The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-21
A CHANGE FOR TROUBLE.

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 Is there even small prospect or trouble between the United States ana Great Britain, with Niagara Falls as the central point? For months now the newspapers and speakers have been discussing the probable extinction or one of the wonders of the world 70 gratify the American spirit of utili- tarianism which would destroy the famous Falls in order to use the water for manufacturing purposes. Plans to defect the water above the Falls and use it for an immense electric power producing plant have been made and some of the work already done. If these. plans are fully carried out so much of the water will be taken from the river that the Falls will become insignificant, even If not entirely de- stroycd.
 Protests from all parts of the coun- try have gone up against the proposed destruction. It is argued that if New
 York State csn not prevent it the United States should tAke 1t on itself as national affair and prohibit any deflection of water from the Falls. But here comes in what may prove the complication. By far the greater DOT tion of the water flows over the Falls on the Canada side. and the Canadians also are preparing to utilize it in the same way that the New Workers are. What is more. some. at least, of them declare that they propose to use as much of the water as they wish. even if by so doing they dry up our side entirely In short. they say that If they find use for all the water in the river and can get it to go their way they win do so.
 There, we imagine, is where the trouble may, come. We know of no law or treaty which can prevent the Ca nadians from using water from their side of the river, if they can draw It on. The Niagara River. which Is the boundary line between New York and the Province of Ontario, is as free to the people of one. side as to those of the other. If either side can draw off the greater part of it how can the other prevent? It is said that engi- neers have a scheme by which to deep en the channel on the American side and thus turn a great deal more of If it comes down to contest to see which side will get most water it Is pretty certain that the end must be the total destruction of this great nat ural wonder.
 There is talk of trying to get a
 treaty with Great Britain by which both sides will be perpetually enjoined against any course calculatel to lessen and destroy the beauty and grandeur
 of the Falls, and we've no doubt that
 if treaty of that kind were entered into both sides would unite in pre- venting the sacrifice of the greatest
 wonder of the continent to the capac-
 ity of man.
 ocome down to 8 commons sense
 view of the matter there is no reason
 why either the Americans or the Ca-
 nadians should be guilty of the con- templated vandalism. By the exercise of proper engineering skill and at prob- Rpiy bOhC Btu1lVi ouNidy VI AhOAoJ all needed power can be secured with | out destroying or seriously injuring | the Falls themselves. Aside from that
 is the further fact that all the elec-
 tric power needed by either side can
 be found without going to the Niagara River at all. In both New York and 1 Canada there are numerous rivers and
 smaller streams upon which electric
 power plants can be established which
 will be ample for all purposes. I nere
 is practically no limit on the trans
 mission of electricity profitably, and | if engineers and promoters will take
 advantage of the small streams and
 let Niagara alone there is no reason
 why it should not be profitable. At
 all events, if the destruction of the
 Falls can be prevented in no other
 way the two governments should unite
 in making such destruction impossi- l ble.