Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

power companies were enfranchised Three
years later the Niagara Falls Hydraulic
Power and Manufacturing Company, which
had been doing business since 1877 without
statutory recognition, was thOughtfully
gwen charter by the legislature. By the
year 1901 nine companies all told had re-
oefved charters
Not charter called for one red cent in
return for the powers granted The amount
of water to be diverted was limited in one
or two cases only. Only four companies
were limited in the time in which to begin
the work Sin good faith" :.
All the years that the legislature was
Proving the generous nurse of these infant
enterprises, Andrew H. Green, 1.-The Father
stiff fight for the falls. If Lord Dufferin
was the first real friend of the falls, An
drew H. Green was its most ardent cham
pion-the best friend the falls has ever had.
During the initial fight for the falls Mr..
Green took so active part that he was
placed the commission named by Gov.
Cleveland to establish the state reservation.
In this work his suggestions were largely
followed When he became the commits
sions president in 1888 one of his first Off
cial acts was to protest vigorously to the
legislature against favorable action on
bill to authorize the erection OF an eiec-
trical power plant under the falls He con-
tended that the bill was in direct contra
vention of the objects for which the state
made the reservation of private property
that is, to insure It's preservation scenicaHy
every BILL and at no time was he backward
about entering the lists as champion of the
falls.
When the New York constitution was be-
Ing revised by the constitutional conven-
ton of 1894, Mr.. Green, as delegate, Of
fered and secured the passage OF resolu-
ton for the appointment OF a committee to
consider the advisability of promulgating q
pStf f,,fip
diversion of Niagara river water above the
falls. This committee after an exhaustive
inquiry reported that IF corporate and in
dividual ambition be not checked and made
subject to public rights, there is certainly
danger that the Fails of Niagara, Ike the
Falls of Minnehaha, may live In the tradi-
ton of song and story, but Will be solely
deficient in the amount of water flowing
over their brink" 1t recommended the
adoption OF an amendment to restrain the
legislature from giving away the water
The contest that followed was exceedingly
stubborn and lengthy. Several times 1t
looked as IL victory would crown Mr..
Green's efforts, that the strong corporate
interests arrayed against him would sink to
crushing. defeat at last: but public opinion
was backward In coming to his support and
he was driven off the field.
Routed? Not bit of it.. Sick at heart?
Never In a short while he was pressing
courage him; and up to the day of his tragic
death in November of 1903 he fought for
Niagara with all the enthusiasm and
shrewslness that had marked his entrance
on the field.
A little longer than year after Mr..
Green's death occurred the public's first i'm
portant victory for the falls In years.
s
-
The Niagara, Lockport and Ontario Power
Company was chartered in 1894. 1t was
empowered to supply water In unlimited
amount to Lockport and other cities and
villages in Niagara, Erie and Ontario coun-
ties It was to begin work in ten years
from the date Of Its charter, under penalty
of the charter dying. When the company
came seeking fresh favors from the Iegisla-
ture in 1904. not a stroke OF work had been
done by 1t.
For the first time In twenty years the peo-
pie, to whom Mr.. Green had addressed
numerous appeals, seemed to be fully
aroused to the peril overhanging the falls.
From every quarter OF the state went de-
nands to Albany that the bill be not passed
But the behests OF the power company
proved stronger than the commands OF the
people, and q bill granting 1t power to take
water from far above the cataract, and not
to return 1t to the river channel at all, but
carry it overland by canal to Lake Ontario,
was sent up to Gov. 0deH.
The governor vetoed the bill on May 10,
1864: tile old charter had been signed on