New-York tribune., 1906-11-28
NIAGARA HEARINGS END
Distribution of Poscer Up-Dec's'os
bu January I Probable.
rFrom Tho Tribune Bureau.l

Washington, Nov. 27.-Seeretary TAFT mas &C.
voted another day to the Niagara Falls problem
The Civic Association having finally admitted
that It would be fairly well satisfied If no
greater amount of power were taken from the
river on the Canadian side than Captain Kutz
reports cen be taken without further impairins
the scenic beauty of the Falls. the represents
ttves of mower companies to-day discussed the
question of distribution of such power as Sec
retary Taft may permit
CAPTAIN Kutz reported that 157 800 horse
power might be taken from the river on the
Canadian side without further injury to the
scenic beauty of the Falls, and It is regarded as
probable that Secretary Taft will permit this
amount of power, developed on the Canadian
side to be brought into the United States But
It is also thought probable that the Secretary
will accompany his authorization with proviso
that power taken from the river on the Cana
dian side and disposed OF in Canada shall be de-
ducted from the amount which may be brought
into this country.
Assuming that the Secretary would permit the
importation Of power the representatives. OF the
Canadian companies to-day devoted themselves
to the problem of apportionment While ask
ing for the full $50 900 horsepower which Con-
gress placed as the limit on the amount Secre-
tary Taft might permit to be taken from the
river. and saying that they had capacity far
in excess of that amount, the companies appear
to assume that there will not be over 15l,500 i'm
portable horsepower to be divided among them,
and they now ask that the Secretary shall. pre-
scribe rule for its distribution. Some contro-
versy arose as to whether each company should
be allowed to have equal share of the
power developed, whether each should be al
lowed to draw a like amount of water
from the river regardless of the power which
t6erefrOpl.
pioneer company should be allowed to develop
all the power permitted. The indications are
that an agreement will be reached whereby each
company will be permitted to take from the
river a like amount of water.
The law. which the Secretary of War is
charged with administering provides, in part. as
follows:
That the said Secretary, subject to the pro-
visions OF section of this act, under the limi
tations relating to time above set forth, is here
by authorized to grant revocable permits, from
time to time. to such individuals companies or
corporations, or their assigns for the diversion
of additional amounts of water from the said
river or its tributaries to such amount, If
any as, in connection with the amount diverted
on the Canadian side, shall not injure or inter
fere with the navigabe capacity Of the said
river, or its tributaries, or proper volume as
boundary stream, or the scenic grandeur of
Niagara Falls; and the quantity of electrical
power which may, by permit be allowed to be
transmitted from the Dominion OF Canada into
provided further,
That the said Secretary. subject to the pro-
visions Of section OF this act, may issue
revocable permits for the transmission OF addi
tional electrical power so generated in Canada,
but in no event shall the amount included In
such permits, together with the said 100000
horsepower and the amount generated and used
in Canada, exceed 100000 horsepower.
The hearings were finished this evening and
the Secretary gave permission to the companies
interested to submit additional evidence or
briefs In writing. In ending the hearings the
Secretary said that he hoped to reach de-
cision the points involved by January 1, al
though he could not promise TO do He said
that before deciding he would confer with Sec
retary Root This conference Is necessary be-
cause Of the effect the contracts may have on
a proposed treaty providing against any per-
ceptible interference with the grandeur of the
Niagara Falls. He said he would award prtvt-
legeS about January l II possible.
At the hearing to-day Morris Cohn. represent
ing the International Railway Company asked
for only $500 horsepower Immediately, and ad
ditional amounts as it's business develops. up to
5000 horsepower. Francis Lynde Stetson, of the
Canadian Niagara Power Company, proposed di-
viding the power to be admitted equally among
his company. the Electric Development Company
of Ontario, and the Ontario Power Company, the
three corporations having franchises from the
Dominion government to develop power.
General +. V. Greene, representing the Ontario
Power Compare, opposed the equal division on
the ground that his company able to get
one-fourth more power from the same amount
Of water diverted than the other companies were
getting, and he said the division should be based
on the amount of water used. AT the same time
he declared that the three companies named
were the only ones really entitled to considera-
ton J G. Johnson, OF the Electric Development
Company limited at combination. between Cen
eral Greene's company and one Of its customers
the American Ontario company, which is pre-
pared to transmit power to Lockpert and Syra-
cuse P D. Cravath had made an argument for
the latter concern. declaring that General
Greene's company should not be limited to an
extent that would interfere with a contract to
furnish the Americana Ontario company with
90 900 horsepower.
1~av DrI E1EKI ~ ~ n