summary: Cape Split Development Company  

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The Tide’s-a-wastin’.  It’s all about hydroelectric power at Cape Split!

The next time you are hiking in the Cape Split area, try to envision the landscape with several turbines attempting to harness the tide.  It is hard to imagine now, but in the early part of the twentieth century the Cape Split Development Company could see the possibilities.

The Cape Split Development Company was created in 1916 with a four-fold purpose:

1. to examine the economic viability of the development of a hydroelectric power plant at Cape Split;
2. to obtain an engineer’s report;
3. to carry out experimental work; and,
4. to raise the capital necessary to complete the project.

After purchasing a property and raising the initial capital by selling shares, the Company hired the services of the New York consulting engineers Bogart and Pohl.  Their report emphasized the growing need for hydroelectric power in the Maritimes and the suitability of the Cape Split site for the generation of hydroelectric power. Also hired was the consulting engineer Charles M. Allen, who conducted experiments on the efficiency of the Clarkson Current Motor prototype, which the Company hoped to use, and gave an extremely favorable report. All was ready for the beginning of construction at the Cape Split site, except for the necessary capital.

Unfortunately, the initial $31,000 raised through the selling of shares was the sum total of all of the Company’s capital, so the project fell through. Years later, the Acadia Bulletin would remember the project and recall the end of the Company, saying

[d]espite the remarkable fund raising efforts of Dr. Archibald, who is remembered as imaginative, vigorous and persuasive, the project proved impossible. Due to economic uncertainties of the war years and the 1920s, the Company was unable to raise the $2,500,000 needed to complete the project. (vol.67, no.1 (Winter 1984), p.13)

In 1928, the property was sold to Minas Basin Pulp and Paper, although the right to develop power on the property was retained by the Company. This right was deeded to the Nova Scotia Power Commission in 1957.

The records of the Cape Split Development Company are in the Archives.

These records extend from 1915, just prior to the legal existence of the Cape Split Development Company, to the time of the acquisition of its rights by the Nova Scotia Power Commission in 1957. They include: correspondence and shareholder lists, reports, legal documents, graphic material and technical drawings, and publications.  Many of the records are available digitally.

Check out the "Get the Records" box in the left column for a Finding Aid link to get the full story on the Cape Split Development Company and view the digital copies of these records. 

A link in the "Related Records" box will lead you to the Finding Aid for Ralph P. Clarkson and the patents for the Clarkson Current Motor.

What is the connection between the Cape Split Development Company and Acadia University?

The answer is three prominent individuals: Cutten, Clarkson, and Archibald.  The name “Cutten” you may have heard of before.  Perhaps, even, “Cutten House” comes to mind.  But, it is likely that names “Clarkson” and “Archibald” are less familiar.

Acadia University President George B. Cutten, professor of engineering Ralph Clarkson, and Principal of the Acadia Collegiate and Business Academy William Liard Archibald were very much involved with the Cape Split Development Company.  George B. Cutten served as the Company's President, while the Vice-President and Managing Director of the Cape Split Development Company was Ralph P. Clarkson. The Clarkson Current Motor, which the company hoped to use, was his invention. The Secretary of the Company was William Laird Archibald.  Another professor, Alexander Sutherland, was also part of the project.

As for the Clarkson Current Motor, the Acadia Bulletin later reported that,

[t]he 23 horsepower model of the current motor that was invented by Clarkson and was the springboard of this early dream of Fundy power, was lost in the disastrous fire of December 2, 1920 when the second College Hall of Acadia burned to the ground.  (vol.67, no.1 (Winter 1984), p.13)