FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



377 



many of the falls and rapids of Black River and other streams of the northern part of 

 the State. In no State in the Union has nature worked out greater water power 

 possibilities than in New York. 



FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWER IN NEW YORK.* 



According to the United States censuses of 1870 and 1880 the total developed 

 water power of the State of New York was, in 1870, 208,256 horse-power; in 1880, 

 2 19,348 horse-power; increase intheten years, 1 1,092 horse-power. The increase in ten 

 years of 1 1,092 horse-power is equivalent to an increase of 5.4 per cent. The United 

 States census of 1890 did not include any statistics of water power, and it is impossible 

 therefore to state definitely the horse-power in that year; still taking into account the 

 great increase shown by the special investigations on Hudson River in 1895, on 

 Genesee River in 1896, and at Niagara Falls in 1897, and also considering the 

 advances in paper making — a water-power industry — as well as the great development 

 now taking place at Massena, the increase for the whole State from 1880 to 1900 may 

 be estimated at about 120 to 140 per cent. On this basis there will probably be in 

 use in New York State at the close of the nineteenth century a total water power of 

 something like 500,000 gross horse-power. The manufacture of mechanical wood pulp 

 alone consumes about 125,000 gross horse-power. These figures, while very suggestive 

 as to the future, are nevertheless rendered more pertinent by considering that with full 

 development of the water-storage possibilities of the State as well as the possibilities 

 of power development on Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers, we may hope ultimately 

 to reach a water-power development in the State of New York something 

 like the following: 



POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF WATER-POWER IN NEW YORK. 



GROSS HORSE-POWER. 



Streams tributary to Lake Erie, 



Niagara River (in New York State), 



Genesee River and tributaries, 



Oswego River and tributaries, 



Black River and tributaries, 



Other tributaries of Lake Ontario, 



St. Lawrence River, 



Oswegatchie, Grass, Racket, St. Regis, Salmon, Chatagay, and other 



streams tributary to the St. Lawrence, ..... 

 Saranac, Au Sable, Lake George outlet, and other streams tributary 



Lake Champlain, ......... 



3,000 



350,000 



65,000 



40,000 



120,000 



10,000 



400,000 



150,000 



40,000 



* This chapter is abstracted from the author's report to the U. S. Geological Survey on The Water 

 Resources of the State of New York, Papers Nos. 24 and 25 of the U. S. Geological Survey's Water 

 Supply and Irrigation Papers. 



