Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-03

corning water from Niagara Falls is
much more intricate than seems gen
orally understood. Everybody knows
that the flow over the, cliff has been
slightly, even preceptibiy diminished,
that it is likely to be much more
notably lessened soon, and that the
industrial interests may divert all the
water in time If not prevented. But
the people do not know that the popu-
lar demand for preservation is loudly
voiced by persons stimulated by the
existing power companies, who are
striving to consummate and maintain
a monopoly; and are sure to go in for
further exploitation later if they be
not barred off perfectly This | had
last May from one of the principal
power magnates, who was not speak.
ing confidentially, since it would have
been ridiculous to pretend TO make d
secret Of a fact so public all about
Niagara. He and his friends annually
create a great part of the aesthetic
cry that comes out of the New York
legislature whenever certain project.
ors, whose engineering scheme is
much less wastefuI of water than any
now executed, renew application for
authority to compete. OF course it is
in the aesthetic interest that the ex-
listing power concerns, so energetic
and wealthy, should be engaged, for
their own present purposes, on the
side of preservation, though their
game is simply to starve competition.
But it is not the aesthetic nor the pub
lie interest that opinion should 'e.
come prejudiced against projects for
taking Niagara water by canal to some
point near Lockport and there EN-.
ploying it at much greater head than
is now employed in using Niagara
water. The ultimate problem of con-
serving the Falls must be very much
that of using at greater head than is
now utilized the amount of water al
ready or soon to be diverted It is
being wasted by use at from 1870 to
155 feet ahead: it would be used at
$50 to 300 feet head. Were it thus
used the water now granted would
supply all the power to be sought for
a long time. Complete restoration Of
the former volume of the falls is out
OF consideration because existing con-
cessions cannot be taken away from
the grantees without vast expropria.
ton, much more costly than any OF
the governments concerned would be
popularity permitted to undertake.
There is lot of loose talk about an
international treaty for Niagara pre-
servation. This comes of the obvious
lack of power in New York state and
in Ontario to agree firmly and per.
manently upon a preservation policy.
1t is assumed that the dominion gov.
eminent, whose views Great Britain
would certainly back in the business,
may be depended upon to take the
aesthetic view, This assumption NAV
be correct, but it comes of ignorance
d. 70 the greatness of Canada's
material interest contra. 1t might be
difficult to get this interest even
sketched in some United States publ.
cations devoted sincerely to Niagara
conservation. TIE editors assume
that their cause might be damage
II Canadians were made aware of the
facts of their own position. It is as.
sumed that they might, in that casa
buck against their government if II
seemed likely to enter on an inter
rational treaty preservative of the
rails. Yet the Canadian government
has certainly understood the situation
for at least five months. if never be.
fore. 1t is preposterous to imagine
that Sir Wilfrid Laurier will fail tc
bargain shrewlly and tenaciousIy TO,
those material and political interests
that would be given away by an inter
national agreement securing the pres
ent power situation. or by concedina
gratis to New York or to the Tinted
states an equality in Niagara expIoj
tatlon. The aesthetic interest, to which
4 may be permitted to VOW allegiance
IN this matter, cannot be otherwise
IMAM benefited by looking facts in the
race and arranging the campaign ac
cordingly.
About one-thirteenth of the river,
minimum flow was, last May, being
diverted from the cliff, and pass ID
around the Falls into the lower rive,
by tunnels. The power companies
were then and are now rapidly install
ing more plants, with design to utilize
soon one-f1fth of the minimum flow
Such additional concessions are
sought, and such sites for future
water draughts authoritatively locat
ed, that diversion of sixty-seven PEI
cent of the minimum or fifty ne,
cent OF the maximum flow is clearly
m ditated The demand for Magyar
power swiftly increases, and will prob
ably increase more swiftly. II NAV
not during the next few years. over
take the supply OF 615000 electrica
horsepower (e. h. p) that could b.
collectively generated by the variou,
plants now installed or in course o.
installation But, meantime. immi
nert competition seems likely to 81
lower the price Of e. n. p. at the new
industrial establishments attrac
the Niagara region many O
that are ever arising from the rapir
increase Of population in the Republi,
and in the Dominion, as well as man.
of the going concerns whose owner.
contemplate from time to time. reno
walton or enhancement of Dla1f Aoaj,