New York State History

Anyone flying by night up the Hudson River to the Capital Area and west from Albany to Buffalo passes pool after pool of lights, chan­neled in the valleys of the waterways and extend­ing miles to the north and south. These are the populous towns and cities that comprise a good part of the empire of the Empire State—communi­ties whose progress is closely interwoven with the growth of the Niagara Mohawk System. Beyond the cities twinkle lights from the homes of farmers whose dairies, vineyards, truck crops, stock breeding, and other specialized agricultural pursuits represent some of the most advanced farming operations in the country.

Here in town and country is a place to live, work, and play. In each of these areas of living, Niagara Mohawk has been enabled to perform wide and useful functions. Few other industries are so rooted in the soil. The System's hydro and steam stations, its power lines and gas distributing facilities are a permanent addition to the State's resources.

The territory served by Niagara Mohawk System comprises more than half of New York's sixty-two counties. These are provided with elec­tric service, and seventeen of them with gas ser­vice as well. Here nearly three million persons are served directly by the System. Most of them are grouped in villages, towns, and cities whose his­tories for the most part trace back to the early years of the Republic.