The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-09-28
Niagara Falls.

The New York Egening Post and Boston
Adc@tsser have recently published a number
OF letters in regard to this great wonder of
nature, and the proposition to buy il for a
national or international possession.
OF late years the vast water power at the
Falls has been utilized to establish mills and
factories, so that the place IS fast losing it's
charm as scene of bcaniy, and becoming like
other manufacturing towns.
The Indispensable adjuncts of factory life.
with the annoyances found nj all places of
resort, IN the shape OF pertlnacious hack driv-
ers and curiosity vendors have had The effect
of driving away the throngs of tourists who
once came from all parts Of the world to see
Niagara. This is much to be regretted, as the
world affords few, if any places, so attractive
and wonderful rs the Great American Falls.
1t seems that part of the land from which
the finest views of the cataract are obtained
will come into market in the course OF the
next two years, and it is now proposed that
the Falls and the adjacent grounds shall be
purchased and kept by the nation to give rest
and pleasure 10 the travellers eye.
"A thing OF beauty is joy forever" and we
sincerely hope that the great cataract, one of
natures grandest works, may be secured by
the plan suggested for the public benefit. A
Northern writer well says:
while the people of this town who ire in
terested in Niagara Falls as watering place
or summer resort, are in u complaining or dis
cOuraged mood, those who are engaged i'm
manufacturing enterprises, or who own lands
which offer suitable sites for shops and acto-
res, are in high spirits. They lament sim
cerely, doubt not, the necessity of sacrificing
Niagara and all its beauty and attractiyeness
to business and commercial interests. They
say, 1--WE should be glad if somebody-lf the
State-wOuld buy this property and preserve
the scenery. But we cannot afford to keep
these lands merely for the sake OF beauty and
the pleasure it will give to other people, when
their use tor manufacturing purposes will yield
a large and permanent income." 1t is not just
| to blame these persons, nor to impute sordid
motives to them, or accuse them OF "yandal-
! ism" or barbarian tastes. The men who own
| Goat Island, or the river front along the Amer
| icaE rapids, are no more under obligation to
sacrifice the fortunes of their families in order
! to provide and maintain beautiful place OF
resort for the people of our country than are
the farmers OF tue Genesse valley or OF South
ern Illinois, They have the same right that
other men have to use their profit and advan-
| tage. These men appear to me to possess as
| much public spirit as can be found anywhere
among the best people Of our country. doubt
il any possible change of owners could put
this property into much better hands. 1t seems
to be an extremely superficial method OF deal
ing with the questions and interests involved
| which leads to criticism of the landowners
and manufacturers here-or any other class OF
the people OF this town-as its chief result. 1t
is not the vandalism or soulless greed of the
people here which is imperilling Niagara, and
which will soon destroy it forever unless some
ettectual interpOsition prevents the consum-
| nation OF this rum. 1t is really science, or
the changed methods and conditions Of life
which the modern development of science has
produced, that is sweeping away the ancient
beauty of this wonderful place, and which
threatens the desolation which, if we suffer it
to be completed, will be matter of deepest re-
greet to the civilized world for all coming time.
Modern improvements in manufacturing APP
planes and methods, and in the means of
transportation, haye multiplied many times
the value of the lands near the Falls us sites
for mills, and have rendered the utilization ot
the immense water power of the river impera-
| lively necessary. If the State or the Unite
States should purchase these lands, as j
| should, in order to preserve the scenery. th
water power could be utilized just as fully, ;an
the mills and shops would be quite as valu
able, a little further away from the Falls
| twill be observed that, in all that | wEi tie 9
this subject, the point OF view is the Coz vic
ton that for all the Disagreement and DIES trut
ton Of the lovely scenery here that has we
taken place, little if any blame rests upon tn
owners Of the land, or indeed, upon anybody
or, if anybody is really culpable, the fact is
barren one, and nothing can come of in;sistn
upon it. The gradual, ever-advancine tots
ruin OF Niagara is inevitable, if the r,rivate
personal ownership of the lands under consid
Grafton is to- continue. Under no possible Gil
cumstances could this ruin be prevent ed, an
the permanent preservation of the see Dery
secured, ithout the extinguishment of til
titles by which the ownership of these lands
now vested in individuals, and the coIlversio
of this small territory into public domai
and trust There are various things wort
attention here, in their relations to nationa
civilization and the wisdom and happiness Q
the American people. but when regarded in
diligently and seriously they all converge t
| this conclusion. @t