Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

WATER-POWER STATIONS OF NIAGARA FALLS 303 SECTION OF ONE OF THE TURBINES IN THE NIAGARA FALLS POWER COMPANY’S INSTALLATION. The revolving parts are shown in solid black. A, body of turbine; B, fixed guides through which the water is directed against turbine vanes revolving outside, and attached to W1, W2; GG, governors regulating amount of water passed through the vanes. reserve power, ensuring continuous and un- interrupted service. On lands adjoining the power-houses on the American side are the establishments of many well-known manu- facturing companies, to which power is dis- tributed by means of a subway 2,155 feet long, and vitrified tile conduits of a total length of more than 200 miles. On the Canadian side of the river the local dis- tributing plant consists of two three-phase overhead circuits, each, about 5 miles long. For long-distance distribution there are at various points sub-stations, in which step- down transformers, converters, etc., are in- Distribution. stalled’ and from which power is supplied to consumers at convenient tensions. From the American step- up transformer station two distinct pole lines, 19'5 and 22’5 miles long, carry transmission circuits to Buffalo and other places. The poles on the Canadian side are of special design and construction, the conductors being aluminium cables of thirty-seven strands. The annual total output of the three plants now exceeds 600,000,000 kilowatt-hours, to produce which by steam would require a daily consumption of nearly 3,000 tons of coal. Some mention requires to be made of the circumstances under which American, capital- ists were encouraged to take such an active part in the earlier develop- ment of hydro-electric power Canadian on the Canadian side. To Plant, assist such development th© Dominion Govern- ment and Commissioners of the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park granted, in 1892, the necessary franchises. The promoters, how- ever, after several futile attempts to float the scheme in Canada and England, turned it over, at a nominal sum, to the American corporation. It was, consequently, not until 1901, when the Ontario Power Company was becoming active and the second power-house of the Niagara Falls Power Company was approaching completion, that actual develop- ment began. The plans foreshadowed many notable advances in general design and equip- ment on previous similar installations, and the hopes founded upon them were in no sense disappointed. The power-house, trans- former station south of the park, entrance canal, and fore-bay, and, indeed, all exposed accessories to the enterprise, present a pleas- ing appearance, not out of harmony with the scenic beauties of their situation. Thanks to its developments during recent years, the Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Company (that first mentioned) continues to hold a foremost position among the great power-supply companies of Niagara. The construction of its No. 2 power-station was begun in 1895, and that of No. 3 eight years later. To obtain the water required to operate the combined plants, the company’s canal was widened to 100 feet, and its depth in-