l6 UTILIZATION OF WATER POWER AT NIAGARA FALLS. 



A very interesting and important test was made on November 

 19th, 1 90 1 to conclusively determine the carrying capacity of the 

 tunnel and thus prove the correctness of the calculations made in 

 designing such an unprecedented engineering structure. An 

 amount of water was discharged through the wheels, completed 

 and uncompleted, in wheelpits 1 and 2 equal to that which will be 

 required for wheels generating 105,000 H. P. in commercial ser- 

 vice and it was found that the tunnel readily discharged this quan- 

 tity of water. 



Time forbids more than a brief reference to that most interesting 

 problem, the manner in which electric power is transmitted to 

 Buffalo. The current from the generators flows to the switch- 

 board where the controlling devices are situated and thence to the 

 largest transformers ever manufactured where the voltage or inten- 

 sity, of current is raised from 2200 volts to 22,000 volts. It then 

 passes over bare copper wires through the intermediate towns to 

 the terminal house in this city where the voltage is reduced to 2200 

 volts for local distribution to the various substations. Three sep- 

 arate and distinct transmission lines of three wires are now in use 

 and if any of these lines is interrupted the current can be trans- 

 mitted on the other two lines. These lines are daily patrolled and 

 constant watchfulness is exercised to prevent such interruption. 



But while power development on the American side has thus 

 been advancing by leaps and bounds, the Canadian shores have 

 not escaped the attention of capitalists anxious to utilize a part of 

 Niagara's energy. The material features of the problem there 

 presented are quite similar to those already described, but the 

 business aspects of the case are somewhat different. The Province 

 of Ontario has set aside for park purposes a large tract lying be- 

 tween the upper Suspension Bridge and the Dufferin Islands and 

 in addition control a strip of land 66 feet wide extending from 

 Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. As the works of any water power 

 plant must necessarily cross under or over, or be situated upon 

 such park lands it is evident that all Canadian water power devel- 

 opment must be subject to the control of the Park Commissioners 

 and in turn to the Ontario Legislature. It was evident, however, 

 that a power house located in the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls 

 Park whether on the upper or lower river would be much nearer 

 the falls than would be possible on the American side as the State 

 of New York would permit no power development within the 

 boundaries of its property. Being desirous of securing an oppor- 

 tunity for so favorable a development, a number of American and 



