http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/hr/print/volume-32/issue-7/articles/ames-hydro-making-history-since-1891.html Ames Hydro: Making History Since 1891 HydroWorld, 08/27/2013] The electricity was transmitted 2 miles up the mountain to the mine via two bare copper wires mounted on poles using Western Union cross-arms with insulators.