New-York tribune., 1896-04-08
TO DRAIN NIAGARA FALLS.
EXPOSURE OF SOME SHAMEFUL BILLS
AT ALBANY
A STRIKING MEMORIAL FROM THE NIAGARA RES
EKvATIoN COMMISSIONERS TO TIE LEGis-
LATURE-FRANCHISEs ALREADY


! IA finding that he will not have an easy TASK IN
passing his bill legislating out of ofice the
! Niagara Reservation Commission. The OBJECT
of the bill is to clear the path for eectrc-power
companies which desire TO take more OF 'he
water Of the Niagara River. Because 'he
Niagara Reservation Commissioners opposed
any further diversion Of the water the ELLSWORTH
bill was prepared and submitted 1t Is now on
the order Of third reading in the Senate.
Senator Cantor presented to the Senate to-day
a strong memorial on the matter from the
Reservation Commission. He called attention 10
the bill to legislate the Commission out OF once
Senator Ellsworth said that he had offered
hearing to Andrew H. Green president OF the
| Niagara Reservation Commission Oh III" o'i'
but had not heard from him.
Senator Cantor replied that Andrew ii. "reeh
would not appear before a committee to oppose
/ a bill to legislate himself out OF office the Dill
was on the order Of third reading. and when 1t
! came before the Senate he said he would move
that it be recommitted.
| FLISwORTHs FEEBLE DEFENCE.
ia there a single public reason why the bill
| should be passed? Senator Cantor asked
"Yes" replied Senator Ellsworth. audacously
"The bill follows out Governor Mortons policy OF
consolidating commissions and we think II Is IN
the interest Of economy. The commission was
designed to be non-partisan. but under Demo-
| cratic administrations It has become wholly DEM
| ocratic"
These are miserable excuses. and Mr.. Ellsworth
fully understands them o be 70. for he knows that
# consolidation policy were enforced there woud
be good many extensively organized STATE
denartments that would be legslated out of exist
ence To pick out an unpaid state Commission
that Is doing excellent work at an expense OF ohi!
$4,000 year for special attack discloses the lact
that some other motive than economy and a desire
to improve the State service actuates the sup
| porters Of such measure.
The bill leglslating the Niagara Reservation
Commission out Of office will probably come up to-
morrow.
ENTERPRISES NOW IN THE FIELD
The memorial OF the commission is given be-
low:
The numerous projects 10 take water from the
Niagara River that have already received legislative
sanction and certain enterprises to utilize the more
distant waters OF the lakes which essential TO
the integrity OF the Falls. have created a general
apprehension that the grandeur Of the Falls s 10 he
impaired.
The I.ockport Water and Electric Company claims
the right TO take water from the Niagara River In
quantity unlimited and without any compensation
to the State. The Niagara County Irrigation and
Water Supply Company claims power TO take water
In unlimited quantities and without compensation
The Lewiston Water Supply Company, capital not
to exceed $50 900. claims power TO take unlimited
water without compensation The Buffalo ard
Niagara Power and Drainage Company Claims
power to take water without limit as 20 quantity
and paying therefor nothing 10 the State. The
Niagara Power and Development Company claims
power 10 take an unlimited quantity OF water with
out paying anything therefor. The Niagara. Lock
port and Ontario Power Company with capital
not to exceed $0O0.o0 claims the right to take un-
| limited water and without any compensation there
| for. Here are six concerns. which: while not yet
taking water from the river yet have legislative
Another company differing from those above
from the River. is the Niagara Fails Power COM
pany originally chartered BY the Legislature Of 1886
! If this company It's full limit OF 20oCJ horse
power. 1t viii draw from the river about 6 per cent
for ten hours per day by other agencies
than water costs from SIS TO 800 per annum II. 10
Of ~"e @ As
power would represent an annual value Of 100000
Power and Notwithstanding Company. has been re.
c other aho s m Began to- a
vater from the river many years ago. before appre-
torney-G General has Furnished the Niagara Commits
sioners with an opinion that the taking OF water by
an Injunction will lie against It,
This company now comes 10 the Legislature 10
coo Sorse-po~er To this or to any suihorzatloD
| TO take water from the river the Commissioners
| SHORT-SIGHTED GREED.
| A considerable, but by no means unanimous SEN
| tment exists in the Vicinity OF the Fails which
favors enterprises that take water from the river
as these add 10 the activities OF the place and tend
TO advance the price OF lots But local interests
to be gratfed at the sacrifice OF the very objects
for which the State acquired the Falls?
The people OF this locality not unmindful OF
| the pecuniary advantages they derive from their
vicinity to the Falls. Are they willing to see the
great spectacle deprecated and destroyed that an
| nualy attracts 10000 visitors? II they are. and
they to be. then 1t Is well to call to mind the
fact that TO the vast expenditures OF the State 10
acquire the reservation and 10 maintain 1t free to
all mankind they contributed but the smallest
modicum.
1t is the property OF the, whole people Of the
State Of NewYork; and while those dwelling IN It's
| Immediate vicinity deriving advantages from
! Its establishment vastly dsproporonate TO those
derived by other portions OF the state. one would
test against It's Dissertation and destruction: The
illusion tina, II should be left to be controlled In
peiied! 1sfls pec0"'''y interests '"'''" p''"'''
There can be no doubt that the Falls Will he
seriously affected by the numerous enterprises afoot
to utilize the waters that render the Falls the
sfsee na nn s subject and
honorsble the ;, Legisla,%,e Of the
further permission to divert these waters and by
applying proper limitatons to those concessions
that have already been made
POOR REWARD FOR GOOD WORK
The Commissioners have learned with surprise Of
the Introduction OF a bill in the Senate to turn the
charge OF reservation over to the State Commits
sioners OF Fisheries. Game and Forestry II Is diff
cult to appreciate the object Of this bill. The pres
ent Commissioners serve without compensation.
From the opening Of the reservation down to the
close Of the last fiscal year the cost Of maintaining
IL for the accommodation of about 100000 visitors
per annum, including the pay Of laborers. salaries
and all expenses was net annual average OF
$40 3ss or less than the ordinary expenses Of hun
dreds OF prive te families.
The Commissioners OF the reservation have not
allowed I'm a single instance political considerations
10 have any influence 20 whom they employ.
after they employed have they sought. directly
or Indirectly to control influence the political
action of any employe: one In this regard has
been perfectly free to do he pleased After years
.,i,b han hat uhic oh