244 H- W. BUCK 



rights of way, without extra cost for the installation of their 

 overhead circuits. Furthermore, they will have to compete 

 electrically only with steam power as developed in the loco- 

 motive, which, as is well known, is a very expensive method 

 of utilizing the energy of coal, as compared with a stationary 

 engine. 



At present the power distributed by the Niagara Falls 

 Power company might be divided into three classes. 



First. The local service to electrochemical and other 

 industries within the city limits of Niagara Falls. This at 

 present aggregates about 45,000 horsepower, divided among 

 thirty industries. The largest users are the electrochemical 

 plants, which require current either for electrolysis or for the 

 production of the very high temperatures obtainable in the 

 electric furnace by which the reactions in their processes are 

 brought about. 



Second. The Canadian service across the upper steel 

 arch bridge to industries and electric railroads in Canada, 

 reaching as far as St. Catharines. This use is small at present, 

 but it is the beginning of an industrial growth on the Canadian 

 side of the river, which, in my opinion, will be very extensive 

 in a few years. It now amounts to about 2,000 horsepower. 



Third. Long distance service to Buffalo, Tonawanda, 

 Lockport, and Olcott, which now amounts to a total of about 

 30,000 horsepower. In Buffalo approximately 24,000 horse- 

 power is used, divided among a very large number of custom- 

 ers, making use of the power for all kinds of purposes. This 

 includes the power for operating the Buffalo street cars and 

 the electric lights in the city. 



In Tonawanda, about 4,000 horsepower is used for rail- 

 way lighting and miscellaneous power purposes. 



In Lockport the use amounts to about 1,500 horsepower 

 for railway and miscellaneous purposes. Five hundred horse- 

 power is used at Olcott for operating one of the substations 

 of the International Railway company. This station is 39 

 miles from the falls, which is perhaps the longest distance to 

 which power is transmitted at this writing. All the freight on 

 the International railroad between Olcott and Tonawanda is 

 handled by Niagara power by means of electric locomotives. 



