls of water: the edifice ‘for mills and saws’ owned by F. Manfron, known as Righelato, which already made use of its own channels, was purchased for this power station. Rossi’s development project included the use of the ‘rosta’ (dam) and the former Mengotto copper forge canal, and he constructed a new channel along the slopes of the mountain, on the right-hand side of the Leogra, as far as where it is joined(17) by the Sagno: and this is where the highest fall(18) was to be found and the turbines(19) were to be placed at its lowest point. The discharge(20) water was to be channelled under the Sagno to flow to the intake installation of the Manfron factory. This was also meant to contribute to the Torrebelvicino and Pievebelvicino Works in the same way as the Ressalto Power Station. The Ponte delle Capre Hydroelectric Power Station(21) was inaugurated in 1889(22). The elongated body of the building, running parallel to the course of the Leogra, on the right, rests on a stone scarp wall, above which a wide window opens from the basement(23) area. On the floor above, there is a large hall containing the machinery, which is illuminated by two large arched windows with simple terracotta decorated frames. The power station receives the canal water from the west side, by means of a double penstock(24) of about 20.50 m connected to the charging basin(25).
In 1908 a second section was added to the body of the factory, as well as a lateral duct discharging the water into the Leogra.

A new system of channels which at first uses the Luccarda Corn Mill Canal and then continues across the countryside, partly ducted and partly above ground, finally reaches the Rossi Torrebelvicino Works, where, since the 90s, electric energy has been produced in place of the former water energy by the water falling(26) on the turbines of the annexed power station.

The same thing happened with the Rillaro Hydroelectric Power Station(27) where the Rossi Wool Mill exploited a fall(28) on the Pievebelvicino Canal by means of a powerful wheel with which Alessandro Rossi in 1874 hoped to generate enough energy to move the machinery of the Schio works, three kilometres away, with the ‘tele-dynamic cable’ system: in fact, the electric energy was to be conducted by means of cables suspended from pylons. The experiment failed because the cables could not remain in tension over such a span, but sagged and lost power. Rossi decided to conduct electricity over a shorter span of 700 m as far as the Pievebelvicino Works and provided for another power station in the same area of the wool mill to exploit a fall from the Maestra Canal in order to supply the main site of the factory. It was only after the 90s that electric energy(29) also began to be produced at Rillaro.

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by Marina Campolmi Perfetti