Abbott's Guide to Ottawa and Vicinity/Water Powers

by George F. Abbott

 

WATER POWERS.

Canada is essentially a country of water powers, and rivers with falls or varying height abound. But no district perhaps is richer in "white coal," as this power has been called, than the country around Ottawa. Inside the city limits alone there is 100,000 horse power, and within ten miles of the City Hall 230,000 horse power is available; while within 45 miles there is nearly 1,000,000. The total horse power at Niagara is only about 400,000. At the Chats Falls (see p. 13) there is from 130,000 to 170,000. Who can say what may not be the future of a city surrounded by such natural resources.