NIAGARA FALLS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 16

NIAGARA FALLS

PROPOSALS TO HARNESS FOR

POWER.

American . engineers are not content with allowing Niagara Falls to subsist merely on its laurels as one of the great scenic wonders of the world. The claim ia made by Dr. Charles D. Walcott, head of the famous Smithsonian Institution, that two and a half times as much power as is being utilised could be derived from that great natural storehouse of energy without spoiling its appeal to the eye. He seems to intimate also that, unless more and better use is made of Niagara Falls, its scenic beauty will deteriorate. His viewpoint is this:— "Contrary to popular, opinion, there is nothing magical about water power. It is worth just what can be got out of it in competition with electric power generated from coal, and coal representsonly a small part of the total power cost to the public. Every water power development must ultimately answer the question, 'Will, or does, it pay?' the Canadian side of Niagara Falls-r-carry-ing 94 per cent, of the water—i« rapid-, ly, by Nature's own means, destroying itself, and mere non-use of the water is not preservation. Two and one-half times more power than is now developed can be developed and still maintain an adequate scenic effect." This comment grew out of a discussion of the comparative value of the American and Canadian systems of selling the electric energy derived from both sides of the Niagara River. American technicians, stressing the necessity of increasing the power output of the falls, advance the opinion that the privately-owned and Gove»n-mentally-regulated plants on the American side are selling power at an ultimately cheaper rate to the public than the Government-owned and operated stations on the Canadian line of the river The Provinces of Ontario and Quebec have just rejected an offer by' American interests to make a preliminary investment; of -50,000,000 dollars' for the development of the so-called Carillon Electric Development Project, a superpower, system in which utility properties of the two provinces and New England would be co-ordinated. The Canadian contention is that the Dominion's low-priced power energies will be needed for the full development of its industries, and until it is proved that enough power is available to supply American needs in addition to those of Canada, no export of power should be contemplated. The American interests, who hope ultimately to secure the Dominion Parliament s approval, of their plan, present the argument that, there is enough potential power in the St. Lawrence watershed to supply all prospective Canadian needs and those of the Eastern United btates as well. Moreover, the United States has the money available to go ahead with the project as rapidly as deSired.