Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-16

HARVESTING NIAGARA
ONE MILLION HORSE POWER MAY
BE DEVELOPED SOON.
Gross Income Of Power Companies in
Near Future Estimated at
100000 Year.

United States Consul Harlan w. Brush, at
Niagara Falls, Ont, has sent to the State
Department report on the development Of
Niagara power which is of general interest.
Consul Brush says:
1.-THE most important development of the
year in this consular district Is the en-
larged production of electric power at Mag
ara Falls. This has been in use at Niagara
Falls, N. Y, for several years past, and the
demand for this cheap and constant power
has been so urgent that it has been impos-
sible for the power company to keep pace
with it. The original development Of $4,000
horsepower at Niagara Falls, N. Y, was
utilized some time ago, and the company
has been working night and day to double
the capacity of the plant, the tunnel pro-
viding for discharge Of water that would
develop 100000 horsepower. The second
shaft has been completed, the machinery
has been installed and within few months
the full capacity of the Niagara Falls,
N. Y, plant will be at the service of the
Niagara frontier.
Realizing that the plant on the New
York side of the cataract would only suf-
flee for a short period. the power company
commenced operations on the Canadian side
of the river in August of last year. The
work has been pushed rapidly, and it is ex-
pected that by next August $4,000 horse
power will be available. Already, the de-
mand is SO great that last week the power
company let a contract for extending the
wheel pit at once, so as to develop 10000
horsepower instead Of the $4,000 first con-
templated The two companies are prac-
tically identical as to stockholders, the
Canadian company being officially desig
mated as the Canadian Niagara Power Com
pany.
"A radical departure from the installation
on the New York side Of the river is the
II nf 1xyn nf 1nrc yar
each instead of the 5000 units that were
installed in the original power house. The
5,OU-horsepower dynamos were such NAM
moth experiments that it was feared they
would prove impracticable, but now they
are to be succeeded by dynamos of twice
their capacity. Quite marked saving is
effected in the construction of a 10000
horsepower dynamo over two of 5000 each.
Second Company Formed.
''The fact that cheap Niagara power is
going to do all that was claimed for it in
the way of attracting industrial concerns
to the Niagara frontier is being so thor
oughly demonstrated that a second com
pany-the Ontario Power Company-has Sc
cured rights from the Canadian govern
ment The development Of its plant COM
menced last April, and $4,000 horsepower
will be the initial product. but this will be
increased to 100000 horsepower. Instead of
water is directed into fumes, carried to
the brink of the Niagara gorge and then
dropped into the river through penstocks,
which develop the power.
These two companies are backed almost
exclusively by United States capital.
third company, which claims to be wholly
Canadian, has applied to the government
for the privilege of developing 100000 horse
power near the two plants now under con-
struction. A full hearing of all the parties
interested was given by the government On
Friday, December 10, at Toronto. and
decision will be announced shortly. AS
special stress is laid on the fact that
Canadian company should have preferential
rights, it Is believed that the petition viii
be granted. The Canadian government eX-
acts in all cases that 80 per cent of the
power developed must be provided to Cana
dian consumers if called for; the balance
will be exported to the United States.
Enormous Revenue.
while millions of dollars are being ex-
pended in developing these various power
plants, the revenue will be enormous. Com
paratively little labor is required, once the
energy Of Niagara is under control. When
the $4,000 horsepower now in process Of
development Is placed on the market, tbs
gross income of the power companies VIII
be in the neighborhood of $7,000,000 PEI
year. This is figuring the price at $40 per
horsepower a year. which is somewhat
this provides constant power every day OF
the year. twenty-four hours every day, with
thorough cleanliness, little fire accident
insurance, no expensive equipment for gen
Grating steam with its heavy annual wear
and tear, no engineers or firemen-simply
the turning of lever-it is seen that for
many lines of industry Niagara electric
power presents remarkable inducements
1.-The industrial growth Of the Niagara
frontier in the past few years has been
marvellous. 1t Is prophesied that within ten
years 100000 horsepower will be in course
of development.
No Effect on Falls.
ZIP to the present time the effect on the
volume Of water passing over the falls is
not noticeable, even with the most careful
measurements. A short time since, for the
purpose of inspection, all the water was
shut off from power development for a
number Of hours. Competent men were sta
toned at different points on the river and
at the brink of the falls to measure the diff
ference in the river level when the water
producing 100000 horsepower was cut off
The men were unanimous in their reports
that they could not detect the slightest
variation. heavy wind blowing up or
down Lake Erie will raise lower the
Niagara river several feet, but only those
who are well acquainted with it will notice
any special difference in the discharge at
the cataract. The main change is in the
pally shown in the rate of discharge, rather
than the raising or lowering Of the river"