DARTMOUTH LAKES POWER. DOANE. 25 



irregular, sliowiug torrents at eertai'n seasons and rivulets at 

 others. The task of the engineer is to take the power curve and 

 do with it the best liie can in earnings, atta;ckin^ the probleioi 

 with all the resource at his command. 



ITo hydro-electric plant of limited capacity should be 

 studied at the present time without considering the use of 

 auxiliary power. Oftentimes such a study would result i'a the 

 rejection of auxiliaries altogether. At other times, after all has 

 been done that is possible in obtaining the best available storage, 

 there may remain a feature of the problem which may be econ- 

 omically handled only by steam or gas auxiliaries. But a short 

 time ago, the presence in any hydro-electric system of steam or 

 gas auxiliaries, was considered a confessio'n of w^eakness in the 

 hydraulic system. Fortunately this false idea is fast losing- 

 ground, and it is recognized that the bes.t of engineering is shewn 

 by their use, and in consequence, hydro-electric opportunities 

 are bei'ng utilized which were j)reviously neglected. 



Streams of comparatively constant flow, by the installation 

 of steam or gas auxiliaries, are enabled to supply heavier loads 

 than would be otherwise possible, though perhaps the most" 

 important use for auxiliaries is found in cases where the normal 

 stream flow is very materially reduced during short periods of 

 the year, by reason of special conditions in the watershed. 



It is not reasonable to develop a hydro-electric station when 

 a steam or gas station could be built which would supply the 

 same territory at a lower cost, but it is also unwise to condemn 

 a hydro-electric development because the cost per unit of capac- 

 ity is high, when at the same time it can develop cheaper power, 

 than can be done in any other manner. 



In the province of Ontario, the government has appointed a^ 

 hydro-electric power commission, whose duty it is to develop and 

 supply electric energy not only to municipalities requesting it,- 

 but also to any railway or to a private company distributing 

 electricity. 



