CHAPTER VI
Water Powers*
By DoMinioN WATER POWER AND RECLAMATION SERVICE
7 TATER-POWER development in Canada has attracted the interest
W of the whole world with the result that the resources of the
Dominion in water-power both potential and developed are
widely known. Of all the provinces Quebec is richest in this resource and
also leads in its development. The total known power resources of Canada
aggregate 20,197,000 horse-power at ordinary minimum flow, that is to
say this amount of power is ordinarily available continuously 24 hours
per day throughout the year. The power ordinarily available 24 hours
per day for six months of the year amounts to 33,113,000 horse-power.
During the remainder of the year the deficiency can be made up by using
water that is stored during the flood season or it can be supplemented by
power derived from fuel stations. That this last estimate is not un-
reasonable is more than borne out by.comparing the actual installations
at sites already developed with their ordinary minimum and six-month
capacities, for it is found that if installation is carried on in the same
proportion, the total known resources will justify an installation of 43.000,-
000 horse-power.
Water-power resources of Quebec.—The province of Quebec with
a total area of nearly 600,000 square miles is comprised in two main drain-
age basins, the St. Lawrence river and gulf and the James and Hudson
Bav. and also a smaller basin draining to Hudson strait and Ungava bay.
To the north of the St. Lawrence river practically the whole territory,
including that draining towards the Hudson bay and North Atlantic,
is part of the great Laurentian plateau with its typical characteristic of
forest cover, lakes and streams, all favourable to the widespread location
of water-power sites both great and small. To the south of the St. Law-
rence the topography is somewhat different; to the west of a line running
from the city of Quebec to the foot of lake Champlain the country is a
comparatively flat plain broken only by a few hills rising abruptly to
heights of about a thousand feet, whilst to the east the territory is more
rugged and is part of the Appalachian highlands, extending from the
State of Vermont northeastward to the Gaspé peninsula. The principal
* Water-power resources of Quebec are administered by the Hydraulic Service of the Provincial Depart-
ment of Lands and Forests, to whom application should be made for water-power privileges. Extensive
Investigations have been made by the Quebec Streams Commission in co-operation with the Dominion Water
Power and Reclamation Service of the Department of the Interior, Ottawa. Those requiring detailed inform.
ation concerning power sites or power rivers should apply to the Chief Engineer, Quebec Streams Commis-
sion, New Court House, Notre-Dame St., E., Montreal, or the Director, Dominion Water Power and Recla-
mation Service. Ottawa.
