Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-23
TO DAM NIAGARA.
American and Canadian Capital United
for the Purpose.


for the Purpose.
1t was Just about three months ago
that group OF men stood on the shore
| by the rapids above Niagara's Horseshoe
Falls, when Jacques Foisy glrdled by a
| frail rope, went out into the stream and
drove spile into a. crevice in the rock
| To-day n party of New York mechanical
experts are experimenting the hazard
Gus task Of damnng the rapids above
these fails. The work is part Of a plan
| for developing 10000 horse power cleo
trical energy and the cost when complete
| and ready for the power to do it's work
will he close t. 81 600 900 The syndicate
| is known as the Electrical Development
Company of Ontario and some of the
| best engineering men of America have
been called into requisition. They will
beat back the rapids, dam their flow, dry
up the bed of the river above the ia lis for
twelve acres, erect a new channel for
part of its course. Then they will sink
shaft of 100 feet and create the power
| through thus dIvertlng the water into it.
TO carry away this water after it has
been used tunnel 200 feet long will be
built at adepth of IL feet below the bed
Of the rapids The exit Of the tunnel for
the discharge of the tail race water will
he under the very brow of the falls
RESTLESS, ceaseless in its energy, churn-
ing along with the speed of "A racer, the
task of stopping this torrent above the
falls is a perilous one. To-day the tour
list who VISITS there hears a new sound.
1t used to be the boom of the water
alone but now is added the dull chuck
Of heavy machinery, the Shrek of pony
engines, the rattle OF dcrricks, the falling
OF stones and the thud Of beams in their
tumblng. 1t seems almost like sacrilege
to enter this sanctuary Of nature. but
the spirit of commcrcalism does not
stand on ceremony and demands as tri-
butte the power that for centuries has
been wasting itself In foam.
1t is estimated that it will take three
years at least to complete the work and
when accomplished the feat will he one
unique in the annals of engineering. The
money is being supplied by Canadian cap
italists, but the work of construction is
in full charge OF Americans Beverley
Value, NJ. Am Soc. G. E., of New York
is the resident engineer. assisted by Will
liam Thornley,. Both mon were formerly
Identified with rapid transit work in New
York. f. 5. Pearson of New York is the
consulting engineer, and l., Cooper, also
of New York, is the chief hydraulic eX-
pert.
The work Of constructing the Golfer dam
is spectacular one. 1t hrstles with
startling suggestions Ahead is the roar
Of the falls the drop. the rocks, the
whirlpool rapids and the Devils Hole
Behind is the Ccaseoss torrent battling
against the invasion, this claiming Of it's
right to fow and run as will. Inch by
inch the dam forces its way into the
current. each foot from shore making
the water DEEPER, the rush more terrific.
and the battle between man and nature
more sinEularlY earnest. one foot. two
feet, ten and now "A feet is registered as
the depth of these solid walls of water
that roar against the dam. drenchinc the
little corps of adventurous workers with
its spray.
1t is a little corps Of workers of nee
cssity. for it is not n work on which a
great force Of mon could be available II
is the Gideon's band. the selected fow
who are emDloved here. II is not yorl,
that can be hurried. Each step. each
movement. has to be taken with caro-
The men to do the outpost work IN mis-
dam were secured with much diric,,lty