THE AMERICAN FALLS FROM THE SOUTHERN END AT THE NORMAL STAGE OF WATER

Compare this with the view on the opposite page, which was taken from
practically the same point of view under quite different conditions

THE AMERICAN FALLS AT A LOW STAGE OF WATER CAUSED BY AN ICE JAM

A comparison of this picture with that on the opposite page gives
some idea of what will result if the Falls are not protected
(Photograph copyrighted by O. E. DUNLAP)

such attempts have hitherto been defeated. At Port Day is situated the intake of the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Company. This company conducts water by a canal extending through the city of Niagara Falls to the brink of the gorge below the falls, and utilizes the water at the gorge. It is authorized to take water through a canal 100 feet wide with the uniform depth of 14 feet. The precise amount of water which can be diverted through this canal has not been accurately deter mined, or, if thus determined, has never been made public. The amount has usually been assumed to be 7,700 cubic feet per second, but in response to a question of the International Waterways Commission, the president of the company has said that the flow would be from 8,000 to 10,000 cubic feet per second. It is reasonably safe to assume that the maximum figure cubic feet per second is substantially correct.

10,000

Next above this canal is located the plant of the Niagara Falls Power Company. This company has the right to divert water sufficient to produce 200,000 effective horse-power. At the present time this company diverts the waters of the river into a canal communicating with penstocks in which are located the wheels producing power, and the waters are conducted through a tunnel approximately 7,000 feet long to the gorge of the river below the Falls. It has two power-houses in operation capable of producing 100,000 horse-power, and the waters necessary to divert for this purpose are rated at 8,600 cubic feet per second. In order to produce the additional authorized 100,000 horse-power, the construction of another tunnel would be necessary. To produce this amount of horse-power would require the diversion of at least 8,600 cubic feet of water per second, and hence the total amount which this company is authorized to divert amounts to