Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-16
Electricity in buffalo and New York

OF the greatest practical benefit to them
selves and the community at large.
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Electricity in Buffalo and New York
The people OF Buffalo. N. Y, are In
dulxing in day dreams concerning the
future Of that city which we hope may
he realized. The Commercial has
rhansodlcal article on the subject. No
psner was ahead OF the Dispatch in
forecasting In a modest way the posi-
bnities OF electricity. and we are not
At al jealous as 10 what any other
city than Richmond is doing or likely
10 do in order TO aid In bestowing upon
the world the untold benefits and bless
ings certainly 10 result from the thou
sand and one new methods of using
the electric fluid which the future II
likely 10 develop.
The Commercial. we say. INDUCES in
a rhapsody on the subject. The Falls
Of Niagara are only twenty miles from
Buffalo. This fact our Buffalo con-
temporary considers foundation enough
for the superstructure which that paper
says is In due time TO rise before the
eyes OF the people Of that city. What
these people have done is as nothing
TO what they expect to do. Nicola
Tesla seems TO be the moving spirit
in the work going on in Buffalo. The
Commercial styles him the greatest
living electrician. and quotes him a.
saying that "the labor of the future
will consist in pressing electric but
tons" Nevertheless, the electric energy
is expected 20 work willingly for man.
1T will heat his house. cook his din
ner, run his wife's machine. drive the
street-cars, run his elevators. and do
almost everything for him except think"
From all over the world inquiries are
pouring into Buffalo about the electric
power and the day it viii come to Buff
salo. showing concluslvely that the
other cities OF the world are becoming
aroused. They may well be, for TN
tunnels constructed at the Falls on
both sides of the river are built for a
generating capacity Of 10000 worse
power-enough to run nve Chicasos-
and it is all standing at Buffalo's gate
knocking for admittance.
"Such a vast amount Of energy viii
increase at a phenomenal rate and
many people say that in fifteen years 1t
will reach the million mark. and five
years later will send Chicago and New
York back TO second and third places
in the list Of American cities"
The water power or the electric power
at Buffalo is not likely TO be any
cheaper than at any other place. In
10 rtr mi, n
waste in every State in the Union.
Nevertheless, We would not minify the
wonderful results which the people Of
Buffalo may reasonably expect 10 fol-
low the Harvesting of the immense
power of Niagara. We quote again:
ct is a dazzling vision-this one Of
Buffalo leading the world in progress
through the cheap and abundant energy
from the Falls, and though II is
vision il will soon materialize. II en-
braces an advance unknown to any
nation. a wealth and progress never
dreamed Of by even her most devoted
optimists."
when slender cables transmit 10 the
doors Of Buffalo's residents this energy
when wheels turn and spindles fly,
and lights burn, and cars run, all by
power from the Niagara cataract. then
Buffalo takes up the march that must
soon place her. in wealth, progress.
beauty. and size, far, far ahead OF
would-be rivals"
1T will be the banner day in the
history of the Queen City when this
power Is Jet loose, when the turbines
turn, and the silent, mysterious agent
PUSHES into Buffalo and begins to turn
her wheels and light her streets and
heat her homes"
1T was considerable of a problem TO
devise some method of sending power
by electricity thirty miles with econo-
my and safety, and without safety
Buffalo wouldn't touch it; and unless
cheap it could not compete with coal
and gas.
"But the problem was solved, as have
been many others-the machinery is in
place-Bufalo is ready. and the world il
the audience.
"All that is wanted now is the loosen
ing of the conquered lightning. and
then its magic touch will open up with
a ready hand the vast resources Of
the country. and will cause Buffalo to
spring speedily TO the top place in the
list Of manufacturing cities of the
world"
1t will be seen that Buffalo expects
to remand New York and Chicago to
the rear and be herself the most popu-
lous city in America. This is one OF
the "day-dreams" We refer TO in the
opening OF this article.
The subject is an interesting one. The
world will not let all these visions fade
away into nothingness.