The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-24
CONGRESS URGED
| TO SAVE NIAGARA.
Waterways Commission Members
Want Further Diversion of
Water Prohibited.

Washington, March 24.-If Niagara
Falls is to be preserved as one of the
wonders Of the world, immediate action
by the United States and Canada is re-
ollired. according to the findings Of the
American members Of the international
waterways commission, which has for
the past year been studying the condi-
tions at the falls and in the tributary
Great Lakes. The report in part says:
1.-THE total quantity of water to be
taken from the river by works now au-
thorized is 10000 cubic feet per second.
Of this amount 26,7O0 cubic feet is to
be taken on the American side and the
remainder, $4,000 cubic feet, on the Can
adam side. This is n per cent of the
average discharge, and 80 per cent OF
the low water discharge OF the Niagara
river will cease to pass over the falls
when these works are completed and in
full operation. The quantity to be di-
verified is more than double the quantity,
| which now passes, over the American
| falls which at the average stage is
about 81 800 cubic feet. That this will
in general have an injurious effect upon
the falls seems self-evident. The vol
ume Of water to be diverted is about
the equivalent of the entire discharge
of Lake Superior over the Sault Ste.
Marie. The amount thus far actually
| PSA
second and has had an appreciable eff
feet upon the falls :l, T. ...i% 49,.
The Possible Effects.
HThe water taken on the Canadian
side below the crest of the rapids will
affect the horseshoe falls alone. II al
that taken on the American side should
affect the American fall alone, u
would practically leave it dry; but il
| hal fhot nn1u q nf this
diversion will be at the expense Of the
American fall Exactly what portion
that will be cannot be stated with pre-
cision, but from a study of the chan
nels and reefs so far as they are known
reasonable estimate is that the water
would come from the two arms In abou
the proportion Of e-sixth from tn
American fall and. fve-sixths from tn
horseshoe fall. Exactly what form tn
changes in the two cataracts will take
whether they will be made narrowe
or be broken up into greater numbe
of streams, or simply be reduced Il
volume, retaining in general their pres
ent form, cannot now be foretold. L
10000 cubic feet per second be diverted
the loss will be important, but it tn
diversion be limited to this amount
Or reduced as hereafter Indicated, l
may not prove disastrous.
Companies Must Be Checked.
improvements in the transmissiO
of electric power and increased deman
Twill make a market for all the powe
which can be developed at Magyar
: Falls, and will cause destruction o
the fall as a scenic spectacle if tn
development be allowed to go On III
checked. Charters have been granite
to corporations which propose to diver
additional amounts. in quantities nc
now limited. The sums of money II
vested. or being invested, in works no,
in operation or under construction, an
l in the Industries dependent upon then
amount to. many milEliio REs9 Of dollars. !
is probably not fexpedient to attemI
n the withdrawalco6f the rights thus uti
e lied. The commercial value of the W.
Q ter power at Niagara Fails is yer
f great, but if compared with values sc
: aside by wealthy communities elsewhe1
n for park purposes, this value Is NJ
too great to be devoted to similar pu
n poses. The place is visited annually b
e about 100000 people.
Legislation Suggested.
e eff the falls are to be preserved
t must be by mutual agreement betwee
r the two countries. As step in thu
IS direction we recommend that legislatio
De enacted winch snail COuCalu Ill SUI
: stance the following provisions:
s'The secretary of war to be autho
7. lied to grant permits for the diversic
e of 28,500 cubic feet per second, and I
e more, from the waters naturally trib
IS tary to Niagara Falls.
d "The foregoing prohibition to renal
e in force two years, and then to becon
!e the permanent law Of the land, if
Is the meantime the Canadian governme!
"a shall have enacted legislation prohibi
le ing the diversion of water which is ma
Y. urally tributary to Niagara Falls, in e
cess of $4,000 cubic feet per second, n
including the amounts required for d
nestle use or for the service Of loo
- in navigation canals. It is assume
y however, that an understanding upt
this subject would be reached by treat
rs Canadians Show Interest.
ay '''The substance Of this report W
TO submitted to our Canadian colleagu
ID before the passage Of the joint reso]
re ton, with view to uniting in joi
report under the general law provide
for the commission. <-.. .,.-
"There was substantial agreeme
~ in the statement of facts and such d
- ferences as developed with respect
II the recommendations which ought to
- - made did not seem insuperable, but O
~, colleagues desired time for further &C
~ sideration. We have no doubt of thu
sympathetic interest,"