HYDROELECTRIC SCHEMES.

Northern Advocate, 28 September 1920, Page 3

HYDROELECTRIC SCHEMES.

Canada is v country of big things, and schemes of magnitude find ready acceptance there. The country is deficient in hard coal, although there is a considerable production of soft coal, which is widely distributed. The lack of good coal no doubt stimulated tho development of hydro-electrical works, i'or which the great lakes and falls offered exceptional facilities. Niagara leads the way. Commencing in 1895 with an installation which yielded 15,000 horse-power, there are now three companies operating there with plants, capable of generating 435,000 horsepower, and big works are now in process of construction under the public control of tho Ontario Hydro-Electric Commission, which involves the construction of a canal 12f miles long. This gigantic work, which is costing between. £8,000,000 and £10,000,000, will yield 300,000 horse-power, capable of being increased to 450,000 horsepower All the towns, from Toronto to Buffalo, are sharing in the benefits of these electric supplios for power and lighting, and the presence of such an indestructible supply of "white coal" is considered the best possible guarantee of tho industrial prosperity of Ontario; It is estimated that the maximum power capable of development along the Niagara River exceeds five million horse-power, which is equal to the aggregate horse-power used in Great Britain. Another calculation is that the motive energy in the river and falls is equal to sixty .fnillion tons of coal per annum. But although tho Niagara electrical works take the lead, hydro-electrical developments aro making progress in .many parts of the Dominion. The town of Winnipeg derives 00,000 horse-power from the Winnipeg Eivcr 75 miles away, and brings its water supply 96J miles through a concreto aqueduct with a capacity of 85,000,000 gallons a day. It is estimated that, in various parts of Canada, electric energy developed by water power represents a total of 2,305,310 horse-power. Apart from the use made of this energy industrially, its benefit, is seen in the brilliant street lighting of Canadian cities.