Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-10-07
An Admirable Enterprise Promoted by
New York,

New York.
A very interesting public document
Is the ninth annual report of the Com
missioners of the State Reservation at
Niagara, an important body of which
the Hon. Andrew II. Green is PreSi-
dent
This reservation includes the shore
and islands of the Niagara River, and
was obtained and set apart by the
State that the region about the great
falls might be protected against in-
furious invasion and preserved as a
free and open park for all the people.
When the Commissioners took charge
of the property it was infested with
harpies who preyed on visitors and
gave an evil reputation throughout the
world to one of the greatest of natura!
wonders. Even now this nuisance
continues outside of the park. but
within the reservation it is entirely
abated. Hack drivers still seize on
unsuspecting strangers, and drive them
to places not under State control.
where admission seems to be free, but
out of which nobody can get without
paying fee, usually half dollar.
The signs announcing such charges
are artfully arranged, so that visitors
see them only when they are depart
ing. In most cases the cab drivers
receive one-half of the fee as a com
mission, and thus are made partners
in the imposition.
The receipts of the reservation are
derived from nominal charge of five
cents for ride up and down an in
clined railway, and rentals from the
steamboat landing, the Cave of the
Winds, and the carriage service. Adj
mission to the park is absolutely free,
and within its limits every visitor is
protected against eXtOrtion.
The care and improvement of the
States property, too, are only a 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 num-
ber of visitors having been 100000
from whom about $500 was obtained
for use of the inclined railway, or an
average of only a cent and half each.
The saving to them is estimated by
the superintendent at an average Of
one dollar apiece, and, besides, they
are spared the far worse intliction of
the imposition which formerly distin-
guished and disgraced the whole Mag
ara region and threatened to drive
visitors from it.
the Commission has brought about
astonishing improvement in the park.
Both it's economy and its good judg
ment have been remarkable. Every
cent of the amount intrusted to it for
expenditure seems to have been laid
out to the best purpose. The number
Of it's permanent employees is only
ten, but they have been supplemented
during the last year with large num-
Der of labOrers temporarily employed
in executing the Improvements. These
have been the construction of new
roads and conduits, grading, sodding,
building, maccadamizing, and repairs
and additions of various kinds. This
necessary work has been going on
steadily since the Commission took
charge of the reservation, and the
change produced since 1885 is descrb-
ed by visitors as little short of wonder
full, considering that the annual appro-
priation for care and maintenance has
only once exceeded $4,000. and then
only by $1,000, and that the extra ap-
preparations for large and special im-
provements have aggregated only St1,-
600 during the whole period of "'ght
years.
1t would be hard to find anywhere
public undertaking which has been
conducted with such ScrupulouS fidelity
to the public interests, with so great
skill, and with an equally judcious
economy-New York Sun.