TRANSACTIOXS OF SECTION G. 857 



upper river in 1725 for preparing timber. Later, the Porter family erected fac- 

 tories on the islands in the rapids above the falls. It was not, however, till about 

 thirty years ago that any systematic attempt was made to utilise part of the water- 

 power of the Falls. Then a canal was constructed from Port Bay, about three- 

 quarters of a mile above the Falls, to a forebay or head-race along the cliff over- 

 looking the lower river. In 1874 the Cataract Mill was established, taking power 

 from this canal, and other mills were gradually erected till about 6,000 horse-power 

 was utilised, Tliese mills have been exceedingly prosperous, but since the growth 

 of a feeling against the disfigurement of the Falls it has become impossible to 

 extend works of the same kind. 



The idea of a method of utilising the Falls, capable of greater development, and 

 free from the objections to the hydraulic canal with mills discharging tailw.ater on 

 the face of the clitf, is due to the late Mr. Thomas Evershed, Division Engineer of 

 the New York State Canals. He proposed to construct head-race canals on un- 

 occupied land some two miles above the Falls. From these the water was to fall 

 through vertical turbine pits into tail-race tunnels, converging into a great main 

 tunnel, discharging into the lower river. Apart from an inappreciable diminution 

 of the volume of How over tlie Falls, this plan avoids any disfigurement of the 

 scenery near the Falls, and permits a head of nearly 200 feet to be made available. 

 It is, however, essential to such a plan that work should be undertaken on a very 

 large scale. In 1SS6 the Niagara Falls Company was incorporated, and obtained 

 options over a considerable area of land, extending from Port Day for two miles 

 along the Niafjara River. In 1889 the Cataract Construction Company was formed 

 to mature and carry out the constructional works required. 



The present plans contemplate the utilisation of 100,000 effective horse-power. 

 The principal work of construction is a great tmmel 7,250 feet long, which is 

 to form a tail-race to the turbines, starting from land belonging to the company 

 and discharging into the lower river. The tunnel is 19 feet by 21 feet, or 386 

 square feet in area, inside a brickwork lining ] G inches thick. 



The base of the tunnel is 205 feet below the sill of the head gate, and permits 

 a fall of 140 to be rendered available at the turbines. The brickwork of the tunnel 

 is lined for 200 feet from the mouth with cast-iron plates. 



The tunnel has been excavated with remarkable rapidity with the aid of drills 

 worked by compressed air. 



The main head-race, about 200 feet wide, will run for about 5,000 feet parallel 

 with tbe river, having entrances from the riv-er at both ends. Near the lower 

 reach the Soo Paper Company is already arranging to utilise 6,000 horse-power, 

 discharging the water from the turbines through a lateral tunnel into the main 

 tunnel. Near this lower reach will also be placed two principal power stations, 

 from which ])ower will be distributed, either electrically or otherwise in ways not 

 yet fully determined. The first turbines to be erected in these power stations will 

 be twin turbines of the outward flow type of 5,000 effective horse-power. These 

 turbines have a vertical shaft for driving dynamos or other machinery placed above 

 ground. 



According to Mr. Evershed's original plans, it was intended to distribute water 

 by surface canals to ditlerent power users, each of whom would sink his own tur- 

 bine pits, connected below by lateral tunnels to the main discharge tunnel. Some 

 of the power at Niagara will undoubtedly be used in this way, and in the case of 

 industries requiring a large amount of power it will be economical to purchase a 

 site and water rights. 



Such a plan is, however, not adapted to smaller factories. Obviously for them 

 it would be more economical to develop the power in one or more central stations 

 by turbines of large size under common management. Further, once given the 

 means of distributing power instead of water, an important extension of the pro- 

 ject becomes possible. 



Besides supplying power to industries which may locate themselves at Niagara, 

 the power may be transmitted to the existing factories in Buffalo and Tonawanda, 



Arrangements aie already proceeding to transmit 3,000 horse-power to 

 Buflalo, a distance of 18 miles, to woik an electric lighting station. 



