New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-09
THE FATE OF NI4GARA.
Falls WiH Be Dry Unless Prompt
4ction Is Taken.

IL
the impending destruction of the glory OF Niagara
Falls 1t may be that the hope of cheaper pro-
duction of considerable quantity OF electrical
power of breakfast foods of chemicals, Oh
utensils is a more worthy object in our nauonai
life than the rescue of a noble ana stupeI6ouS
work of nature. Frankly, The country Ca .sii
dar' votes for Niagara. But, however HiIeiil-
CHILE is the opposite view, il is certainly mat
ter important enough to demand thoroush
understanding of the facts by the American pei
pie and an honest searching of their consclellCe
and good taste before the life of the great rams
is sucked away into power tunnels 10 get at
the exact situation we have taken the faclS re-
Gently presented by DR.. Clark, the New foih
State geologist, and other eminent speclal pleau-
ers for Niagara and we have had these facts
verified by the expert hydraulic engineers most
prominent in the work of installing the indus
trial plants that now threaten the Falls.
The generally accepted volume of the Niagara
River at the brink of the Falls is $4,000 cubic
feet second There are at present two power
companies operating on the American side and
three at work, or preparing for work on the
Canadian side. The process of using the power
of the river produced by its sheer plunge of 161
feet is to convey water by tunnels canals or
pipe lines from some point above the brink to
the lower level below the Falls. 1t is obvious
that if all the water were thus conveyed around
the brink of subterranean passages or canals
seems that the American Falls will probably
disappear when very much less than half
the water is subtracted, for the brink of the
hard dolomite rock over which the river plungeS
is no less than ten feet higher on the American
side than the Canadian, the greater bulk of
the water passing on the British side Of Goat
Island. DR.. Clark estimates that when 10000
cubic feet of water a second has beeen sub
tracted from the river there will be but a thin
and pitiful apron of water remaining of the
American Falls. He predicts that when $4,000
cubic feet of water are used in the power plants
may walk dryshod along the brink of these
falls and arid waste of rockbed Will be left
between Goat Island and the mainland.
These five companies now in operation are
allowed by their charters to take $4,000 cubic
feet of water a second. So that there is clearly
impending a contraction of the American Falls
TO pitifu remnant But the danger does not
stop here During the last winter and spring
g sixth power company has been making the
fercest of efforts at Albany to renew old
charter which would allow it to take away
further quotun1 of Niagara Falls to be carried
by canal across country TO Lake Ontario. DR..
Clark estimates that this company would use
not less than 10000 cubic feet of water a second,
bringing the total to 5S,400 cubic feet. Over
and above this. the engineer of the commission
ers of Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park has
suggested feasible sites for four additional
Canadian companies. to consume 29996 cubic
feet of water a second, bringing the total to
1896 cubic feet of water second demanded
by the work now going on, plus the contemplated
operations Finally. engineers point out that
even if the power development is at once halted
at the falls there is a strong propapllty thdt
great quantities of water will be taken from
the Great Lakes above the river, which would
have the same deadly tendency to reduce the
I-l,1n,a of water at Niagara Falls With differ
ence in level between Lake Erie and Lake ON
tario of 327 feet, and the distance between the
ing opportunity is obvious Then there are the
additional draughts of the Welland Canal. the
Erie Canal and the Chicago drainage canal
The net result OF these drains from the water
of the Great Lakes and from their outlet, the
Niagara River, is, in the opinion of many COM
petent engineers the certain doom of the falls
Is IT worth while? And if the industrial gain
does not compensate for doing to death one of
the wonders of the earth a heritage from nature
peculiarly associated with the grandeur OF the
American donain-what are we to do about II?
AS to the first question, it is worth remember
ing that the community about Niagara would
not profit after the falls were gone. to the full
extent of the industrial improvements, for there
would be subtracted the very considerable eco
nomic advantage Of attracting every year $780,.
600 to 100000 visitors. But the larger loss will
come to the whole nation in the death of a glo-
rious and inspiring marvel of nature and we
confidently believe the peoples of the United
States and Canada would foregO a more i'm
portant addition to the national wealth than is
represented in a few hundred thousand horse
power rather than lose this great object of SEN
timent and beauty. As to the way of preventing
the loss 1t is clear that only an international
agreement between Great Britain and America,
to be made after a thorough investigation and
consideration of the matter by a commission of
scientific authority, be at all effective in
saving Niagara Falls for the enjoyment and
wonder of future generations.-(The Country
Calendar