New-York tribune., 1903-03-29
THE FETERE OF NIAGARA.

ness which is felt at Niagara Falls over the
nossihle effects of future power Developments.
| So unioue is the ajestfc spectacle there thai
! II may truly be said that it belongs not alone
| fo Npw-York and to Ontario. but to the Whoie
| world 1t is treasure held in trust DeSplte
| the universal veneration in which Lord Kelvin
! is held as an authority In science few people
would agree with him IN wishing to see this
! U-onderful cataract given up entirely TO indus
trial service, We're It feasible to hold q pie
biscite among the enlightened classes OF Amer
ica and Europe. the proposition would prooahly
meet with an overwhelming negative. Nhle
Il is possible. therefore, that the fears Whlcn
Walter S. Logan expresses in letter printed
on another page Of this issue may be extrava-
CANT, he has certainly rendered good service to
his country by bringing the matter up for dis
cuesion
Prom the tenor of the other opinions which
we print in association with Mr.. Logan's it
would appear that there is practically uniVer-
sal conviction on one point. Up to the present
time no harm has been done. No one IS able to
detect a permanent sacrifice Of beauty in con-
sequence Of enterprises already conEumpated.
The careful reader will quickly perceive that
such eolicitude as is felt relates only to the
future Hence the vital question is, How much
further may the utilization Of the falls proceed
without damage to their picturesqueness and
the charm Of their surroundings? When and
where shall the brakes be applied?
The chief danger proceeds, 1t is conceded,
from the possibility Of dtvertfng too much
water to the purposes of industry. In a special
census report prepared in 1880 it was estimated
that Niagara had theoretical capacity OF
5.s7S. 100 horsepower. Coleman Sellers subse-
quenuy expressed the belief that water enough
to develop 100000 horsepower might be diverted
without producing So serious an effect as
change Of wind or an ice Jam. The first com
pany to undertake the conversion of this power
into electricity was authorized by the State Of
New-York to take enough to give 1t 100000
horsepower. Although all Of the machinery is
not yet in place, tests made during the last few
months demonstrate concIusively that at least
that much can be used without being noticed.
This same company now controls the franchise
of one Of the Canadian organizations formed
more recently for similar work, and expects TO
develop 100000 hoFse1cwer mora across the
border. The total amount Of water then con-
sumed will be within the limit contemplated by
Mr.. Sellers; and there Is much reason to think
that bis forecast concerning the consequences
will be verified. There are two other Canadian
corporations in the field, however; and the
question arises whether. II their ambitions are
fully realized, the aggregate loss of water will
not be sufficient to affect the beauty Of the falls
so far as to occasion lasting popular regret
Reasonable objection may also be offered to
any artificial construction in the vicinity OF
the cataract which can mar the beauty OF its
surroundings Mindful Of that consideration
the American company Just mentioned placed
fits power house mile or more above the falls
while the factories Of its t"Hants and patrons
NYyE@h Fhn 1TYtf
serves the purpose Of tail race is not only en-
tirely underground, but it emerges under the
surface Of the river below the falls, thus az
fording q notable contrast to the outlets OF
some Of the older mills on the American side.
The developnent now going on under this COM
pany8 auspices across the border Is carried on
in the same spirit. It's buildings are Of stone
and incousplcuously located, while its bridge
over the inlet canal on that side is so handsome
as to add distinctly to the attractiveness OF the
scene. whether the Independent Canadian
companies have been equally serupulous and
jUdseiOus IL open to question.
StN another consideration may be mentioned
which ought TO have more or less weight, If IT
should be thought necessary to discriminate
against the newcomers. The pioneer nrgapiza-
ton to engage in the electrical development Of
Niagara Falls has opened up a Dsw and large
field OF industry, and thus performed an impcr-
tant service to civilization. Twelve or fifteen
years ago such a venture was looked upon as
exceedingly risky; Nc one had beard Of 5000
horsepower tuEtkRes or dyHames CT Of lonR dis
tance transmission. Rarely, IL sver, has such
an array Of scientific experts bean brought to-
gether to consider an ensanaertng project %
was consulted IN regard TO this matter. The
novel and serious problems which were involved
having beel settled, however, and the success
Of the eDtsFprise having been demonstrated,
scores Of such undertakings quickly HUtiowed
both. In AE5eEira and Eurone. Does the world