Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-09-05
new POWER PROJECT
BUILDING AT NIAGARA
Canadians to Harness Nam.
moth Falls to Limit Pro-
vided In Agreement.

Buffalo, N. Y.-One of the greatest
water development projects Of the many
centering abou Niagara Falls has been
launched on h Canadian side of the
river. 1t c~ontemplates an immediate
production Of $780, 900 electrical horse
power. or equal to approximately one
half the present total development on
both sides OF the river, and it may ex-
pand to 1000, 000-horse power.
Actual work on the new channel was
begun recently by the Ontario hydro
commission. There were no ceremonies
n the launching Of the work was
virtually unknown to III general pub
lie. The channel will encircle the city
OF Niagara Falls. Ont, one running
from the Welland river. a tributary Of
the Niagara above the cataract. to the
escarpment below Queenstown heights.
The power house will be located on
the river level almost at .he foot Of
Brooks monument. The channel Is the
first one planned to get the full bene-
FIT Of the difference in level between
lakes Erie and Ontario, approximately
300 feet. The old companies, with pen
stocks located close to the foot of the
cataract. get a head Of about 200 feet.
The additional 100 feet head, it Is esti-
mated, will make 1t possible to develop
the S00,0O0-horse power with the same
flow Of water required to develop 100,-
000-horse power at the falls.
While the units under construction
for the power house are planned to
produce only 800, 000-horse power. the
canal itself will be built to allow q fu-
ture flow of water capable of trebling
this volume. The Ontario hydro COM
mission is a provincial body. appointed
by the Ontario government. 1t dis
tributes power to Ontario mupicipali-
ties within a radius Of 200 miles Of the
falls at low cost. A large part of the
current generated on h Canadian side.
formerly exported and distributed by
an American corporation, has been. u
off. Canadian power for Canadian in
dustries has been the motto Of Sir
Adam Beck, chairman of the commits
sion, and war conditions have brought
Il 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 ultimate capacity
OF 140. 0o0-horse power. Steam plants
and water power plants far down the
state have been drawn upon to keep
Buffalo factories going. Part Of the
current from the new hydro plant will
be available for American industries.
but only those engaged in war work,
Sir Adam has announced. Under the
treaty between Canada, Great Britain
and the United States the diversion of
water on the Canadian side is limited
to $4,000 cubic feet a second. The limit
on the American side is 100000 feet.
Canada already has authorized the d.
version Of all but 5000 cubic feet Of her
allotment. Under special wal permits
the American companies are also within
a lew hundred feet Of their limit. The
new channel win carry off about 10000
cubic feet of water a second. This will
neces6itate some readjustment of the
allowances to the other Canadian COM
panies unless the treaty is modified.
This has led to suggestions of ~consoli-
dalton of all the Canadian companies
and the ! 1000. 000-horse power Develop
ment.