The Indianapolis journal., 1888-04-14
TO HARNESS UP NIAGARA.
The Gigantic scheme Which Is Soon 10 Be
Put IN Eject.

Put Effect
New York Times
IF the plans Of the Niagara-river Hydraulic.
Tunnel, Power and Sewer Company are carried
out as arranged 81 the present time the rnlgnAy
the general benefit of mankind and for the n
nancial enrichment of TIE stockholders in the
enterprise. The company was incorporated ey
of the Lrgisiature in March, 1856, and
since that time the efforts OF the Drojectors have
been directed toward securing the capital nec-
essary enable them to execute their designs.
It is now claimed that enough money has Deea
secured and stnat the work of construction Will
begin IN July. The prospectus issued by the
company yesterday states that the company
was organized for the purpose or uttilzlng the
power of the Niagara river by constructing q
eubterraneau tunnel from the water level below
the falls about 200 feet under the high bank OF
the river. extending through the rock TO the
upper Niagara river at point about one mile
above the falls, where head of I20 feet is OBJ
tanned. The tunnel is then to extend, parallel
with the shore of the river, ana one half
mile at average depth of 100 feet below the
surface of the earth and at o distance OF about
400 feet from the navi4able water Of the river.
with which 1t is to be connected by means or
conduits or lateral tunnels
The scheme is one of gigantic proportions,
and includes the establish ment of innumerable
mills the point where the power is obtained
az we'll as distributing the power through cleo
trio wires TO other centers. where II can De used
in lieu of steam local waterpower. me
power is to bs obtained from the cnnduits Lead
ing ~ the main tunnel, and not from the tunnel
itsesf or from the fails The conduiss will II -
contemplated. lead to wells sunk to the tunnel
100 feet below the earths surface. 10 these
wells will be placed turbine wheels, which are
turned by the weight of the water IN the wells
Thus. it is said, the power will be uniform, be-
cause the wells will always be kent full. aud as
the wells are supplied from the river there will
be no variation the quantity of the water
available. The river itself. beng fed from the
five great lakes. will always have uniform
quantity from which to supply the conduits. Il
is claimed that the drain from the river by the
conduits and tunnel will not take per cent. OF
the water IN the stream, that is. the depth OF
the river would not be reduced one inch. The
prospectus states that since the INCORPORATION
of the company sufficient land along the river
has been secured. surveyed. and apporttoaed
into mill sites fronting the river and the
line of the proposed tunnei with ample streeCs
and dockage. affording approach by rail or water
accom- modate 238 mills of 800 horsepower
each. or 900 horse mower in all. which is the
estimate of 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 country combined.
The land secured hy the company is TWO miles
and half above the falls, and beyond the limits
OF the Governmens Park land surrounding
them. The tunnel is to run under the streets of
Niagara village. and all of the conduts will be
located on the companys land. The estimated
cost of construction is So, 600. and enough
patronage has already been secured. it IS said.
to nay a dividend the investments. The city
of Buffalo has agreed TO pay 500. 600 per an
for power for electric lights. and an electric
smelling company in Cleveland has made ap-
plication for 10000 horse-nower to be carried
through wires. The mills are TO be located so
far above the falls that vessels OF any draught
can come to thu wharves. thus iusuring cheap
water freghtS from the mills to tdewater. 1t
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.
IF the project proves to be success it is also
intended to the power in lighting many OF
the larger cities in that locality by electricity.