The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-17
POWER OF NIAGARA FALLS.
Some Of the Queer Ways They Have
sought to Use II.

Some Of the Queer Ways They Have
Sought to Use II.
Special Correspondence
NIAGARA FALLS, Feb. a0.-';nce the in
ventive Yankees first looked OH the natural
wonder here. many thousands OF men who
pride themselves on being more practical
than sentimental have viewed the falls with
this thought:
'What magnificent water power!"
Yet, the power remains almost unused
The cataract is entirely too large to be con-
trolled by any cheap and simple process
But the possibilities OF electric motors and
the transmission of power to great distances
have started up host of projectors; and
many man has asked in vague, semi-sclen-
tific wonder why this immense force could
not be carried" to New York, Buffalo and
other cities' Most enthusiastic among these
projectors has been Col Leonard lIenkle, Of
Rochester, N. ", who has acquired some
fame as an inventor His scheme was a big
one. He secured a contract for the use Of
100000 horse power, and proposed COM
pany with capital of 100000 or more;
mammoth building of cut stone was to be
erected at the brink of the American fall
and in this were to be placed hydraulic en-
gnes OF 100000 horse power, which were
thought sufficient to utilize the 1000 eco horse
power obtainable by tapping the falls and
rapids. He proposed two balance wheels,
each ninety-four feet in diameter and weigh
ing 900 tons; one mile OF indrc,iye appa
ratus to take up tn electric current thus
generated, and then 1900 miles Of insulated
underground cable TO transmit the electric
energy 10 the forty-seven cities he had en-
braced in his truly colossal scheme!
But moneyei men did not rally to his sup
port. Indeed many n capitalist applied gy-
ratory fingers to an unbcheving nose and
sneered at the colonel and his Cyclopean
proposition.
Nevertheless Col Henkle went far enough
to make a contract to pay Sl,O00,C00 for the
nine acres of land in Prospect park and three
acres adjacent in the village then we heard
little more of him until the state had boughs
the park. when he announced that his big
building would be located on the Canada
side, rs, he says, ''the water which flows
over the Horseshoe fall is much better for
operating hydraulic engines, as it runs
deeper over the brink and has much less sand
in its upper current" The letters of Col.
Henkle in support Of his scheme have q
strangely fascinating interest, as he writes
with all the enthusiasm of young soldier,
and prophesies results which seem marvel
Gus. But SO far the public, especially mon
eyed men, are incredulous
In the meantime, by the use Of the old
hydraulic canal, electric light is now gen
Grated for the village and the Brush dynamo
in Prospect park. OF course, the first city
likely to utilize the power here is Buffalo;
and it may be said with certainty that the
process must he proved practicable there be-
fore any serious attempt will be made to ex-
tend it to distant cities. Besides, Buffalo has
already scheme of her own for utilizing the
rivers power within her borders. Professor
Rhodes has made n careful estimate to this
effect: THE length Of circuit required be-
tween the falls and Buffalo is fifty mules.
Experience has shown tina. forty to sixty
lights can be run on one circuit with an cleo
tro-motive force of 1900 to 5000 volts; but q
greater number requires q current of such
intensity as to produce danger OF burning
the insulation in the dynamos as at present
constructed. There is no doubt that dyna
mos can be improved SO as to permit 100
arc lights in the circuit" After giving
figures on cost Of construction and operation,
the professor gives this very encouraging
conclusion: