| May 1902, No. 51 | The Railway and Shipping World (Toronto) | Page 161, col. 3 |
Transmission of Niagara power.
Two charters are being asked for at the current session of the Dominion Parliament for the incorporation of companies to develop electrical power at Niagara and deliver it in Toronto. The first charter is being applied for on behalf of W. Mackenize, F. Nicholls, S. G. Beatty, H. M. Pellatt, Toronto, and J. Ross, Montréal, who desire incorporation as the Toronto and Niagara Power Co., while the second charter is for the incorporation of a company to be known as the Dominion Railway and Power Co., the applicants being C. D. Warren, C. H. Ritchie, R. Davies, A. H. Royce, H. Sutherland and A. W. Ballantyne. The promoters of the first mentioned company are associated with the Toronto Ry. Co. and the lines to Mimico and Scarboro', and the Toronto Electric Light Co., while the promoters of the second company are connectyed with the Metropolitan Ry. Co. and the Suburban Ry. Co. Both companies ask for extensive powers as to rights of way over highways, expropriation of land, etc., the Toronto and Niagara Power Co. aiming mainly to deliver power in Toronto for the street railway, and the Dominion Railway and Power Co. desiring, among other powers, to operate a system of electric railways from Niagara Falls to Toronto.
S. G. Beatty, speaking of the method of transmitting power from Niagara to be adopted by the Toronto and Niagara Power Co., recently stated that it was proposed to have a double line of poles, each set of poles to carry three cables. He could not say whether the cables would be of copper or of aluminum, but they would not be insulated. The duplicate line was necessary as insurance against a break in service. The great advantage of Niagara power, he said, was the continuity of service afforded by the three plants, one on the Canadian and two on the U.S. side. If the charter was granted, the work of surveying and securing right of way would be commenced at once, and, as soon as that was completed, construction would be commenced from both ends with large forces of men. The distance was 85 miles, and the work would be completed early next year. The loss of power in transmission and transforming would be about a third. On the California line it was about 10 per cent., but the dry climate there favoured it. The cost of construction of the Co.'s lines had been estimated at $1,500,000.