Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-07
TO PRESERVE NIAGARA
PRESIDENT TRANSMITS REPORT
OF WATERWAYS COMMISSION.
Agreement Recommended With Canada
on thu Amount of Water to Be
Diverted for Power.

AicoA0SHt fSoOSeFSlL To-Day sent TO Con-
gress tho report OF the international
waterways commission on the preserva-
ton of Niagara Falls
The report contains recommendations
for the restriction of the amount of water
to be diverted for power purposes and
suggests that the amount of water to be
diverted be limited either by treaty or leg
islation. The limitation is placed at &c.
600 cubic feet per second from the Cana
dian side and 1880 cubic feet per second
from the American side, in addition to
10000 cubic feet per second authorized for
the Chicago drainage canal.
The text of the report is as follows:
Buffalo, N. Y. May 8, 1906
The honorable, the Secretary of War OF
the United States. and the honorable, the
minister OF public works of Canada:
The international waterways commission
has the honor to submit the following re-
port upon the preservation of Niagara
Falls:
The commission has made a thorough In
vesttgaton of the conditions existing at
Niagara Falls. and the two sections have
presented reports to their. respective gov
ernments setting forth these conditions, to
which attention is invited. The following
views and recommendations are based upon
a careful study of the facts and conditions
set forth in these reports:
1. In the opinion of the commission 1t
would be a sacrilege to destry the scenic
effect OF Niagara Falls.
2. While the commission are not fully
agreed as to the effect of diversions of
water from Niagara Falls, all are of the
opinion that more than $4,000 cubic feet
per second on the Canadian side of the Nj
agara river the Niagara peninsula
and 1850 cubic feet per second on the
American side of the Niagara river, includ-
ing diversions for power purposes on the
Erie canal, cannot be diverted without in
jury to Niagara falls as a whole.
3. The commission therefore recommends
that such diversions, exclusive of water re-
CURED for domestic use the service or
locks In navigation canals be limited on
the Canadian side to $4,000 cubic feet per
second, and on the United States side TO
1850 cubic feet per second, and in addition
thereto q diversion for sanitary purposes
not to exceed 10000 cubic feet per second
be authorized for the Chicago drainage
canal and that a treaty or legislation be
had limiting these diversions to the guam
titles mentioned.
Principles Observed.
The effect Of the diversion of water by
the Chicago drainage canal upon the gen.
eral navigation interests of the great lakes
system will be considered in separate re-
port.
The Canadian section. while asserting to
the above conclusions, did so upon the I'M
Outstanding that in connection Herewith
should be expressed their view that any
treaty or arrangement as to the preServa-
ton Of Niagara Falls should be limited to
the term Of twenty-five years, and should
also establish the principles applca-
BILE to all diversions or uses of waters ad-
jacent to the international boundary and
of all streams which flow across the boun-
dairy.
The following principles are suggested:
l. In all navigable waters the use for
navigation purposes Is of primary and par
amount right. The Great Lakes system
on the boundary between the United
States and Canada and finding its outlet by
the st. Lawrence to the sea should be main
tanned in its integrity
2. Permanent or complete diversions of
navigable waters or their tributary streams
should only be permitted for domestic pur-
poses and for the use of locks in naviga-
ton canals.
3. Diversions can be permitted of a tenn
porary character where the water Is taken
and returned again, when such diversions
do not interfere In any way with the in
terests of navigation. In such cases each
country Is to have right to diversion In
equal quantities.
4. No obstruction or diversion shall be
permitted In or upon any navigable water
crossing the boundary or in or from streams
tributary thereto, which would injuriously
affect navigation in either country.
g. Each country shall have the right of
diversion for irrigation of extraordinary
purposes in equal quantities of the waters
of non-navigable streams crossing the In
ternational boundary.
G. permanent Joint commission can deal
much more satisfactorily with the settle
ment Of all disputes arising as to the APP
plication of these principles. and should be
appointed.
The American members are of opinion
that the enunciation Of principles to gov
ern the making of a general treaty Is not
within the scope of their functions; more
over the jurisdiction of the American men,
bers is restricted to the Great Lakes sys-
tenn.
Geo c. Gibbons, chairman Canadian Sec
ton: o. H Ernst colonel Corps of En-
gineers, u. s. A., chairman American
section; w. F. King. commissioner; Louis
Coste, commissioner; Thomas Cote sec
rotary Canadian section; George Clinton
commissioner; George Y. Wisner, COM
missioner; L. c.. Sabin. secretary Ameri-
can section.