Utilising Niagara.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7068, 14 February 1893, Page 2

Utilising Niagara.

America (says the London Daily Tele graph) is sadly in need of a native Raskin to pronounce a forcible opinion upon the proposal to utilise Niagara for electrical purposes, and to “ develop a - manufacturing city about a mile above the falls.” It is not by any means the first time that the idea of turning the most magnificent cascade in the world into a glorified mill stream has been seriously mooted, and perhaps the , danger will pass over as it has done before. However, the paper just read by Professor George Forbes, at the Society of Arts, on this subject certainly seems to foreshadow an early at-

tempt to carry the idea inio execution. It is contended that it is possible to supply a motive power from the force derived from the rushing water far cheaper than any known at present. Obviously this power cannot be transmitted to a great distance, although it is contemplated to bring Buffalo, 20 miles away, within the sphere of its influence; and hence arises the necessity of creating the proposed manufacturing city in close proximity the river. The threat is even hold out that in time the new city will become the greatest manufacturing centra in the United States. The wishes and prejudices of the mere tourist and sightseer are not taken into account. It is assumed that he will he pleased to see any number of factory chimneys rising on both sides of this world’s wonder, with the conversion of the adjoining regiSns into a good imitation of our own “ Black Country ” No doubt the prospect of being able to take out of the waterfall a force “ representing an annual income 0fc£2,500,000” is a gratifying one from a purely commercial standpoint. But, as we have said, the American lover of natural scenery will feel about the matter as Mr Buskin might be expected to feel if it were proposed to build a new Birmingham in Borrodale, and utilise Lodore to turn its factory wheels.