THE UTILIZATION OF NIAGARA POWER 243 



means of an extensive system of underground cables. All this 

 apparatus must have fixed interest charges paid upon it and 

 it requires a large force of experienced men for its operation. 

 When, therefore, the statement is made that not over ten per 

 cent is lost in transmitting power from Niagara to Buffalo, 

 it does not mean that power will cost only 10 per cent more in 

 Buffalo than at the falls; for the difference will be much 

 greater than this. 



However, even with this transmission cost added, Niagara 

 power is delivered in Buffalo to-day to customers more cheaply 

 than they can produce it themselves by isolated plants. The 

 saving in cost is not the only advantage. The elimination of 

 the steam boiler and engine outfit in a factory by the use of 

 Niagara power is a luxury and a convenience which has many 

 incidental commercial advantages. 



Wlien the Niagara enterprise was first started there was 

 a great deal of talk about operating all the factories in New 

 York state by Niagara power. Such a possibility, under the 

 present state of electrical science, is theoretical only; for elec- 

 tric power, transmitted to such distances by present methods, 

 could not possibly compete with steam. In theorj^, Niagara 

 power can be sent to San Francisco in any amount, but its 

 cost, when it got there, would be prohibitive. 



Another argument against transmitting Niagara power 

 to a long distance from the falls, is that it is not commercially 

 necessary to do so. There will be probably a sufficient market 

 for power within a fifty mile radius of the power house to use 

 up all the power which has thus far been developed, and it is 

 likely to continue so. It is cheaper for the factories to locate 

 near the falls than to carry the power a long way to the fac- 

 tories. 



One exception to this general tendency against the trans- 

 mission of Niagara power to long distances is in the case of 

 the steam railroads mentioned above. If they change over 

 to the use of electric power, it is likely that they will use 

 Niagara power within a circle of wide radius about the falls, 

 possibly 100 to 150 miles. In their case the conditions are 

 peculiarly favorable for long distance transmission. They 

 will use power on a large scale, and will have their own private 



