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

trical power companies began their fight
for the falls. So skillfully has it been waged
up to the present time that the forces OF
preservation today find themselves In po-
sition similar, in the major respect, to that
which was theirs twenty seven years ago
that is, faced by an enemy legally en-
trenched In possession of the falls and ex-
plotting them primarily for private gain
1t was Lord DuiTerin governor general OF
Canada in the late seventies, who first seri-
ously suggested that warfare be waged for
the emancipation of the falls. In the course
of a converse ton, following q casual meet
Ing In the summer of 1878 with Gov. Lucius
Robinson of New York the governor gen.
eral, who had visited the falls and been
shocked at the manner in which the won
der was being used a sort OF stalking
contraption for the working of divers ques-
tionable enterprises advanced the idea that
1t might be the part of wisdom for the
dominion government and the state OF New
ork TO condemn the land adjacent to the
falls and turn ii into an international park
Gov. Robinson, aware OF the steady de-
struction of the bordering beauty of the
falls, was favorably impressed with the
plan, and in his annual message to the
legislature the following January he strong
ly recommended its adoption
X
The legislature instructed the state sur
vey ito inquire, consider, and report what.
IL any, measures IT may be expediept for
the state to adopt for carrying OUT the
governors recommendations 1t was also
authorized to confer with any commission
or other authorized body. person or persons
representing the Dominion of Canada or
the Province of Ontario making a similar
inquiry or contemplating measures for A
similar purpose" On behalf of the survey
The investigation was made by its director.
James T. Gardner, and Frederick Law
Oimsted.
Ihese gentlemen were not long in dis
toNeiiIs that Bath now Green) Island had
eeen denuded of Its prirneval covering of
Veraure and rocks to make way for paper
mill which had>boldly stretched its sluiee-
ways walls and wing dams far into the
racIds' 1Ai'ei ic''ii
The paper mill is, however. only one Of
the many denominations which mar the
pea Pea OF the american rapids" Mr.. Gard
her reported. Their eastern bank was
ohce rich In verdure and overhuue with
stately trees. In the place of the pebblv
store, the graceful ferns and trailing vines
OF former days one now sees a hlanE stone
wall, with sewer-like opening through uhich
tan races discharge some timber crib work
gearing IN capitals a foot high the adyer-
usement of hair balsam; then further IN
stream more walls and wing dams
Overlooking this disffgured river brink
stihos an unsightly rank of buildings In
an stages of preservation and decay: Small
iSteis. MINIS. carpenter shops, stables 'ba-
zaars- Ice houses, laundries with clothes
narglng out to dry. bath houses large glar
ms white hotels and an indeserihable as
scrtment of miscellaneous rookeries, fences
and patent medicine signs"
Every foot of the American shore from
the head OF the rapids. was privately owned
anu cut up into house lots Not one of
TIE visitors to the falls. who hastened a vav
when the first feeling of curiosity, was
satisfied, could have even that feeling sat
ished. except at the pleasure of a private
owner and under such conditions as he
may choose to impose" 1t was tho pleas
ur9 OF the owner, generally TO charge d
cents a head for the view of the rapids or
falls.
Goat Island was the only spot that had
escaped the hand of the vandai The Port
ner family of revolutionary fame. Its own
ers had taken strong pride in preserving
It's pirmeval state, and It showed In minia-
ture what the setting Of the wonder would
have been II the state had rot thoaghtlessly
and cbearly sold out its rights TO the bor-
daring land In the early years Of the last
century.
But Il partition suit was on, and the sale
Of the island was in prospect Mr.. Gardner
inquired concerning the uses TO which the