Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-16
WATERS OF NIAGARA
POWER COMPANY OBJECTS TO
BEING CUT OFF.
Proposed to Deepen the River Above
the Falls-Sentiment Of the
Canadians.

How Niagara Falls may stiil retain its
beauty and grandeur and at the same time
be harnessed to sufficient electric genera
tors to revolutionize the Industrial output
OF northwestern New York was explained
to the House committee on rivers and har-
bors today by delegation representing the
Niagara County Irrigation and Water Sup
ply Company.
To accomplish the suggestions made sew
erai changes would be necessary In the
pending Burton bill which the committee
Is considering. This bin provides that no
additional water shall be taken from the
river for power or other purposes, and no
additional power shall be allowed to come
In from the Canadian side The COMPANY
represented has a state charter authorizing
II to take an unlimited quantity of water
from the river for the development Of
power This charter has just been ap-
proved by the state courts, and the COM
pany has already expended something like
nan million dollars In the erection of its
plant and the construction of canal The
plant Is not completed. and the passage of
the Burton bill would cut the Company off
from any use OK the river.
Doubts About Constitutionality,
IL was pointed out to the committee by
Attorney j. III. Henson. who spoke first
that federal Jurisdiction over navigable
streams was given by the Constitution only
for the purpose of preserving their naviya-
bility The Burton bill had for its object
the avowed sentimental purpose of pre-
serving Niagara Falls. and, in his opinion.
would not be upheld by the courts
h L. Cooper, in charge OF the engineer
ing features OF the new plant presented a
plan which, he said, could be easily accom-
pilshed and which would not only preserve.
put increase the amount of water going
over the American side of the falls and
of
its plans. w.
This plan was to lower the bed of the
river for short space some distance above
the falls This would draw water from
the Canadian side He explained there could
De no objection to this as the original
treaty now in force provides for an eJual
alVislon or the water. and 1t was well
known, he said. that at present the Ca
madam side obtained greatly over half the
flow.
Future of Industries Involved.
Engineer NJ. A. Veil. also connected with
the company. explained that while his
company had right to unlimited use of
'he water, 1t contemplated using but 1900
cubic feet per second. From this 100000
horse power could be developed Industries
which would depend on this power. he said.
would furnish employment to 22s,0J0 men
and give this section of the state added
population of 1,140.00O people and yield In
gross annual product S5140jO.00o. The in
come from the farms of the state. he said,
was out 40 per cent of this amount
Another reason also was advanced why
the contemplated plant should be allowed
completion. To develop the power the COM
pany VIII nave to construct a canal. which
for half the distance would parallel the
proposed deep waterways canal from La
SAFE to Lewiston. The company's canal.
SAID the witness. could be utilized for nayi-
gatlon 1of THIS distance and would save the
government 100000 in the construction of
this canal. The development of this power
would save the coal supply of the country
to the extent of 100000 tons a year.
Sentiment In Canada.
Reference was made to the plans Of Can
ada with reference to the use of the waters
of Niagara river. Lord Kelvin was quoted
as saying that the future DEVELOPMENT of
the dominion depended largely on the DOW
er to be developed from this waterway and
that 1t was indicated clearly that the Ca
nadians were not to be restrained by senti-
ment In the prosecution of their plans for
the use of this water power.