The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-20
CIVIC REF0RmERS
INTEND TO SAVE
NIAGARA FALLS

members at the Providence Art club and
a Niagara evening" by the American
Civic association at Sayles hall concluded
a successful first days program yesterday.
Probably never before I'm the history OF
Rhode Island has such a gathering OF
distinguished authorities on civic soci-
ology, such active workers I'm the field of
municipal Improvement, been held within
the state borders, and drawn together
as they were by common interest In
the welfare and material Improvement of
American cities and their better govern
ment. scores Of prominent thinkers and
students OF municipal problems have come
together for the first time In their his
tory, embracing period OF l3 years in
the case OF the league and three years in
the life OF the American Civic associa-
ton.
Some Of the more noted participants in
clude Attorney General Charles j. Bona
parte, president OF the National Munich
pal league; President Edmund j. James
of the University of Chicago, Clinton
Rogers Woodruff OF Philadelphia, the
leagues secretary; Franklin MacVeagh
OF Chicago and James ID. Phelan of San
Francisco.
After the formal greetings yesterday the
two societies separated The National
Municipal league remained in Manning
hall to consider the general subjects or
"The Battle for Betterment," and Ma
tional 4'arties in Local Elections"
Secretary Woodruff delivered an adj
dress on the former topic, giving a gen.
eral review of the situation, and dis
cussed municipal developments during
the year, commenting upon their signlf-
cance.
A paper by Brand whltlock mayor OF
Toledo, o., was read by Robert Treat
Paine, Jr of Boston. IL contained peril
nent observations on the dcsrability of
eliminating the influence OF national par
ties i'm local elections. He pictured graph
,o at,hc iAalifv tn ri nd
party alone OF the voter who prides him.
self on casting strict party VOTE" and
defined the political boss. The subject
was OF particular interest to Rhode Is
land. 1t served to open I'm general way
"A discussion of the question: us II De-
sirable or Practicable to Diminish or Ex-
clude the Influence of National Parties
and Issues in Municipal Contests?" which
will be the theme OF round table con-
ference this afternoon.
The American Civic Association dele
gates adjourned to Sayles hall. where a
round-table conference on the subject,
Definite Work for Small Communities"
was conducted.
DEBATE ON NIAGARA.
The meeting Of the American Civic
association in Sayles hail last evening
took the pros and cops of the question
of preserving the great natural cataract,
Niagara FALL in their natural beauty
from commercial spoliation.
Equipped with stereopticon views TO IL
lustrate their respective sides, the princi-
pal speakers on the subject were Gen.
Francis V. Greene, an official OF the On
tario Power company, and President j.
Horace Mcfarland of the American Civic
association, which stands behind the
movement to preserve In it's entirety the
grand spectacle.
III. III. McCrae of the Electrical Devel-
opment company OF Toronto and John l..
Romer for the Niagara Falls Hydraulic
Power and Manufacturing company, pre-
sented the work done by the development
companies. The attitudes taken by the
commissioners OF the New York State
Reservation at Niagara and the Queen
Victoria Niagara Falls Park Commission
were set before the meeting by their re-
spective presidents, Charles M Daw OF
New York and John w. Langmuir OF To-
ronto, and Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr.,
of Brookline, Mass, described theme
Kim commissions work.
President j. Horace Mcfarland of the
American Civic association occupied the
chair in the absence OF Charles j. Bona
parte, president OF the National Munich
pal league
Gen. Greene. the first speaker, sketched
briefly the history OF the use of Niagara
water for power purposes. He then pass
ed TO an outline OF his paper, proposing,
he said, to show that the Ontario Power
company had been by no means neglect
full of its obligations in preserving the
natural beauties of the falls so far as
possible He should show on the screen,
he added, stereopticon pictures of the
falls and their surroundings now and 30
years ago. and would leave 1t to his hear
ers to judge whether the volume of the
falls appeared to have been diminished
or not.
Gen. Green gave a very comprehensive
description, illustrated with stereopticon
A
Niagara Falls, and of the great power
plants there, which had not, he explain
ed, detracted at all from the grandeur of
the falls or marred their beauty.
THE falls are still there" said Gen.
Greene, "and, in my humble judgment,
you and your children will contiue to see
them-just as they are now, as they were
30 and 40 years hence. The only difference
is that there are parks on both sides OF
the river: that there are facilities for ac-
cess and transportation which did not
formerly exist; that there are now tun-
nels under the falls for those who like
to hear the mighty roar at close quarters.
and there are other facilities for the ac-
commodation OF visitors. III We may
judge from the comments OF visitors from
all parts OF the world, there is an added
interest at the falls arising from the fact
that there can now be seen one of the
post splendid natural spectacles in all
the world, just as LaSalle saw IT 20
years ago, and, in addition. there can be
seen one OF the most striking examples
In all the world OF the control of the hu-
man mind over the mighty forces of ma
ture."
H. VI. McCrae Of the Electrical Devel-
opment company Of Toronto, who follow
ed Gen. Greene, disclaimed on behalf or
the company any intent To detract from
the beauty or the majesty of the cata-
ract lie furnished a series OF views i'm
illustration OF the position taken by the
company. John l.. Romer I'm behalf OF
the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and
Manufacturing company, one of the AM
erican concerns. which dates Il grant
back TO 1873, furnished an array OF sta
tistics, dates, etc. calculated to show
that this companys use OF water for
power purposes, from it's canal. some dis
tance farther down stream than other
companies. did not work any injury to
the falls It's power plant. he maintained,
did not detract from the beauty OF the
spot. IL was shown I'm general by these
speakers that some of the development
companies had not been deficient In an
anprpcfat ton Of their duties aud raenopef.