ELECTRICITY FROM BEN NEVIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1924, Page 3

ELECTRICITY FROM BEN NEVIS.

LONDON, April 16. A scheme to harness the watershed of lien Nevis (4,10(1ft, the highest mountain in Great liritain), to change the face of the neighbouring Country, and to convert the township of Fort \\ illiam, at the toot of the mountain, into a prosperous anil populous place I of 1*2,000 inhabitants, will begin, it is hoped, this summer. The undertaking will cost 06,000,000 and has already received the sanction of Parliament. It is a commercial scheme towards which, under the Trades Facilities Act. the Government is guaranteeing 0*2,000,01)0, and it is being carried out by the North Ihitisli Aluminium so., a subsidiary organisation of the IfritiMi Aluminium Co., 1.ti1., of Queen i ictona-strcet. K.C. It will take three or four years to complete the project, said .Mr \V. .Murray .tiorrfson, general manager of the Ornish Aluminium Company, yesterday. •'and during that time employment will lie provided for at least -.Odd people. When the water power of too district is harnessed for the purpose of the works that we are erecting at Fort • William, permanent employment will be found for a similar number. That means that, eventually, we shall have to provide houses for our stall' and workpeople.” -Mr Morrison added that Parliament had stipulated that at least 6,000 h.p. of the electrical energy secured from the lien Nevis watershed should lie available for any other industry that starts in the locality. The watershed is OO.'t square miles in extent and includes Loch Laggan and Loch Treig. Care, however, is being taken not to interfere with the salmon fishing in the Diver Spean. The area at the moment is mainly mountainous or devoted to deer forests.