Niagara Falls 



1903 The Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Co. have 38,000 



H. P. developed, are commencing a power house for 50,000 

 H. P. additional and can make a total development of 125,000 

 H. P. The Niagara Falls Power Company have 80,000 H. P. 

 ready for service, are installing 25,000 H. P. additional, which 

 will be completed next fall, and have rights for an additional 

 125,000 H. P. The Ontario Power Company contemplate 

 using 300,000 H. P. and are at work on the installation of 

 50,000 H. P. The Toronto and Niagara Falls Power Co. 

 have obtained rights for developing 125,000 H. P. and are com- 

 mencing the installation of 50,000 H. P. The following are the 

 totals; now developed, 1 18,000 H. P.; in process of develop- 

 ment, 225,000 H. P.; rights secured for 1,150,000 H. P. 

 Please remember that the total water power developed in the 

 United States in 1900 was less than 2,000,000 H. P. 



Such is the history of water power utilization at Niagara in the 

 past and its condition at present. But what of the future and 

 of the influence of that future on the prosperity of Buffalo? And 

 by Buffalo we mean the greater Buffalo. Must we leave to our 

 real estate friends all the roseate views of Buffalo future great- 

 ness? I think not; I believe that as scientific men and women we 

 may look forward with all confidence to a marvelous growth in 

 our city. That water power generating electricity is to be the 

 power of the 20th century needs but little argument. Wood as 

 a source of heat and power need not be considered and it needs 

 no prophet to foresee the time when the coal mines of the 

 U. S. will be exhausted. Long before that time the price of 

 coal will be so high as to prohibit its use for the generation of 

 large blocks of power. You are all aware of the marked increase 

 in the normal, (not strike), prices of soft coal in the last ten 

 years. The exhaustion of the natural gas fields is so rapid that 

 gas is not a factor in the problem. Look which way we may 

 the inevitable conclusion is that recourse by the great factories 

 must be had to the water powers of the country. Of all the 



hydraulic developments that the 20th century will witness, which 



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