South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-08-05
CANADIANS TO
HARNESS FALLS
Planning 100000 Electrical
Horsepower From Plant on
Foreign Side.

BUFFALO. y. y, Aug 5.-One
Of the greatest water development
projects of the many centering
about Niagara Falls mas been
launched on the Canadian side OF
the river. II contemplates an i'm
mediate production of 5000 cleo
trical horsepower. or equal 10 ap-
proXimately one-half the present to-
tai development on both sides OF
the river. and II may expand 10 l.
OOO.OO horse power.
Astual work on the new channel
was begun recently by the Ontario
hydro commission There were no
ceremonies and the launching of the
work was virtually unknown 10 the
general public. The channel will
encircle the city of Niagara Falls
one running from the Welland riv-
er, a tributary of the Niagara above
the cataract to the scapement below
Queenton heights The power house
will be located on the river level
almost at the foot of Brooks mon
ument.
The channel is the first one
planned to get the full benait Of
the difference in level between
Lakes Erie and Ontaria, approx
mately 800 feet The old companies
with penstocks located close 10 the
foot Of the cataract, get a head of
about 200 feet The additional 100
feet head. it is estimated will make
II possible TO develop the 300. 600
horse power with the anne flow Of
water required 10 develop 100. 900
horse power at the falls
Allow for Future.
While the units under construc-
ton for the power house are plan
ned 10 produce only 100000 horse
power. the canal itself will he built
20 allow future flow Of water cap
able Of trebling this volume
The Ontario Hydro commission is
a provincial body appointed bv the
Ontario government. II distributes
power to Ontario municipa
within radius of 200 miles of the
falls al low cost. A large part OF
the current generated on the Ca
madam side formerly exported and
distributed by an American corpo-
ration has been cut off. Canadian
power for Canadian industries has
been the motto OF Sir Adam Beck.
chairman Of the commission and
war conditions have brought
speedier application Of the policy
than had been expected
To replace the Canadian current
thus lost, a steam generating plant
has been built here with an ulti-
mate capacity OF 10000 horsepow-
er. Steam plants and water power
plants far down the state have been
drawn upon 20 keep Buffalo fac
tories going. Part of the current
from the new hydro plant will be
available for American industries.
bur only those engaged i'm war
work. Sir Adam mas announced.
Under the treaty between Can
ada. Great Britain and the United
States the diversion % water on the
Canadian side Is limited 70 IS 600
cubic feet a second The limit on
the American side is 10000 feet
Canada already has authorized
the diversion of IN bat 5000 cubic
feet OF her alIotmer Under spe-
cial war permits the American COM
panies are also within q few hun
dred feet OF their limit
The new channel Will carry off
bout 100 cubic feet of water
second This will neCessftare some
readjustment of the allowances 10
the other Canadian companies I'M
less the treaty is modified This
has led 70 suggestions OF consoli-
dation OF all the Canadian compa-
MES and the 100000 horsepower
development