THE CONQUEST OF NATURE 



The water of Niagara River is of course no different 

 from any other body of water of equal size. It is merely 

 that its unique position gives the engineer an easy op- 

 portunity to utilize the potential energy that resides 

 in any body of water or, for that matter, in any other 

 physical substance lying at a high level. In due 

 course, doubtless, other bodies of water, such as 

 mountain lakes and mountain streams will be similarly 

 put into electrical harness. The electrical feature is of 

 course the one that most appeals to the imagination. 

 But it may be well to recall that the ultimate source of all 

 the power in question is gravitation. People fond of 

 philosophical gymnastics may reflect with interest that, 

 according to the newest theory, gravitation itself is, in 

 the last analysis, an electrical phenomenon a reflec- 

 tion which, it will be noted, leads the mind through a 

 very curious cycle. 



THE EFFECT ON THE FALLS 



Much solicitude has been expressed as to the possible 

 effect, upon the Falls themselves, of this withdrawal 

 of water. For the present, it is admitted, there is no 

 visible effect; and to the casual observer it may seem 

 that almost any quantity of water the power-houses 

 are likely to need might be withdrawn without seriously 

 marring the wonderful cataract. But the statistics sup- 

 plied by the power companies, taken in connection with 

 estimates as to the bulk of water that passes over the 

 Falls, do not support this optimistic view. Taking 

 what seems to be a reasonable estimate for a basis of 



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