Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-25
FATE OF NIAGARA.
Use OF the Water for Power May Save
the Cataract.

More and more of the water of Niagara
rams is being drawn off for industrial
purposes. The immense Installation on
me canadian side is now adding it's de-
mands to that of the huge American
pant, and the electrical papers are be-
ginning to suggest that in the light of
our present knowledge, Cleveland De-
trolt, columbus, Cincinnati, and even Chi
cago ana New York are within striking
distance OF the Niagara central station,
Says The Electrical World and Engineer:
How far transmission of huge amounts
OF power TO these points would pay is a
matter winch can not yet be determined
but the next few years will show clearly
enough how the work can be done when
1t becomes desirable to attempt it, The
erect OF the Niagara power on Buffalo
ana neighboring cities is already mani
fest, and perhaps the whole immense out
put of the plant can be ultimately utll-
lzed, nos SO much by transmitting power
as by drawing. even as by the hand OF
Fate. great industries about it. Power
transmission then means only local dis
tribution to manufacturing metropolis
spread out over a thousand square miles
of territory.
When the question Of the ultimate fate
of the Falls was first raised it was
brushed aside by the technical papers
with the remark that the abstraction of
all the water likely TO be required for
power would hardly make an impression
on the huge mass of water at Niagara.
Now they have grown holder and say that
even IL the signs of the time point to the
total humiliation of the Falls as a thing
or beauty, their place will be taken by
that which is of much greater practical
value to mankind. Besides this. The
Electrical World tells us, the Falls were
spoiled long ago by their sordid surround
ings, and we may be pardoned for doing
away with them altogether. Says the ed
itor:
The voice of prophecy has been already
raised to foretell the day when the fall
oil mill ta ap.1xr fv,,- 1- \
when great national holidays may be eel
ebrated by turning the water for a few
brief hours from the canals back to its
natural channel. The men who have Gre
ated the splendid power Developments
there are called iconoclasts and vandals
who rend nature limb from limb for dirty
pelf. But, truth to tell, Niagara was
from every e5thetic point of view wrecked
long before the pick opened the work of
the Niagara Power Company. 1ll-kept
factories, garrish barns of hotels, patent
medicine advertisements, shanties of evil
aspect and worse repute, had made the
sore and reproach years ago. Even the
strong hand of the state was stretched
out too late to save, and mans petty av-
arice had undone already natures best
work. To turn the stream thus defiled
into blessing for the worlds workers is
worthy deed, thing to be applauded
Had wise men taken the Niagara region
three-quarters of century ago and
SudTutu II 81 ludl l4OIlc VI IldU IdUul-
work should visibly infringe on the eter-
nal majesty of the scene, then would the
mighty fall have been saved to art Fail
ing in this, it has been redeemed from
vandals to the great service of industry.
1t will be many year. perhaps many a
century, before Niagara ceases to be
natural wonder of the world, and long ere
that it will be the greatest monument of
mans victory over natural forces. Why
should any of one wish better fate for
it, since it had been already Cast aside?
In fact, if one looks far into the future.
tie saIuatin E1,an uithi,, To- 'aa a1
of man it has suffered greatly from ero-
sion, and sooner or later 1t was bound
to work it's way westward, bringing dis
aster unless saved by interposition of
human aid in controlling it's fatefu,
march One day a future generation may
wake to the realization that the Niagara
tunnels saved the Great Lakes.