Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Evidence Given Before the Select Standing Committee Agriculture and Colonization: Session 1914, on "Hydro-Electric Power as Applicable to the Farm"
Now, I hold that the Power Commission has greatly benefited the manufacturer by reducing his power account. A certain manufacturer in Dundas saved no less than a year on his power bill. It also benefits the dweller in the city who can now use electricity at a cheap rate in the operation of such household utensils as vacuum cleaners, toasters, broilers, irons and other electrical appliances. When you learn that an electric iron can be operated at the cost of 1 cent per hour it brings home to you how cheap an operation it is, to say nothing of the convenience. I could go on and enumerate the cost with respect to all the other household articles of daily use, but it would consume too much of your valuable time. Permit me to say that if you wish me to discuss this subject at any future time I shall only be too happy to do so either in private or in public. What we want is to have electrical energy generally used on the farm, because we realize that through its agency we are going to keep the young men on the farm, and we are going to make the conditions in the rural districts just as pleasant and comfortable for the farmer's wife and daughters as they are in the cities. Another important result that we look for through this agency is a reduction in the high cost of living of which we hear much, as it will assist the farmer by taking the place of farm help. I should not be surprised if one of these days a deputation from southwestern Ontario loomed up with 'a request that the Government give a subsidy of a mile towards the construction of radial railway lines, a project that is deserving of support and one that will improve our transportation facilities and incidentally benefit the farm by bringing him in close touch with the consumer. I hope every member of the committee will take up the study of this subject and realize for himself the immense benefit that will result from the extension of hydro-electric enterprises. What has been done in Ontario can be done in other provinces. Quebec has many water powers, perhaps a great deal more than its neighbour Ontario, and similar natural resources are to be found in other parts of Canada. The result of these enterprises, as I have already pointed out, will be to help the manufacturer, the town or city residents, and the dweller on the farm, and more than anything else will tend to keep people in the rural districts by greatly improving conditions.
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