New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-25
PLAN TO SAVE NIAGARA
REPORT OF COMBUSTION.
No More Water Than Noe AuthOr-
iged Should BE Taken. It Thinks.

Washington March 24-If Niagara Falls are
20 be preserved as one Of the wonders of the
world immediate action by the United States
and Canada is required, according 10 the ind
sngs OF the American members Of the Interna-
fional Waterways Commission which has for a
year been studying the conditions at the Falls
and IN the tributary Great Lakes. This report
= signed by General o. II. Ernst, chairman and
the other American members OF the commission.
Il was made public to-day.
After q brief description Of the physical con-
6itions. the report gives a detailed account Of
all the corporations now engaged in the develop
1nent Of power. with the quantities Of water
which they are actually using, the amounts
which they are preparing 10 use and the
amounts which they are authorized under their
charters TO use. II includes not only corpora
1ions taking water directly from the Niagara
River but also those drawing water for power
purposes from the Erie Canal and the Welland
Canal also the Chicago drainage canal. and fur
nishes list OF all franchises granted and not
perfected The report says:
The total quantity Of water to be taken from
fset per second. or this amount 900 cubic feet
IS 70 be taken on the American side. and the re-
That is q per cent Of the average discharge, ana
q per cent Of ne low water diseA9rse or me me
when these works are completed and ia fun opera
don. The quantity 10 be diverted is more than
double the quantity which now passes over the
American fan. which, al the average stage. IS
have injurious erect upon the falls seems self
evident The volume Of water 10 be diverted is
Superior over The SaulJ ste Marie. The amount
thus far actually diverted is but 1850 cubic feet
t5s 1S1s.
CANNOT FORETELL EFFECTS.
To foreteu with accuracy the effects in detail OF
Tie frl diversion authorized would REQUIRE a more
now ohtaina5le.- The water taken on the canadian
SIDE below TIE crest OF the rapids WIZ aIect tle
Horseshoe Fail alone. III all that taken on the
American side should affect the American fall alone
q would leave d dry but il seems propaoie tnat
q the American fall Exactly what portion thar
VIII be cannot De stated with precision, but from
known reasonable estimate is that the water VIII
come from The TWO arms iu about The proportion Of
ore-sfyth from the American fan and dVe-siNths
rom the Horseshoe Fan Exactly what form the
changes g. the TWO cararaCrs VIII take, whether
greater number Of streams, or simply be reduced
IN volume, retaining IN Etlelai leli pIese-t l9I,
= uo accurate knowledge OF the form of and depth
II 65s0 cubic feet per second be diverted the loss
viii be important. but 81 the diversion oe limited
this amount. or reduced as hereafter indicated,
3niteIy determined until the works now under con-
Etrucu0u have been completed and put IN operation
lave rot suffered serious damage. scenic spec
flc.e il does not follow that additional water may
would b. an experiment. even more dangerous than
thar now being tried, and In our opinion should
in Teturn for The impairment Of the falls thus
Ia authorized the State OF NeW York VIII receive
-rorfzed r- that side. and he Queen Victoria
Niagara Fails Park VIII receive an annual rental
~ ~ "a a. -r~-saa~ ami -grize5 an me cana
dian side These figures do not include the 5000
w. t gs BENZ e IS Inc f ei c I5
1ary with water from the Welland Canal