Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-24
REPORT OF COMMISSION
Nearly O9e-lhird Of The Famous River
Will be Depleted by the Exist
ing Concessions.
AMERICAN FALLS ARE IN DANGER
Threat of Their Absolute
Exhaustion.
VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
Associated Press Dispatch by Special wIre,

Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wire,
Washington, March 24-If Niagara
Falls are to be preserved as one of the
wonders of the world, immediaee action
by the United States and Canada is re-
quired, according TO the findings of the
American members of the international
Waterways Commission which has for
the past year been studying the conditions
az the Falls and in the tributary Great
Lakes
After a brief description of the physical
conditions, the report gives a detailed
account of all the corporations now en-
| gagged in the development Of power. with
I the quantities OF water which they arc
actually using. the amounts which they
are preparing TO Use, and the amounts
/ which they are authorized under their
charters to use. II includes not only cor
porations taking water directly from the
Niagara River, but also those drawing
water for power purposes from the Erie
canal the Wclland Canal and the Chicago
Drainage Canal, and furnishes a list of
all franchises granted and not perfected.
! The report says:
"Ihe total quantity Of water to be
0
lied is 6O9OO cubic feet per second. OF
this amount % 700 cubic feet is to be
taken on the American side, and the re-
mainder, "a 200 cubic feet, on the Can
adian side That is, p per 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 completed and in full opera
ton The quantity to be diverted is
more than double the quantity which
now passes over the American Falls
which at the average stage Is about
27 800 cubic feet. That this will in gem
eral have am injurious effect upon the
falls seems self-evident The volume of
water to be diverted is about the equiva-
lent of the entire discharge Of Lake
Superior over the Sault Ste Marie The
amount thus far actually diverted is but
II 500 cubic feet per second. and has had
an appreciable effect upon the falls.
"Io foretell with accuracy the effects
| IN detail OF the full diversion authorized
would require a more complete knowledge
of the bed of the river than is now obtain-
1 able 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 American fall alone it would
practically leave it dry. but it seems prob
/ able that only a part of this diversion will
/ be at expense Of American Falls If go 800
cubic feet per second be div rted, the loss
will be important; but If the diversion be
/ limited 10 this amount, or reduced as
heretofore indicated, it may not prove dis
astrous This cannot be definitely de
termined until the works under con-
striiction have been completed and put
/ in operation. When that happens If IL
be found that the falls have not suffered
serious damage as a scenic spectacle, IL
does not follow that additional water may
be diverted with impunity. Additional di-
version would be an experiment even more
dangerous than that now keing tried and
in our opinion should not be permitted.
ain return for the impairment OF the
falls, thus far authorized, the State OF
New York will receive practically nothing
for the 342000 horsepower authorized on
that side, and the Queen Victoria Niagara
Falls Park will receive am annual rental
Of $4,000, or an average OF 90 cents per
horsepower for the 4l500O horsepower
authorized on the Canadin side. These
figures do not include the 5000 horse
power being developed by the Electrical
Railway, nor the power developed by the
Hamilton Co. with water from the Nellan
Canal"
The report closes with the following
summary.
"rhe glory of Niagara Falls lies in the
voluumo of its watcs, rather than IN ITS
height, or in the surrounding scenery.
"Works are now authorized and par
TALLY completed at the falls which will
] Al. aI
falls about p per cent of the average dis
charge and about SO per cent Of the low
water discharge which is more than
double the quantity now flowing ovel
the American falls. The effect of this
withdrawal of water is to injure both the
American and the Horseshoe Falls IL
}. nearly equal proportions. While the in
, iurv will be perceptibie, It may not b'
! destructive or disastrous.
III the falls are to be preserved, Il
) must be by mutual agreement between
J the two countries As "A step in that
| direction we recommend that Legislation
he enacted which shall contain the follow
) ing provisions. viz: The Secretary o
War to be authorized to grant permits
for the diversion Of 2S, 500 cubic feet PEI
second. and no more, from the water
naturally tributary to Niagara Falls
distributed as follows. Niagara Fall
Hvdrauhc Power and Manufacturing
CO.. $500; Niagara Falls Power Go:
s GOO: Erie Canal or its tenants On add
ton to lock service) 400; Chicago Drain
age Canal, 10000 An other diversion o
{ water which is naturally tributary Z
. Niagara Falls to be prohibited, eNeep
, as such may be required for domesu
, use or for the service Of locks in naviga
lion canals. Suitable penalties for viola
ton of the law to be prescribed
'cThe foregoing prohibition to RENAL
in force two years and then to becom
the permanent law Of the land, II IN IN
meantime the Canadian government shal
/ have enacted legislation prohibiting IN
i diversion of water which IS naturall
tributary to Niagara Fails, IN excess 9
36 600 cubic feet per second, not includi
ing the amounts required Tor doinesli
!. use or for the service OF locks IN Daviga
ton canals.