THE UTILIZATION OF NIAGARA POWER 239 



except in the matter of size and from the fact that the dam 

 has been built by nature and not bj^ man. 



From the electrical distribution of Niagara power has 

 resulted a radical and essential advantage which was not fully 

 recognized at the time of its first adoption. As its uses have 

 developed, it has been found that not only was power wanted 

 for industrial purposes, but primarily electric power. This 

 is especially true in the case of the electrochemical and electric 

 lighting applications. If pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical 

 shaft power had been supplied for use it w^ould have been 

 necessar}^ for all the electrochemical plants to convert this 

 power into electric current before they could use it, with all 

 the loss in power which would result from this conversion. 

 So also with the electric lighting and electric railway applica- 

 tions, where power is wanted in the form of electric current. 



The first power house of the Niagara Falls Power com- 

 pany has a capacity of 50,000 horsepower, made up of 10 

 generating units of 5,000 horsepower each. The second plant 

 of this same company, which is located on the opposite side 

 of the inlet canal, has just been completed, and its capacity 

 is 55,000 horsepower from 11 generators of 5,000 horsepower 

 each. 



The general features of this plant are the same as those of 

 the older power house, the difference being in a few details. 

 The turbines are operated with draft tubes which increase the 

 effective head of water and consequentl}^ the powder for a given 

 amount of water. The water is drawn from the old canal, led 

 through penstocks to the turbines and discharged through 

 them into a branch tunnel. This connects with the main 

 tunnel at a point near the end of wheel pit No. 1. 



Electrically, the arrangements of power house No. 2 

 differ materially from those of the old plant. There are two 

 types of dynamos. The first six are very similar to the ten 

 machmes in plant No. 1, but the last five are entirely different 

 in construction; in them the field revolves inside of the sta- 

 tionary^ outside armature. 



In the new plant the generators are all wound for the same 

 voltage, phase and frequency as in the old plant machines, 

 so as to permit of interchangeable operation on the system. 



