New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
LIGHTING UP NIAGARA
Good Results from, the Employment
of Electric illumination.

At last an attempt to illuminate Niagara
Falls seems destined TO be successful mechan-
icalIy The illumination which now takes place
nightly contains much to surprise those VINO
went prepared 10 g. dissertation OF a master
work of nature The illumination is on huge
scale and the falls shine for an hour in the
blaze of searchlights of more than n billion
candlepower the electricity for which the cata-
ract itself furnishes.
Three great batteries furnish the luminosity
All are on the Canadian side now. but sub
sidary battery is TO be set up on the American
side in front of the International Hotel Here
q scintiIlator is TO be employed, and great Varl-
coIored shafts of light will be thrown up from
6O-inch searChlight. These beams VIII be
seen on clear nights for considerably over
hundred miles which will include Buffalo, the
Tonawandas. Batavia. Toronto and Rochester.
There have been numerous attempts in the
past to illuminate the falls. and one. at least.
was made as long ago as 1851 Present day
conditions are of course, entirely different, and
effects obtainable are. Of course, much more
interesting Color work has never been at
tempted at all before and although there Is
some question in the minds of many who have
seen the illumination to the taste OF throw
ing color on the cataract some OF the effects
obtained by throwing colored searchlights on
clouds formed by the explosion of black powder
bombs are extremely beautiful
Prismatic hues of all the colors Of the rain
how are cast on the whirling water below the
cataracts and here. too. although many prefer
the pure white light beautiful effects are OBJ
tanned But it is certain that the greatest i'm
preston has been created by the projection OF
the pure white rays upon the great falls
The illumination begins about > o'clock AT
that time the darkness is such that from the
Canadian side where the greatest crowds
gather. there is nothing TO tell OF the presence
of the cataract except the spray that drifts
across and the eternal or the pouring
water T1en the first battery is turned on. and
the American falls leap into view. 1t is hard
to imagine anything more impressive III the
DAYTIME great piles OF ugly. dirty factory build
ngs flank the American falls While Almost
Immediately behind II Is immature CoieS
Island It IS a distinct shock 10 sec such IN
Congruous structures In the same view thaI
embraces the cataract. and the greatest feature
of the sight at night is the utter absence OF
these unpleasing details the complete annlhila-
ton oF the iarring elements Of the picture.
After tho lights have been focused the
American falls they swing over 10 the Horse
shoe across Goat Island and the whole cataract
lies in the range for a few moments All one
sees is the work OF nature. The new power
houses of the Canadian company, the hotels the
factories are all gone.
IT a,n seatng Niagara for the first time" said
one man Always before have seen the sor-
did the ugly. and II has taken ell the majesty
Of the cataract itself TO drive away the thoughts
oF disgust at the despoilers of nature. But to-
night we can see Niagara as the first man VINO
came into sight OF II In the days of its primeval
solitude and splendor saw H. we heed look al
nothing else"
William darcy Ryan. illuminating engineer
of the General Electric Company. devised the
plen for the illumination Of the cataract, and
with Mayor Douglass Of Niagara Falls. N Y
has made is realization possible The scinttl-
IaTor ~ OF his invention. and the placing of the
batteries was done by him.
THE cost of the project is expected TO be
horne by Niagara Fails. Five thousand dollars
has been paid to the General Electric Company
Tor a thirfy-dav installation of the plant now in
use and the municipality will have TO pay the
rest Of the purchase price, about S5OoJo at the
end of that time. It is probable that the New
work Central will contribute to some extent 10
the cost Of plant, IT Is considerably inter
este in the venture.