New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-07
KANDAkS AGAIN At NIAGARA.

bill has passed successfully through all
the preliminary stages in the Assembly and
Senate, and will come up for passage within
a few DAYS, that proposes to authorize the
Niagara HYDRAULIC Electric Company " TO place,
Construct and erect all the machinery for the
manufacture and production of electricity and
other power under the waterfall at Niagara
and in such manner as it may require for its
purpose.n To enable tho company to carry
out this purpose, the bill gives it permission
q to enter upon and cross over the ianos OF
this State below the top Of the bank Of the
Niagara River"
This is an audaciOus proposition. The state
after I. hard and protracted struggle with OPP
posing private interests, succeeded at great
expense, a few years ago, in rescuing the great
waterfall and its surroundings from their
threatened conversion into mere sources OF
mower for mechanical and commercial uses. The
Reservation was established "to preserve the
scenery in its natural condition" over the
Reservation the law gave the Commissioners
complete control The value of the mechanical
plants and premises Of former owners was
appraised by the courts and the large awards
were paid. As the statute directed all ma
chinery connected with private enterprise was
removed Eminent landscape architects, under
the authority Of the Commissioners, have begun
the work OF restoring tho banks Of the river to
their primitive beauty and making them
fitting setting for the grandest natural wonder
Of the world All this has cost great deal
Of money; but the people Of the State have
with remarkable unanimity approved OF the
undertaking, feeling that it was money well
spent if il ensured to them forever tho Res
eryation and Falls sacred from the invasion
of every degrading or money ma king scheme
This bill now proposes to begin the undoing
~ all that has been accomplished. II one cor
porltion can be permitted to enter the grounds
and seek TO use the power OF the Falls for one
commercial object, what shall prevent others
from following? OF what advantage was 1t
for the State to pay hundreds OF thousands OF
dollars to free the river above the waterfall
from the little mills that formerly were operated
on some Of the islands il n worse form of
dissertation, that cannot so easily be gotten rid
Of, is TO be allowed to take possession Of the
Falls themselves as we'll as Of the banks. II
it is right to authorize this project, the former
owners Of much less offensive nuSanccs ought
ncy or to have been forcibIy elected. II is said
that the company Se'EIhB TINS pIINl'Ec - nv
even Newly orlS corporation, but was organized
under the laws of Southern State while its
chief promoter is from Kansas. But, what
ever the origin Of the enterprise or tho char
acter and influence Of its organizers no cor
poration or individuals should under any cir
cumstanccs be permitted to enter or cncroach
upon the peoples Reservation at Niagara for
any money making purpose. Not only arr tn"
Commissioners unanimous in that sentiment,
but il this dcSccration is attempted the Legs
lature will find that the voters of the state
have kecner interest in their noblcst natural
| possession than had been suspected. This out
ragcous bill should be flung out Of the Legs.
| aturo with such energy and by s2'h decisive
vote as absolutely to prev It repetition Of
any attempt ever to lay soriid hands on the
! Niagara Reservation.