Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-09-25
Niagara Of To-Day.

1t cannot flatter American pride
to hear how much better Canada has
done it's part in the protection of
Niagara Falls than the United
States, but the plain truth needs to
be told in order to avert further
harm. 1t is with this purpose that
Mary B. Hartt points out in the Out
look how utilitarianism is destroying
the grand beauty Of the falls, not
only by disfguring the scenery, but
by depicting the water supply of the
Great Lakes.
Our slowness to preserve the
natural wonders of our country does
not necessarily bespeak Indifference
to their value. There is always a
large body of watchful individuals
who resent the encroachmcnts of
trade, but they are without organiza-
tion or political strength. Itrcquircs
open acts of vandalism to give effect
to their plea for State or federal aid
in the preservation of localities that
should be held sacred by reason of
their natural beauties or historical
associations. The movement TO pro
tect the Palisades dragged hopelcssly
until the quarrymen showed how
little commerce cared for public
sentiment, and had actually blasted
into the face Of the magnificent
cliffs. Nor was Niagara rescued
from the bazaars and tintypc galleries
in 1885 until they had provoked a
general protest by making the place
unspeakably ugly and offensive by
their presence.
But although the State of New
York mas expended $2,500,000 on
the reservation since it set things to
rights, it has undonc much of its
good work by granting franchises
to corporations to divert the waters
of the upper river Canada has kept
under official protection all the terri
tory as far down as Queenstown,
but less than 1000 feet from the
American fall and almost at the
boundary of the State reservation
the factories and Touring mills and
brewerics arc in full possession. On
the American side of the gorge the
cliffs have been dcnudcd of their
forests, and a trolley line makes an
unscemly cash across the face of the
steep descent from summit to waters
edge. AS if in rcproach to our com
mcrcial energy, the Canadians have
observed their obligations in this
great international partnership in
nature by leaving the forests in all
their luxuriant growth along the
banks Of the river gorge.
But apart from the dcsccration of
the scenery, Miss IIartt sees danger
ahead in the decrease of water from
the river above the cataract. Az
the present time two companies are
drawing off about 6 per cent of the
total flow over the falls, and before
long they will increase their supply
until 8 per cent of the rivers water
will be turned aside before il reaches
the cascade. In spite Of the theo-
rctical estimates Of experts, who
declare that the depth of the crest
Of the fall has not been apprcciably
reduced TO the eye, the flow over the
American fall has decreased, as has
been shown by actual observation of
the stages of the water in the river
and in the rapids.
The harm, however, is not all
being done at Niagara. Chicago is
drawing from Lake Michigan 5000
feet of water per minute through
her drainage canal, and is planning
to extend the artificial stream to the
Illinois river. And Canada, in fur
thcrance of her scheme to divert tho
commerce of the Great Lakes to the
st. Lawrence, has proposed to
shorten the lake route by digging a
water way from Georgian Bay to the
Ottawa river. Half dozen other
plans have been suggested for tap
ping the lakes for the benefit OF in
land navigation, all without regard
to the effect on Niagara Falls. 1t is
only the possibility that the level OF
the lakes might be lowered that con
Germs the engineers, and that they
would avoid by damming Niagara
river at the head Of the rapids or at
Buffalo, or both. No surcr way of
draining Niagara could be invented.