[KEtFER] PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 11 



large diameter. In these days of structural steel, and " Ferris " wheels, 

 this difficulty could be overcome; but, with the turbine, the conditions 

 are reversed, the higher the head the less the size and cost of wheels, so 

 that the most valuable water powers were the most cheaply utilized in 

 this respect. 



A previous check to the greater extension of water power was given 

 in the latter part of the last century by James Watt's discovery of the 

 steam engine, which by bringing the power to the work, to the city, and 

 to the mine, revolutionized industrial conditions. 



A still greater revolution has recently occurred which brings water 

 power to the front again, by its amalgamation with electricity, whereby 

 its economical power is transferred to the work, over many miles of 

 -distance, upon a single wire. 



AVithin the last ten years high voltage electricity has been firmly es- 

 tablished with annually increasing power of extension, and this has 

 brought Canada into the first rank of economical power producing coun- 

 tries. Water is thus represented by a power to which it can give birth, 

 l)ut which is superior to its own, in that, where ever transplanted, it can 

 <\o nearly all the parent power could do, as well as give light, heat and 

 greater speed: moreover it has given rise to industries only possible with 

 abundant cheap electricity. What is more important to us is that such 

 industries are those for which Canada possesses the raw material, but 

 which, without water power, she could not engage in. 



There are important industries in which we have for some time 

 utilized water power — for which electricity is not indispensable — but 

 which equally require large amounts of cheap power, and are capable of 

 indefinite extension : but while these may not need the intense electric 

 current necessary for electro-chemical industries, they will find electrical 

 transmission of inestimable value in many situations ; while, for light- 

 ing and heating purposes, water power is invaluable to all. 



Heretofore we have cut our spruce into deals and exported it to 

 Europe, and more recently into pulp wood and exported that to the 

 United States ; but, manufactured by our water power into paper, the 

 raw material would 3deld this country ten times the value it is now ex- 

 ported for. 



The extension of railways combined with electrical transmission, 

 will promote the local manufacture of such wood products (including all 

 valuable hard wood) as can bear transportation; thus giving the largest 

 amount of local employment, as well as tonnage to the railway; and 

 delivering us from the position of " hewers of wood "' for other coun- 

 tries. 



