The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-21

ously estimated at from 100000 to 7,0o0- 600 horse power. Take the lowest esti- mate and see what 1t means in the coal VIC use to produce 1t. Every horse pow CT which comes from water is said to annually save at least 10 tons of coal If this is so, the force of Niagara is equal to 30.000,000 tons Of coal every year, or about one-dfteenth of all the coal we are now using for fuel and power
 Of that vast force we are now con sunling not more than one-sixth. The amount is 500,0O0 horse power. Of which more than three-hfths are developed on the Canadian side of the falls. Accord ing to our treaty, we have the right to use only 20,G00 cubic feet of the wa ter that goes over the falls every sec ond, and Canada has the right to S6,oOo cubic feet. By the Burton law our Congress has restricted the American use to less thai 16000 feet. Just now all the factories are short of power and their work for the war is being cut down by the lack of cheap water power. some of our industrial establishments have been getting their power from Canada, but this has been cut ofr since the war began, in order to make war supplies for the Canadian troops, and there Is now strong demand on the part of the manu- lecturers at Niagara Falls for more wa ter
 
 I do not want to argue as to the ad- visibility of taking more water in such way as to injure the beauty of Mag ara Falls. They are the greatest show upon earth and they belong to us and the Canadians. It is well, however, 10 know what the show costs us. The amount is equal to 25,000 horse power It equals a coal mine of 25,00o,oco tons every year, or more than 100000 tons month in and wear out, to the end of time. That is what we are losing If we had such mine to burn every year, we could nave tne most gorgeous conflagration on earth and we might think it would pay us 10 keep it ablaze in order to show our friends and our visitors the magnificent sight don't know. As it is now. only about 20 per cent of the waters ot the falls are in use and some engi- neers say that 50 per cent could De taken and not spoil the scenic effect of Niagara They claim that we could easily add 100000 additional horse power to the amount now being used. am told there would be g demand for such power as soon as the plants re- auired to generate 1t could be built.
 During my stay here I have gone through some of the great power plants which have been constructed a short distance above the falls. The wa ter is taken from the Niagara river in canals walled with stone, and is dropped down through penstocks or mighty steel tubes so large that if they were laid upon the ground horse. could walk through them and his ears would just graze the top. Stood ur- right they are as tall as l6-story house, and the water drops ooWn thls great height in such way that 1t
 f11f- in rr the mighty steel shafts which connect them with the dynamos. There are 10 or more of these penstocks in each plant, with an equal number of tur- pines below, and of dynamos high above them.
 The dynamos are enormous. They look like giant mushrooms of black steel which are turning so fast that you cannot see them move. They fly around at a speed of mile and three- quarters minute and each generates electricity equal to more than 5000 horse power. Each dynamo Is about 30 feet in circumference. As I looked, they made me think of thousands Of horses galloping at 8 faster speed than has ever been made upon the race track.
 horse power now in use is developed. There are two great power houses on the American and several on the Can adian side of the river. All are con f nected with huge factories of one kind or another, and they supply the cheaD power necessary for the industries contributing to our army and navy supplies. The most of the plants be- long to the electro-chemical and cleo tro -metallurgical industries. They are more or less scientific in their nature, and the men at the head of them are inventors along chemical and electrical lines. They use the cheap electricity furnished here in making products that could be created in no other way Take first the artificial abrasive or grinding materials which are used in all industries for making fine fittings sharpening tools and cutting the hardest and softest of steel. There is factory here which makes carborundum, turning out million pounds or so every month Carborundum was invented 2S years ago, and at first 1t sold for $432 & pound It is now produced so cheaply through Ni- agara Falls that it can be used in every factory and by the most common work | man. This material takes the place of