The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-15
HARVESTING OF NIAGARA.
Working of the Vast Power Plant Built
I'm within the Past Few Years.
(From the Scientio American.)


With the articl, which appears on IN
other page OF this issue we close the series
on Niagara Falls as an Industrial center,
which has appeared at intervals during
the present year, and It will now be OPP.
fortune to sum up the results which have
been accomplished, and see how far they
agree v it'll the expectations which were
formed WREN the "harnefslng of the falls
on the present extensive scale was serious
" undertaken.
In the first place 1t must be IN derstoou
that the generation OF 5000 electrical
horsepower was nat attempted Tr'mar-
lily with the expectation Of transmitting
IL TO far distant centers. there TO be
redistributed for local use. 1t is true that
sais was popularity supposed to he the oo-
jsot aimed as in tls Niagara Falls power
plant, and in the early days OF Its CON-
str nc. ion writer's were accustomed fairly
to revel in picsuresque descriptions oil
the silent flow of Niagara's energy to
cities as far distant as Chicago and New
York, where 1t was to displaoe every ex-
listing form of power by virtue Of its OK :
tyaordjnary cheupness and convenience.
As mattsr of fact. howevar. the emil.
nent specialists and finau0fers who had
= the courage to build such u vast eIeotTi-
cal plan did not undertake TO generate
this unprecedented amount OF electrician
energy with the idea OF transmitting u
to far distant centers. n ot only WAS
the art of long-distance transmission at
that period In its comparative infancy.
but it was foressen that better economic
results would ne achieved In bringing
the Industries TO the source OF power
Slxur, fna
industries. As between the two alterna-
tiyes, there were on the one hand the
great cost and losses of transmission, and
on the other. the aues ton of cheap rail-
way and steamship transportation both
for the raw ma terials and the finished
product. The original prom o.ers consid-
cred that, in respect OF transportation
facilities, the proximity Of the great lakes
ard the convergence OF several important
railroads ut Niagara rendered this an
ideal ma nufacturing center, and, acting
upon the conviction, they purchased large
blocks of lsnd contiguous to the power
station. with the intention of renting tn Q
same for the erection of Industrial es-
tatiishments which In the course OF time,
wera certain to be attracted by such an
abundant electrical supply. At the same
time, the Company wisely determined to
design the electric installation with "a
viaw to meeting the varied needs OF It's
custc omers, and arrangements were made
to supply, within reasonable limits, any
kind of electric current that night be re-
quired,
That the expectations of the company
were we'll founded Is seen from a study
OF the facts presented In the series OF ar
ticles IN the Scientific American above
referred to. In the few years that have
INTERVIEWED since the water was first
turned into the wheel-pit of the Niagara
Falls power plant large number If en-
tirely new industries have sprung up
around or within easy touch of the sta
ton, while esta blishments that were Al
ready existing have become extensive
users of the power. That the tendency
Is for the industries to Rravitate to the
power rather than the power to be trans
united to the industries Is shown by the
fact that out of total OF 55.OW horse
power delivered from the station, over
three -fourths are consumed in Its vicinity,
as against less than one-fouith that Is
transmitted to a distanc5-the principal
long distance transmission being that'of
5000 horsepower TO Budal,o for the use OF
the Cataract Power and Conduit COM
pany.
Although the natural trend CT events,
cont oiled by well understood economic
laws, hns brought about cent? alization
of industries at the falls, 1t Is not 60 be
inferred that long -distanoe transmission
will not enter largely into the ultimate
utilization Of the energy OF Niagara. In
the few years since construction was first
started a great stride has been made in
the art Of generating and manipulating
electrical currents for transmission, and
the ramark able Installation recently
opened in Southern California, where a
transmission of IS miles has been success
fully accomplished, suggests that A large
part of the 7,5e0,G zoo of hydraulic horse
power available at the falls may yet be
large transformed and transmitted to the
cities of the East The present Indications
are, however, that for some time 10 com
transmission are not likely to be attempt.
ed for distances of over 100 miles. The
difficulties are not now 80 much OF
physical nature (thanks TO the alternating
current Of high potential, ID Mt ara largely
eoonomical-the great cost Of the line
rapidly offEetting the cheap cost OF pro-
duction at the power station. The power
from the falls could today be transmitted
to q distance of 100 miles with a less of
20 per cent; and In spite of this loss and
the great cost OF the line, 1t could COM
pete successfully With steam-power at
cost of $50 DER l0rse-power q year.