[murphy] the ice question 177 



spring of 1908 was just a little worse than usual although it created 

 lauch interest. A spring without a flood is, in my experience, an un- 

 usual one. In this connection some old newspaper clippings are inter- 

 esting : — 



From the Ottawa Citizen of May 21st, 1888 — " Just twenty years 

 ago " — I read as follows: — " The water in the Ottawa is now exceedingly 

 " high and is still rising. The houses along the river at Gatineau Point 

 " are still inundated, the occupants being obliged to use the upper por- 

 " tion of their houses to live in, and in some cases have had to abandon 

 " them altogether." 



From the Free Press of May 16th, 1873—" 35 years ago "—the fol- 

 lowing extract is taken: — 



*■' The water in the Ottawa river is now within a foot and a half of 

 " its highest pitch. The falls are scarcely visible." 



Tn March, 1908, the water power users did not have water enougli 

 to run one-quarter of their wheels and in May the output of their wheels 

 was again similarly reduced by the flood ! A little later and they will be 

 short of water again. In order to show that the water shortage question, 

 as well as the spring floods, is not entirely new, two more short extracts 

 from the "Just 20 years ago" column are given: — 



" Ottawa Citizen, Augmst 30th, 1887 : — Chaudière lumbermen are 

 " complaining of the low water. A remedy they think could be provided 

 " by the construction of a dam." 



" Ottawa Citizen, October 16tli, 1887 : — A man named Potvin has 

 " accomplished the feat of walking across the Chaudière Falls at the 

 " brink of the big kettle. He found only about six inches of water." 



Then turning to the newspaper files containing the winter records 

 of each succeeding year one finds "Anchor Ice" blamed for "shutting 

 down the Water Works Pump House," " reducing the Water Pressure," 

 "stopping the cars" and "putting out the lights" when in reality 

 anchor ice had nothing to do with these happenings. They were an- 

 nually caused by frazil, and by the winter drouths, as explained above. 

 " Anchor Ice " is a handy phrase and it will probably remain in use for 

 a long time in spite of efforts to credit frazil with the record it has made. 



When making estimates of the amount of water power available on 

 a stream it should be known how little power is available, during periods 

 of minimum flow, so that provision for these emergencies may be made. 

 This information is just as important as to know how much power may 

 be obtained during the period of normal and maximum flow. I have in 

 mind a case where only from 15 to 20 per cent of the hydraulic machin- 

 ery actually installed can be made use of during three months of every 

 vear. 



