The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-26

souls. half of which are directly or indi-
rectly dependent upon the tourist trade
for a livelihood. Across the river Cana
o1an Niagara Falls, with Il population Of
6,OO0 people. is mainly dependent upon
tourist traffic for existence. Something
Ike 80 hotels. two of the best paying
trolley roads in America. a dozen big
curio stores and amusement halls would
have to be closed, If Niagara ran dry,
and The tourist would no longer be at
tracted there They have learned in
Switzerland aud Italy that the tourist
Industry Is the most profitable of all, and
America should not be behind In this
matter. Every year thousands of ira vel
ers, bound for the Fails, spend day
here and q day there in Western New
York and all the state benefits as a re-
suit of their presence
One of the appalling features anent the
dissertation of Niagara Falls is the fact
that already charters have been Issued to
ten companies, over and above those
which are now IN operation. OF these
ten charters, four have been granted by
the Canadian government and six by the
State of New York. The commissioners
for the Queen Victoria Falls ParkZwhich.
as its name signifies, is the Canadian pre-
serve at Niagara have employed seien-
already in operation take from the vol
ume of water flowing over the magnificent
precipice enough Of the liquid to diminish
the how II 400 cubic feet per second.
This means that 1 ,O44,0oO cubic feet of
water per minute or 1924 600 cubic feet
per hour, which did flow over the falls
before the power companies were Ia opera
ton, does not do SO now. The companies
now in operation or In course Of con-
struction WILL in other words. reduce the
water gong over the Falls per cent.
This diversion has been taking place grad
ually, and is still taking place. 1t makes
a hardly perceptible difference to the
naked eye. It does not in the least effect
the scenic beauty Of Americas greatest
wonder. Should the ten non-operative
companies, whose charters give them IN
limited privileges. however, all go into
operation, withdrawing % per cent Of the
water. there Is question but that the
beauty of the Falls would be seriously
impaired Experts agree on this one point
and the much mooted question Of pre-
serving the beauty of natures master
piece is being forced more and more into
prominence. The president Of the worlds
greatest republic, the premier Of Great
Britain's richest possession, some Of the
greatest statesmen in America today, and
thousands OF plain citizens, who have
gazed euraptured on the beauties Of the
cataract and the awful grandeur Of the
angry whirlpool are stirring into activity,
and something viii be done The more
reasonable of those engaged n the agi-
tation are urging a compromise. an ar
rangemenr that will make the Falls some
thing more than Thing to look at. and
yet will not destroy its beauty Many
really brainy men are urging an mr.
rangemenf between the United States and
Canada whereby the granting of power
franchises and the use of the water will
be controlled by an international commits
sion, whose duty 1t shall be to see that
the scenic beauty Of the Falls is pre-
served It has been estimated that the
total energy Of the water going over the
Falls is equal to 100000 horsepower,
only two-thirds of which, however, owing
to loss in generation, etc, would be avail