Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-28
EVERYONE HELP
T0SAVE NIAGARA!
The Immediate Attention Of Con-
gfess Is Strongly Urged
By American Members Of the Inter-
national Waterways Commission.

Washington. March 27.-In submit
ting to the Senate and the House Of
Representatives the report of the MEM
berS of the International Waterways
Commission regarding the preservation
of Niagara Falls, President Roosevelt
sent today recommendation that
law he enacted along the lines of the
recommendations of the report. The
message of the President follows:
''To The Senate and House Of Repre-
sentativeS:"
Il submit to you herewith the report
Of the American members of the inter-
national waterways commission re-
garding the preservation of Niagara
Falls. also submit to You certain let
ters from the secretary of state ami the
secretary of war. including memoranda
showing what has been attempted by
the department of state in the effort to
secure the preservation of the falls by
treaty.
Il earnestly recommend that Con-
gress enact into lay the suggestions Of
the American members of the internal
tiCral waterways commission for the
preSe rvation of Niagara Falls, without
waiting for the negotiation of 4 treaty.
The law can be put in such form that
it will lapse, say in three years, prOvid
ed that during that time no internal
tiCnal agreement has been reached. But
in any event l hope that this nation
will make it evident that il is doing
all in its power to preserve the great
scenic wonder, the existence of which
| unharmed should he a matter OF pride
| to every dweler on this continent.
(Signed)
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
1.-THE White House. March q, 1906
| The report follows:
| If Niagara Falls are to be pre-
/ served as one of the wonders
OF the world. immediate action
by the United States and Canada is re-
quired, according to the findings Of the
American members of the Internation-
tal Waterways Commission. which has
for the past year been studying the
conditions at the falls and in the tribu-
tary Great Lakes. This report signed
by General O. II. Ernest. chairman and
the other members, was today submit
ted TO Congress by See. Taft, with il
letter calling attention to the urgency
of the case.
After n brief description of the physi-
cal conditions, the report gives Il de-
tailed account of the corporations now
Iengaged in the development of power
with quantities of water which they
are actually using. the amounts which
they are preparing To use. and the
amounts which they are authorized un-
der their charters to use. Ii includes
not only corporations taking water d-
rectly from the Niagara river. but also
| those drawing water for power pur-
poses from the Erie canal and the We'll
land canal also the Chicago drainage
canal and furnishes Il list of all
franchises granted and not perfected.
IThe report says: 1.-The total quantity
lOf water to be taken from the river by
works now authorized is 60.9G0 cubic
fleet per second OF this amount, %, 400
I'Cubic feet is tG be taken on the Amer
Iican side and the remainder, 1900 cubic
fleet, on the Canadian side. That is q
Iper cent. of the average discharge and
33 per cent. of the low water discharge
of the Niagara river will cease to pass
over the falls when these works are
lscompleted and in full operation. The
|quantity to be diverted is more than
double the quantity which now passes
over the American falls which at the
Iavcrage stage is about 27,S00 cubic feet.
That this will in general have an in
furious effect upon the falls seems self
tevident. The volume Of water to be di-
verted is about the equivalent of the
entire discharge of Lake Superior over
the Sault Ste. Marie. The amount thus
i ut, ,oIIx fnI ;- b,,t
| feet per second, and has had an ap-
preciable effect upon the falls
ITO foretell with accuracy the effect
lin detail Of the full diversion authorities
| would require more complete know
| ledge of the bed of the river than is
| row obtainable. The water taken on
the Canadian side below the crest of
| the rapids will affect the Horseshoe
Falls alone. If all that taken on the
American side should affect the Amer
| ican fall alone, it would practically
leave it dry but it seems probable that
only a part of this diversion will b. at
the expense of the American fall FIX
! actly what portion cannot be stated
with accuracy but with study of chan
| nels and reefs so far as they are known.
/ reasonable estimate is that the wafer
| will come from the two arms in about
! the proportion of one-sixth from the
American fall and five-sxths from the
Horseshoe fall.
| Exactly that form the changes in
| the Two cataracts will take. whether
| they will be made narrower, or he
| broken UP into n greater number of
! streams. or simply be reduced in vol,
umc. retaining in general their pres
| ent form. cannot now be foretold. for
the reason that there is no accurate
knowledge Of the form of and depth of
water on the crests. If 60.90O cubic feet
Der second be diverted the loss viii
| be important. but if the diversion h..
limited to this amount or reduced os