The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-11-02
70 PROTECT NIAGARA
From Further Encroachment of
Electric and Other Plants.
CANADIANS AT FAULT
Three Power Houses at Present at
Victoria Park - Great Factories
Abound and Mar the Scenery
There Is a Prevailing Air Of Com.
fnerclaI Activity.

merclal Activity.
President Roosevelt is said to be re-
ceiving many requests to take action
for the preservation of the falls OF Nj
agara, and in this manner public senti-
ment is declared to be maniresting it,
self in relation to the great water spec
tacle, says the New York Sun.
Fifty years ago the fear was ex-
pressed that the erection of the origin
al railway suspension bridge across the
Niagara gorge would mar the beauty of
the scenery, and this was one OF the
reasons why, when the structure was
bullt, it was located two miles below
the falls. Later on, in 1868, another
bridge project developed at Niagara,
the plan being to erect foot and car
riage bridge still closer to the falls.
This was opposed on sentimental
grounds, but finally the charter was
granted. The bridge was built Years
after it was rebuilt, and still later gave
way to the present upper steel arch.
The lower suspension bridge gave way
to the present railway steel arch
bridge.
There was much opposition to the
construction OF the Gorge railway. it
being declared that the beauty of the
New York bank would be ruined by it.
Still the road was built, and is now
patronized by thousands of sight-seers
daily.
The scenic line along the Canadian
cliff was another new feature which it
was feared would act detrimentally to
Niagara. but, in combination with the
Gorge road, it now serves as a means
for visitors to escape from the Niagara
hackman, the most greedy individual
that ever gained foothold at a beauty
spot.
The diversion of a portion of the
flow of the upper river by means of the
hydraulic canal was welcomed by the
citizens of the former village of Mag
ara Falls, who saw in the development
of the plan the start of a great indus
trial future. The world cheered the
enterprise of the Niagara Falls Power
company when it decided to develop
power by means of the tunnel and
wheel pit method
There are now three power compa-
nies engaged in the development of
power in Victoria Park under fran
chises granted by the commissioners OF
that park and approved by the Ontario
council and government One of these
companies contemplates a development
of from 10000 to 100000 horsepower.
This concern is the Ontario Power
company, whose power house is located
at the waters edge in the gorge, very
close to the Horseshoe Fall To effect
this development it will run three or
more huge steel fumes for a distance
OF mile or more through the park
boundaries, covering them with earth,
in order that they shall not mar the
natural beauty of the park.
Its power station in the gorge will be
extended as each section of the devel-
opment is projected, until ultimately
If the company's plans do not miscarry,
there will be building several hun
dred feet long at the waters edge in
the gorge, right in full view of every
person who views Niagara
Strenuous efforts have been made to
obtain from the state legislature other
franchises for Niagara power develop
ment during recent years. These eff
forts have been so vigorously opposed
by various interests in the state that
they have failed of becoming law.
New York state shares with the pro-
vince of Ontario the possession of Nj
agara river, New York does not see
fit to grant further power rights at Nj
agara, but it opens its doors to the
product of the big power houses re-
ceiving their life from water which
belongs to New York as much as it
- 4.