Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-04-20
NEW VOL. 23-NO. 81,
TO HARNESS UP NIAGARA.

III the plans OF the NiaSara nNtr
Hydraulic Tunnel, Power and Sewer
Company are carried out a. arranged
al the present time, the mighty power
of the Falls OF Niagara will be utilized
for the general benefit Of mankind
and for the financial enrichment OF
the stockholders in the enterprise.
The company was Incorporated by an
act Of the Legislature in March. 1886,
and since that time the efforts OF the
projectors have been directed toward
securing the capital necessary TO ena-
hle them 10 execute their designs. lt
is now claimed that enough money
has been secured and that the work OF
construction will begin in July. The
prospectus'ju Just issued by the company
states that the company was organ
lied for the purpose OF utilizing the
power Of the Niagara river by con
structing a subterranean tunnel from
the water level below the falls, about
200 feet under the high bank Of the
river. extending through the rock 10
the Upper Niagara river AT point
about one mile above the falls, where
a head OF l20 feet is obtained. The
tunnel j. then to extend. parallel with
the shore OF the river. one and one
half miles at an average depth OF 100
feet below the surface Of the earth
and AT a distance Of about 400 feet
from the navigable water of the river,
with which il is To be connected 10y
means OF conduits or lateral tunnels.
The scheme H. one of gigantic pro-
portions. and includes the establish
ment OF innumerable mills at the
point where the power il obtained, as
we'll as distributing the power through
electric wires To other centers, where
IL can be used in lieu of steam or local
water power. The power Is To be OBJ
tanned from the conduits leading 10
the main tunnel, aud not from the
tunnel itself or from the falls. The
conduits will, IL is contemplated, lead
To wells sunk 10 the tunnel 100 feet
below the carths surface. In these
wells will be placed turbine wheels,
which are turned 10y the weight Of the
water in the wells. Thus, IL Is said,
the power will be uniform, because
the wells will always be kept full, and
a. the wells are supplied from the
river there will be no variation In the
quantity Of the water available. The
river itself. being fed from the five
great lakes, will always have "A uni
form quantity from which To supply
the conduits IL is claimed that the
drain from the river by the condnits
and tunnel will not take one per cent.
Of the water in the stream: that II, the
depth Of the river would not be re-
duced one inch. The prospectus states
that since the incorporation Of the
company sufficient land along the
river has been secured, surveyed and
apportioned into mill sites fronting Oh
the river and on the line Of the pro
posed tunnel, with ample streets and
dockage, afrording approach by'rail
or water TO accommodate 23s mills of
500-horse power each, or ll0, 900 horse
power in all. which II the estimate 81
the engineers Of the capacity Of the
tunnel proposed To be built
This power would be greater than
all the other water power of the coun.
try combined The land secured by
the company Is two miles and a-half
above the falls, aud beyond the limits
Of the Government Park land sur
rounding them. The tunnel II TO run
under the streets OF Niagara village
and all Of the conduits will be located
on the company's land. The estima.
ted cost Of construction IL 90, 000, 900.
and enough patronage has already
been secured, II is said, 10 pay diyi-
dend on the investment. The city of
Buffalo has agreed To pay $4,000 per
annuIn for power for electric lights,
and an electric smelling company Ia
Cleveland has made application for
20,0O Ohorse power 10 be carried
through wires. The mills are Ia be
located so far above the falls that yes
sells Of any draught can come To the
wharyes, thus insuring cheap water
freights from the mills to tidewater.
IL Is claimed that the volume OF water
over the falls will not be lessened by
the construction OF the tunnel: that
the beauty Of the landscape will not
be impaired in any way, since the
mills will give forth no smoke, and
that the drain from the river will be
less than half the amount taken from
the lakes by evaporation.