The Washington herald., 1918-01-31
CHLORINE GAS
MAKING URGED
Holland Tells Of Govern
ment's Efforts to Stock
Up on Electrodes.


fer that there be no detailed state
lnent or statistics respecting an or
der which II is now about to place
or has placed for a very important
nlunition OF war. nevertheless there
is no objection to q general state
ment. The government authorities
have been for some time anxious TO
secure apparatus by means OF which
chlorine gas in very large amounts
can be manufactured. The purpose
evidently is to supply our soldiers
in France with the nstrumentalities
by means OF which quantities of
this dangerous gas can be used
while our soldiers are actually
fighting.
1t is essential for the manufac-
ture OF this as that electrodes be
used. And it so happens that the
greatest supply of this apparatus
can be furnished by some OF the in
dustries established among the
great industrial plants at Niagara
Falls.
The water power furnished by the
Niagara River. which is converted
into electricity is utilized for the
manufacture of these electrodes. The
government would like to be in
possession within a year of several
million pounds OF this apparatus.
The exact amount required by the
government should not be reported
at this time.
Officials Visit Falls.
But the fact that representatives
OF the government are now or recently
have been at Niagara Falls with in
tent to place contracts for the man
ufacture Of millions of pounds OF
these electrodes which are hereafter
to be used in France or Flanders in
military operations employing deadly
gas, is one of several demonstrations
recently made that the government
is looking far ahead, perhaps as far
ahead as 1920 in making preparations
for maintaining military service in
France. The incident also makes 1t
clear that 1t is the determination OF
the government to fight the war to
a victorius finish.
But curiously enough there arises an
embarrassment due entirely to recent
governmental action. The Federal au-
thUriIies have for prudent reasons
considerably CuTtailcd the use OF hy-
drO-ClectTic power at Niagara Falls
This curtailment has affected the
several Industries there whose prod
uct is electrodes. So it has been neces-
sary to hint TO the government au-
thOritics that If millions of pounds
Of this apparatus are required. some
of it speedily, SO that it may be early
sent to France. the government
should Tescind its restriction of the
use OF hydrO-electric power at Ma
cara, at least 50 far as it affects this
industry.
Industries and Water Power.
Some of the leaders Of the Industries
Of Niagara Falls have wondered why
the government found it CXpCdient 20
restrict the use OF hydFo-eIcCtric
a power. 1t CCrtGiIIy cannot be for the
pUrDdse of saving coal rJT NO coal is
used in the creation OF Tins energy.
I Some Of the Industries - Niagara are
Of the utmost Importance to the gov
CrHmeut at this time.
While these Restrictions have been
placed upon the use OF EydrO-electTiC
power at NIAGARA ON the America
side. Canada Hls been ,ncOuraging
the use OF heg gr,-l water powers.
In fact had il not u""n f"r the wa
The Canadian ECyCrnFl.nt would have
hv this time completed 4 ,anal stretch
ing from Hu inlet near tue eastern
ND OF Lake Erie to y ,1i1iut near the
Western end Of Like Ontario. This
canal would hay" rnnvCytd hundreds
Cr thousands Of horsepower energy.
This would have enabled Canada to
undertake sCre u the great indus
tries her people haE in view before
TN" European war began. The canal
viii undoubtedly be built as soon as
possible after Vvsce comes
An American corU"FatiUn. the Pitts
1, IL
ready established q large plant at
q point about half way. between Mon
treal AID quebec This corporation is
the largest manUfa CtIIrsr Of aluminium
in the world Its Canadian plant IS
now known as tha Northern Aluminium
Company. and the able men of this
corporation who have 50 highly de
valGTed the industry As 10 make
aluminium an important and widely
used commercial commodity. were
among the first. il not the very first
Ito establish a great plant al a point
known as Shawinigan Falls. between
B Montreal and Quebo.'.
Vast Economy Possible.
Already there are hundred
thousand horse power available for
now plants and ultimately there
viii be six hundred thousand avail
able water power. How speedily
Industrial leaders recognize the
erorOmy made possible by the uti-
Ization Of water power is made
rl..ur by the fact that twenty years
ago at the point where the great
power plants are now established
there was nothing but a wilder
ness. Today there IL an Industrial
city with a population of fifteen