The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-24
An Admirable Public Enterprise.

A very interesting public document Is the
ninth annual report of the Commissioners
OF the State Reservation at Niagara. an
important body OF which the Hon. ANDREW
II. GREEN is President.
This Reservation includes the shore and
islands of the Niagara River. and was Oh
tanned and set apart by tho State that
the region about the great falls might
be protected against injurious invasion and
preserved rs free and open park for all
the people. When the Commissioners took
charge Of tho property, it was infested
with harpes who preyed on visitors
and gave an evil reputation through
out the world to one of the great
est Of natural wonders. Even now. this
nuisance continues outside OF the park.
but within the Reservation 1t Is entirely
abated. Hack drivers still seize on unsus-
pecting strangers. and drive them to places
not under State control, where admission
seems to DO free, but out Of which nobody
can get without paying fee. usually half
dollar. The signs announcing such
charges arc artfully arranged. so that Wis
itors see them only when they are depart
ing. In most cases the cab drivers receive
one-half OF the fee MS commission. and
thus are made partners in the imposition.
The receipts of the observation are de-
rived from nominal charge Of five cents for
a ride up and down IN inclined railway.
and rem tails from tho steamboat landing, the
Cave Of the Winds. and the carriage Service.
Admission to the park is absolutely free.
and within its limits every visitor is pro-
tected against extortion.
~ CARA and in, prnvaTnapt nf tho Stataa
property, too. are only r. small charge on
the people. OF the $4,000 appropriated for
the purpose last year. nearly one-half was
returned to the treasury from the receipts,
the number of visitors having been 500 900.
from whom about $500 was obtained for
use OF tho inclined railway. or an average
OF only cent and half each. The saving
to them Is estimated by the superintend-
emit at an average OF one dollar apiece. and.
besides. they are spared the far worse in
Fiction Of the imposition which formerly
distinguished and dlsgraced the whole
Niagara region and threatened to drive
visitors from it.
With its small allowance Of money the
Commission has brought about astonish-
ing improvement in the park. Both its
economy and its good judgment have been
remarkable. Every cent OF the amount in
| trusted to 1t for expenditure seems to have
been laid out to the best purpose. The
number OF Its permanent employees IL only
! ten, but they have been supplemented
during the last year with large number
| OF luborers temporarily employed In ex-
ecuting the improvements. These have
been the construction Of new roads and
| conduits, grading. sodding. building. mac
| adamizlng. and repairs and additions OF
| various kinds. This necessary work has
been going on steadily since tho Commits
| sion took charge OF the Reservation, and
the change produced since 1885 is do
| scribod by visitors us little short of
wonderful. considering that the annual ap-
preparation for care aud maintenance has
only once exceeded $4,000. and then only by
$1,000. and that the extra appropriations
| for large aud special improvements have
| aggregated only $4,000 during the whole
period Of eight years.
1t would DO hard to find anywhere pub
lie undertaking which has been conducted
with such scrupuous fidelity to tho pub
| lilo interests. with so great skill. and
with an equally judicious economy. When.
therefore. the Commission appeals for
some increase in its small allowance.
| in order that II IGay extend it's i'm
provements over wider range. the
Legislature is likely to give respectful
consideration to its arguments. 1t is sure
to waste none Of the money. but to show
the results of the increased expenditure in
actual and valuable accomplishment. As 1t
was. last October. according to statement
| of the State Comptroller, only 100000 OF
the Niagara Reservation bonds were out
standing, and there was sufficient money
in the treasury to pay them of. the State
of New York being now in condition Of
unparalleled prosperity under genuine
Democratic rule.
Appended to the report Is long list Of
the excursions to the Reservation during
the last year. These brought more than
100000 persons. and they came from every
part Of the Union and from Canada. many
OF them consisting OF from 1000 to
5000 people each. The greatest was
the Christian Endsayor excurgion Inat