242 H. W. BUCK 



advantages named. Electrochemistry is only just beginning 

 to open up as an enormous user of electric power, and it is 

 likely that many processes will be invented which will require 

 the cheap power of Niagara to render them commercially 

 operative. 



All such industrial development means more homes and 

 more people, which in turn require more electric hghting and 

 more street railway traffic, which again increase the use of 

 power. An enormous field for the use of Niagara power, which 

 is only just beginning to open up, is the electric operation of 

 the passenger and freight traffic on the great steam railroad 

 trunk lines. In my opinion this is sure to come in the near 

 future. 



If you will draw a circle around Niagara falls as a center, 

 with a radius equal to about 100 miles, which might be con- 

 sidered as a fair limit of economical transmission under pres- 

 ent electrical conditions, and assume all the trains in this circle 

 to be operated by Niagara power at approximately 500 to 

 1,000 horsepower per train, you will see the possibilities in this 

 direction for the consumption of power from the falls. 



In spite of the possii3ilities for long distance transmission 

 use, I believe, nevertheless, that the bulk of Niagara power 

 will always be used within a radius of a few miles of the falls. 

 It is cheap power that the manufacturers want, especially 

 those of electrochemical products, and the nearer they get to 

 the falls the cheaper will be the power. 



Transmission of power for long distances is expensive at 

 best. Take the case, for instance, of the Niagara-Buffalo 

 transmission. The current, after it leaves the generators, is 

 transformed to 22,000 volts by expensive step-up transform- 

 ers, which not only waste some of the power, but must be 

 operated and maintained, and interest must be paid upon 

 their cost. From here the current traverses the transmission 

 line over a private right of way. This also must be operated 

 and maintained, and interest must be paid upon a large in- 

 vestment in line as well as for right of way. Furthermore, 

 power is lost in the transmission. After reaching the city line 

 of Buffalo, the current is again transformed for distribution 

 throughout the city. This distribution is accon.ptislicd by 



