The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-05-26

that required for clearing out the forebay. tn
screen the tunnel intakes from logs, ice, etc., there
would be built an L-shaped reinforced concrete
wall, rising from the ledge of the river bed to q
sufficient height above the surface to divert float
ing objects into the currents sweeping onward
and over the two Falls. According to the engineer
ing estimates, two tunnels can be cut and turbo-
generators placed and made ready for service
within an interval of two and a half years.
Today, in the vicinity of Niagara Falls it costs
anywhere from $40 to 500 to generate by steam
a horsepower year. If we strike an average, and
call the outlay $50 per annum, 1t should be mani
fest that an economy Of $12O,OOO.OOO in coal con-
sumption may be effected while adding tremen-
dously to the power available for industrial and
other purposes. If it be assumed that a horse
power year in the run Of steam plants calls for
the burning of 8 tons of coal, then the substitu-
ton Of hydroelectric energy will save each twelve
months quite 12,OOO,OOO tons of fuel which, other
wise, would have to. be mined and transported
from the nearest fields. those in Pennsylvania.
1t is pertinent to emphasize: here that In Buffalo.
only about rs miles distant from Niagara Falls,
a big public service electric company develops
two-thirds of its current at present by means OF
steam, and it is obliged to do this because it can
not obtain all Of it's energy from the compare
lively nearby hydroelectric plants. Think of it,
there within a stones throw, SO to speak, Of the
thunderous waters of the Falls, this concern has
to rely upon coal to generate $4,000 out Of the
100000 horsepower needed by its customers. Thir-
ty years ago, the population of Buffalo was 25O,-
OOO and is now 5O5,S75, an increase Of 1873 per
cent in three decades. The city Of Niagara Falls.
when Incorporated in 1892, had a population OF
about 10000, and in the interval it has grown 6OO
per cent owing principally to the influence of the
availability Of hundreds of thousands Of horse.
power in the form of electrical energy.
Indeed, electricity is playing it's part throughout
a VIDE zone lying around Niagara Falls-the
primary source OF power. Syracuse is drawing
current from that point, 100 miles away, and tho
loss in Transmission is less than 10 per cent at !
voltage OF 10000. Using a potential Of 11OON
volts, the Canadians are distributing current near.
~ zoO miles; and by raising this pressure to 90.
wv volts, the radius Of distribution could he
Enlightened to 500 miles. Under existing condi-
tions. the five pioneer companies located at the
Falls are developing 65O,OOO horsepower: and Il
IS a matter of common knowledge what this has
brought about in the realm OF electrochemical in
dustries. Visualize. then, what momentous eyolu.
lions In our productive capacity would be made
possible II a million and a half more Of motive
current were at hand!
Four years ago, in the State OF New York alone.
the power requirements totaled something more
than S,OOO,OOO horsepower, and the demand was
then increasing under normal circumstances at
the rate of 100000 horsepower each twelve-month.
Therefore, If the Goat island project were pushed
to completion, and equipped to provide a maxi
mum OF I,3OO,OU horsepower, there would be a
market for every kiloWatt-hour Of Its output with
In the span of a comparatively short while. It
should be recognized. however, that this scheme
would, of necessity, divert water from the Falls,
and, according to the measure Of this diversion,
affect the volume and possibly the scenic grandeur
of the cataracts. For this reason the proponents
Of this enterprise do not urge Its adoption first,
but advocate, instead, the construction OF the dam
farther down the river. s 9sS5 .sssS&
~ 49, ..cinoa.in - $3.50 cA-,r 49,. a..-aaL..8
posed at Fosters Flats. q little less than ave
miles below the Fails, would be q much more arss
bilious cnterprise and would permit Of the sdevel-
opnents OF 2,OOO.OOO horsepower sof electrical en-
ssergy. The plan AS to take advantage OF the drop
of 1O2 feet In the river level between the foot
4 Of the Falls and the site cfosensby rearing d mass
i've structure from tile base line to the crest Of the
spiIway. This barrier would raise the water level
within the ilnpounding area high enough to sub
merge the existing rapids and modify, AT the same
time. the character of the whirlpool BY making5
IT larger and more Impressive But the scenic