Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28th, 1920, WINNIPEG’S EXAMPLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28th, 1920, WINNIPEG’S EXAMPLE.

The question of hydro-electric development is a fascinating one, for whereever carried into effect it produces very striking results. There is a' notable example in the case of the City of Winnipeg in Canada, which has its own municipal electric-power plant. Winnipeg supplies current to manufacturers and householders at the cheapest rate in America, ns low as a half cent per killowat for manufacturers, one

cent for cooking and three and onethird cents for lighting. The present development of power there is 47,000 horse power, with an ultimate capacity of 100,000 horse power. The municipality records immense progress as a result of its enterprise, and it has come to he regarded as “the marvel city” of Canada. Solid and consistent advancement. is attending Winnipeg, which as a. result, of its enterprise, combined with the low rate of charges, manufacturers are eager to avail themselves of the opportunities afforded

for cheap production in that centre. The City Council did not open its mammoth enterprise till 1911, a beginning having (been made as late as 1907. The source of supply is eighty miles from Winnipeg, which is an indication of what can be done in the way of transmission with a- large-powered undertaking. 'The city is reaping great profits from the service, and this permits of sale prices being as low as quoted above. Already the city has great earnings, and the surplus annually runs into millions of dollars. 'The rapid advancement of Winnipeg is con.

sidered to be unequalled in the world, and the city has a remarkable future ahead of it. In this country nature has provided conditions which will permit of the Canadian example being followed, and in time emulated. Hiero are numerous sources where water power can be developed, and the point seems to be to launch one large scheme in preference to several small projects. The utilisation of the power can he more effective and economical when worked from a large undertaking, and It ig the greatness of the power produced which permits the cheap sale price, and that in turn is the secret of success in regard to finance .and expansion. In setting about a hydroelectric power scheme, care should he taken, therefore, to investigate the local conditions thoroughly, so that not only will enough power be available

for what might bo normal conditions now, but also in a score of years hence when development lias taken place, and the enterprise is able to reap the remunerative profits. A low scale of charges means much industrial expansion, If for instance the tailings at I Kumara, Goldsborough, Stafford, Knnieri, Itimu, Ross and elsewhere could bo treated scientifically on a. large spalewith a cheap power, enormous wealth could be recovered from the heaps of debris now considered valueless. Industrially (hose unsightly heaps could be spread over the country, and serve as a. foundation for good grass land in the future. This is but one aspect of the mining use to which the power could ibo applied There are the deep levels to be worked, or the low-grade strata, which, worked on a big scale, would pay to operate. There are immense possibilities for hydro-electric development, if the subject wero but taken up earnestly in Westland.