New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27

vert Vaux tn landscape architect, who died TWO
years ago. When the part of the American shore
for some distance above the falls and along the
RAPIDS and the islands adjacent thereto, were lalu
aside fifteen years ago for reservation by 'he
State Of New-York. +. l.. Olmsted the landscape
architect, who has done much to beautfy the
parks of the country, commissioned to lay II
out. Mr.. Olmstcd's designs were never fully APP
Piled. Mir. Vaux took up the work where Mi olm-
sed left off, materially altered the plans ana io-
lowed up the policy. which has since been closely
adhered TO- of preserving the natural aspect oil the
shores about the falls.
THE STANDARD THAT HAS BEEN SET.
Since Mr. Naux's death Mr.. Parsons has consid-
cred It an honor 20 connected with WORK
which he looks upon as OF the first importance in
preserving one OF the grandest natural scenes III
this country near a. possible In It's prl"i'u'v
state He is only glad. therefore TO cevoIe one
or TWO days Of each year to the purpose OF seeifS
that the policy begun by Mr.. NauX L. carrier ou'
so far as the funds available will permit a. ii.
Groom president of the Commission. has fortu-
natcly been gifted with the artistic bieadth Oh
vision which allows him to that any artificial
designs or exotic shrubs or plants or the introduc-
ton of anything into the reservation not indigo
nous to the soil would be striking dscordant note
in the primitive harmony which exists between the
granGeu: of the falls and its surrounding scenery.
The Co1nmis. toner's and Mr. Parsons have been
greatly hampcrcd in having their exceedingly we'll
formulated rightly carried out ny persistent
and Irritating lack of funds II j. with the great
est difficulty that any money for the purpose can
be obtained the LEGISLATURE. and - secure the
annual appropriation has cost MI Green many
anxious days and much veXatous lobbying The
average annual appropriation for maintenance Tor
the last fourteen years has been only about S2o'Vo
and that for improvements for the last eight years
ONLY about $1,000 These amounts. Mr. Parsons
SAYS are far too inadequate to preserve the Amer
lean shores about the Falls al they should he pr
served He feels that public sentiment should be
aroused to the extent Of allowing the Commission
ers gre ltcr latitude in carrying on their work.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
Mr. Parsons's visit to Niagara this year was
made in company with two Commissioners OF the
Reservation William Hamilton ana Robert l..
Fryer The other members of the I'-trd beside Mr.
Green are John NJ. Bowers. George Raincs, Henry
T. Gregory. treasurer and secretary. and Thomas
V Wech. superintendent Mr.. Welch is OF the
ground the year round, and has entire control OF
carrying out the plans proposed by Mr.. Green and
Mr. Parsons The work that has been done in the
last year has been chiefly directed toward prcserv-
ing the American shore of the rapids below Willow
Island and the shores around Bath Island from the
terrible battcring these receive each winter from
the ice which PUSHES upon them with tremendous
speed and fore Mr.. Parsons IS enthusiastic owe"
the result accomplished In this direction He said
I'VE have had the shore between Bath and VIII !
low islands Iiprapped with rock 20 that it Is alb
solutoy impossible to tell il from the natural con-
dition The rock was obtained from the Niagara |
Falls Hydraulic Power ana Manufacturing Com
pany when it had been excavatcd from the canal
built above Port Day. There have been at least ten
thousand tons Of the rock cXcavatod. and We have
used nearly If cen hundred tons Of IT, Some Of the
rocks weigh much as I'VE tons. We have placed |
tn, SO soldy along the shore and nearly all around
Bath Island IN such n way that they look II |
they had grown there. Then the trees and shrubs |
Which viii in time grow and still further Increase
the natural effect. We removed me arthciaI stone I
Mil Slip ana First-st. and also the artificial crib |
work on the southern shore OF Bath Island. The |
opportunity for obtaining the rock for riprapping
was an unusual one and we were very glad TO |
"The rier at Port Day has been filed and ex |
tended with material excavated from the hydraulic
and afford!ng continuous driveway at tho eastern |
terminus OF the reservation. The POND which he |
outlet stone archcd bridge has been constructed.
Th- is but one OF some hairG%eh pri ars pul
picturesque effect to the scenery, which have been
built in various places along the reservation.
FOR THE FUTURE.
.The work which has been decided upon for the
coming year is continuation Of that OF last year.
There is stlll some riprappng TO be done about
small part Of Bath and Goat Islands. which viii
be carried out this year The natural effects which
we have obtained thus far will be sought after in
all this future work. There are two more stone
bridges 10 be built over the raceway between Port
Dav and Bath Island. and walks and roadways to
he laid out IN various parts OF the reservation
''To realize the difference between the natural
and artificial methods of laying cut the shores
a hout the Falls has but TO look at the Amer
I'm and then AT the Canadian side Although our
eNorts have not resulted In all that might be de-
sired vet the general effect Is one in harmony with
~ rot,rnI scenery. The Canadian shore. how
ever mas been made hodge-podee OF everything
-, does belong there. Artincial Hover beds
cvo,,c plants and shrubs designs that belong only
g., DIV garden. have produced there an efert
mitch Is incongruous and disseminating. The eli
NV u As reached when great artificial roadway
,rith raw formal banks Was built on the very shore
" tie Niagara River and rapids to carry an cleo
rtc roilwav A. stands on the American shore
,rd inoks across the rapids this hideous bank IS
~ ~ The striking features Of the scene. II Is to
W., bnucd that some day joint New-York and
canadian Commission VIII be appointed winch VIII
>rcscrvc harmony IN the "oih uo"' upon tue up
Iosito shores.
WILL EIIED