CANADA'S “ELECTRICAL KING” DEAD

Evening Star, Issue 19062, 3 October 1925, Page 12

CANADA'S “ELECTRICAL KING” DEAD

[Written by A. L. Brum:, for tho ‘ Evening Star.’]

Sir Adam Beck, chairman of the Hydro-electric Power Commission in Ontario, is dead. Many picturesque titles were used in the Press and public life to describe tho ability and service which were his. Canada’s “ Electrical King ” is one of the most familiar phrases. The public felt it to he his duo when, on December 28, 1921, the Quceiiston-Cbippawa plant was opened having a capacity ’of 650,000 horsepower, This is from the Niagara Falls, and is the greatest hydro-electric power in tho world. “ Hydro-Knight ’’ is another name which couples his industrial services with those of politics and benevolence. During the war ho acted as Government purchaser of horses, and made a present of one of his own crack mounts to General Alderson, the Commander of the Canadian Forces. His gifts to the Red Cross Society passed tho 50,000-dollar mark, and the Byron Consumptive Sanatorium is another tangible proof of his sympathy with every good couso. _ t For over twenty years his name has been a household word in his native province. In his early days ho was a struggling manufacturer, and saw the development of tho steam engine from the days of wood fuel to those of coal. His imagination was therefore kindled when tho possibilities of electricity dawned upon him. To “ harness Niagara ” was a super-human task, but its difficulties only spurred his determination. In the hour of his success ho is said to have “ ridden the Falls.” It was, however, not for notoriety that he laid his plans. He loved tho people and desired to serve the masses by securing to them cheap_ power. Hence his eye scanned every river in the province and aimed at a network of engineering that every class in the community might be reached. A beautiful symbol of this is to be found at the Byron Sanatorium, which is not only heated and lighted by electricity, but the food is cooked, dishes washed, cows milked, and chickens hatched by tho same means. Many called him a “wizard,” and such deeds as these prove that it was not inapplicable. He came of that fine old German stock which pioneered the best parts of Ontario. His father a small village when he set up a machine shop. The son, after a fairly good education, joined hands in the humble business. They branched out into woodwork, and manufactured boxes of a fine character. As a young man ho filed his own saws and was the whole office staff. But nothing could retard such talent and application. 110 moved his business to the city of London, and had branches in other places. Public services as mavor of the city and member of Parliament followed. His interest m horses began when, under medical advice, he bought ono and took daily canters to the country. Later he became a breeder, and was a prominent exhibitor at the fairs on both sides of the Atlantic. . Hard work at length undermined his health. The great onginering schemes were not successfully accomplished without great mental exertion _ and worry. 110 was attacked by private corporations when he was endeavoring to give the people of the province the benefits of electricity as a power, but at his passing away his record stands not only for successful enterprise, but as that -of one whose character was spotless for honesty. Ho had just passed his sixty-eighth birthday, and with dauntless will had plans for some fifteen years yet to come. But like many an electric machine, his body had been burnt out. When sick in the hospital his cot was covered with letters ancf reports on his enterprises, and his own private room at homo had a telephone at his bedside for almost constant use. He told his friends that he did his best thinking about 4 o’clock in the morning. His body lay in state in the Anglican Cathedral, Loudon, Ontario, and his funeral was like that of a king. There will no doubt he many public memorials raised; but there scarcely needs to he any, for his life-work remains before the eyes of all. The Bishop of London quoted the reference to Sir Christopher Wren, of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and said : “ Wo have only to look around to see the. monuments of Sir Adam Beck.”