The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-25
no PRESERVE NIAGARA FALLS.
OF AMERICAN. SIDE OF.
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION,
Legisla tlon Urged to Limit the Diversion
OF water to IS 500 Cubic Feet Second
Mutual Agreement. Required Be
tween This Country and anada.

-yIUtuul agreement. HtlluTtu ID
tween This Country and Canada.
WASHINGTON, March PA report on
Niagara Falls, covering i$ present condi-
ton and what its future will be If there
Is no check upon the plans for the diversion
Of the waters for commercial purposes,
and recommendations as to legislation
which should be enacted to insure the pre-
servation Of the glory Of the falls, has
been made by the American side Of the
International Waterways Commission to
the Secretary Of War, who has transmitted
the report to Congress. The Canadian
members Of the commission have agreed
with all the statements of fact contained
In the report, but considering the recon-
mendation for legislation they asked for
more time before concurring.
The commission in discussing the value
a. the water power of the falls says that
It Is very great, but the commission takes
the ground that il compared with values
Get aside by wealthy communities elsewhere
for park purposes the commercial value
Of the falls is not too great to be devoted
TO similar purposes. The reportthen merely
adds that 500, 000,people visit Niagara Falls
annually. In discussing what legislation
a will be needed the report says;
III the falls are to be preserved it must
be by mutual agreement between the two
countries. As a step in that direction we
recommend that legislation be enacted
which will contain the folio wing provis-
4 Ions:
"The Secretary Of War be authorized to
grant permits for the diversion of IS 500
cubic feet per second, and no more, from
the waters naturally tributary to Niagara
Falls, distributed as follows: Niagara Falls
Hydraulic Power and Manufacturing Com
pany, $500; Niagara Falls Power Company,
5000; Erie Canal or its tenants Tin addi-
ton to lock service 400; Chicago Drainage
Canal, 10000.
All other diversion Of water which Is
naturally tributary to Niagara Falls to be
prohibited, except such as may be required
N for domestic use and for the ser vice of
looks in navigation canals. Suitable penal
ties for violation of the law to be pre-
Scribed.
SThe foregoing prohibition to remain in
force two years, and then to become the
permanent law of the land, if in the mean
time the Canadian Government should have
enacted legislation prohibiting the diver
sion of water which is naturally tributary
to Niagara Falls in excess of 8 5000 cubic
feet per second; not including the amoun
required for domestic use or for the service
of locks in navigation canals. 1t is as
sumed, however, that an understanding
upon the subject should be reached by
treaty. The object of such legislation
would be to put a stop to the further de-
pletion of the falls and at the same time
infict the least possible injury upon the i'm
portant int rests now dependent upon this
water power.
HThe amount to be diverted on the Cana
I dian side has been fixed with a view TO allow
ing to the companies on that side the
amounts for which they now ave works
under construction, which are: The Cana
dian Niagara Power Company, $500; On
tario Power Company, 1900; Electrical
Development Company, IL 200; Niagara
Falls Park Railway Company, 800; Welland
Canal or its tenants lin addition to lock serv-
ice) 800; ~
would be to give to Canad the advantage
of diverting 1900 cubic feet per second more
than ia diverted in the United States. The
advantage is more apparent, than real,
since the power generated on the Canadian
side will, to a large extent be transmitted to
and used in the United States. In the nego-
tiation of a treaty, however, the point should
be considered.
"The substance Of this report was sub
mitted to our Canadian collea CUES before
the passage of the joint resolution. with a
view to uniting in a joint report under the
general law providing for the commission.
There was a substantial agreement in the
statement of facts, and such differences as
developed with respect to the recommended
tions which ought to be made did not seem
insuperable, but our colleagues desired time
Is for further consideration. We nave no
doubt of their sympathetic interest in carry
ing out thai part of the instructions con-
tanned in the resolut ion which requires us
to exert in conjunction with the members
OF said commission representing the Do
minion of Canada, if practicable. all pos
sible efforts for the preservation Of Niagara
Falls in their natural condition. ,"
1t is said that the recommendations of
the commission granting the Chicago drain
age canal but 10000 cubic feet a second
will interfere materially with the plans of
those in charge of the Chicago canal, who
intend to make it something more than
a mere drainage way. With no more than
10, 900 cubic feet the drainage canal could
not be enlarged.
In return for the impairment of the falls,
the report says that the State of NewYbrk
will receive practically nothing for the
342, 600 horsepower derived from authorized
diversion of waters on the New York side,
while the Queen Victoria Ma CARA Falls
Park will receive an annual rental OF S270,-
600, or an average OF 85 cents a horse
power for the Az, 900 horsepower author
lied on the Canadian side OF the falls.
According to the report the total quantity
of water to be taken from the river by
works now authorized is nc, 800 cubic feet
per second. Nf this amount ~, 100 cubic
feet is to be taken from the american side,
4 and the remainder, 81, 200 cubic feet, on the
Canadian side, This means that n per