WATER POWER IN CANADA.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1920, Page 1

WATER POWE R IN CANADA.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

(Government Blue Book.)

The greater industrial centres of Ontario lie along the shores of the Great Lakes, the nucleus of growth having been supplied by agricultural settlement, subsequent development being largely due to the unequalled facilities for inland navigation afforded by these great bodies of water, and by the canalization of tlieir .connecting rivers. Up < o 15 years ago the prosperity of the province rested upon the transportation by water, upon the development of the agricultural and lumber industries and upon Pennsylvania coal. Since that time the Sudbury, Cobalt and Porcupine mining districts have been added to the list of provincial assets. Then came the commercial utilization of the immense power resources of Niagara, resulting largely from the rapid advancement of the art of high voltage transmission. The development of Niagara power has marked an epoch in the industrial history of the province, not only through tlie displacement of steam generated power, but by reason of the fact that the availability of large quantities of cheap water generated power has served to transform laboratory experiments into immense electro-thermal and electrochemical industries.

The drainage system of the province of Ontaria comprises lour main divisions, namely, the territory drained by the Ottawa river and its boundaries, that drained by the rivers flowing into Janies Bay, and that drained by the Winnipeg river and it's tributaries. As the distance between the east and west extremities of the province is 950 miles, and the distance between the north and south extremities 1,050 miles, the rivers forming the arteries of the drainage system will naturally possess, variant characteristics! * The extremes are represented, aiid’on the one hand, by the gently flowing rivers and creeks of the south-western peninsula, and on the other by the slack-water pools and turbulent rapids and falls of the Laurentian rivers along the north shore of Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Between these two extremes, each possessing characteristics peculiar to themselves, lie tlio rivers in the limestone regions of the eastern countries aiid the large rivers which reach tidewater by means of James Bay and the Hudson Sea.' The Canadian provinces by the sea are full of romantic interest. In New Brunswick, the beautiful St. John river valley, with its green meadows and rolling uplands, has witnessed many a clash of arms, and is replete with Indian lore. Among such is the legend of the Indian maid of the M'alicoot tribe, who, captured by the Mohawks, guided her captors safely over the portage by ; tho Madawaska Falls and into the St. John river, only to lure them to death over the brink of the Grand Falls. It is said her own body is still concealed by tire rivei*, and doubtless should the water from this mighty cataract be diverted for the white man’s purpose,-lonely remnants of this old tribe will be found searching for some evidence of their lost heroine.

Across the Bay of Fundy, well sheltered in an ample basin, lies the Nova Scotia town of Annapolis Royal. Here was established the , earliest European settlement in the Dominion of Canada. Rusting cannon, tumble down.magazines and grass-grown bastions, are eloquent of many bloody encounters 'in which French, English and New England colonials took part while Canada was in the making. The name itself is suggestive of early French: days when th settlement was known as Port Royale. Far to the other extremity of Nova Scotia, at Louisbourg, are remains of fortifications representing the best efforts of famous French military engineers, and years of toil. Before these works, powerful fleets battled for the I New World supremacy.

Between these two grim reminders of bloody battles lies the peaceful “ Land of Evangeline,” with its broad meadows, so patiently reclaimed from the waters of Minas Basin by the simple Arcadian farmers. The old city of Halifax itself is like a bit of England transplanted. The whole country -abounds in Tittle ocean coves, with inviting cottages nestling here and there on their shores, sparkling streams leaping from boulder to boulder, where lively trout disport themselves, and vast are as were big game, to delight the heart of any hunter, mav be found.

There is, however, another and more practical side of this country so full of memories and so well adapted for pleasure and recreation. Vast quantities of coal and iron ore are available in certain areas and large industries have been founded on these. Enormous quantities of valuable timber still exist, while the fisheries are of great value. Gold mining is carried on profitably in several places, while in large sections of the country agriculture has tlie'MoiS.jilOsk place. Water powers are numerous and valuable, and while perhaps secondary in importance to the great mineral and agricultural wealth of the province, are an extremely valuable ally to these other

natural resources in the ultimate development of the whole country.