New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-12
70 SETTLE DISPUTED
ISSUES WITH CANADA
uP ROOT AND MR. BRYCE
SIGN TREATY.
.Joipt High Commission ProUided to
Dispose of WaterscGys and
Other Questions.
From The Tribune Bureau J

-,-.sbinston Jan. 1f.--One Of the most i'm
.o-,snt diplomatic achievements in Secretary
ro., administration of the State Department
as accomplished tonight, when his signature
"a that Of Ambassador James Bryce, OF Great
r-its,n. were affixed TO Canadian treaty which
tiles q number Of questions which have been
so,rce % agitation for many years. The
.,...r WAS signed at the home Of Secretary Root
.,s will not be made public until approved by
,e Foreign Relations Committee.
r Is known 20 provide. however. for the set
.,sr,snt OF all questions which arise between
+,s TWO countries by toint high commission Of
a., members. three from each country. Il set
,ss al waterways controversies. including the
,rss.on Of power az Niagara Falls. the naviga
.on Of the ST. Johns River between Maine and
ysr brunswick the use Of water for reclamation
,urnoses along the border and near the Milk
,ns the ST Mary rivers. and agrees 10 principles
~ gsyigation on the Great Lakes. The treaty
b The work Of some months. Its settlement OF
,s Niagara Falls question is regarded as prob
sby the most important feature This question
tss been q cause Of friction for a long time, and
although both countries have repeatedly legis-
ste6 20 decide the matter definitely, settlement
has never been reached The esta blishment Of the
commission will IL is thought preclude the pos
sblity Of further disagreements between the
to countries in their relations along the border.
and the treaty itself is that has long been
hoped for by those who have taken an interest
In relations with Canada
To some extent the operations OF the treaty
will supersede the work Of the International
Waterways Commission. made up Of representa-
;iyes Of the United States and Canada, whose
duties include the ascertainment and re-estab
rshment Of the location OF that portion OF the
International boundary between the United
States and Canada passing through the Great
Lakes system That feature Of its work. how
ever will be continued by the waterways COM
mission until IL is completed. the other portion
gradually being absorbed by the joint high
commission, 10 be appointed IN accordance with
the treaty.
Although no official statement was made to-
night It is the understanding that the contract
irg powers have agreed on a certain line Of
PRINCIPLES which ere to guide the Joint high
commission IN its work. leaving TO the mem
bers the interpretation OF those principles
sppicabie 10 questions which may require set
tenent Immediately, and those that may arise
from time to time. This takes from the Joint
high commission any powers of a treaty making
bedy srd confines it's duties simply 20 deter
mining to what extent the principles already
laid down shall be applicable 10 any particular
case
The treaty is regarded as OF great inpor-
tame and the hope is expressed by officials
hen that its effective operation will result in
Permanently putting end 10 the differences
between the United States and Canada,
The State Department officials breathed sigh
q relief when they announced to-day that the
instrument had passed the preliminary stages
ana vas ready for signature.
Ottawa Ont. Jan 1I.-Much satisfaction was
expressed here tonight when II was learned
that the so-called waterways treaty had been
signed at Washington
One effect Of the treaty Will be to limit the
operations Of power companies at Niagara Falls
70 those now in existence and confine the
amount Of water they may divert to $4,000 cubic
feet second. This follows the recommenda-
u5ns made by the international commission ap
pointed in 1905 for the preservation of the scenic
beauty OF the falls.
American power companies at Niagara Falls
sre limited 70 10000 cubic feet a second. which
N1l allow the development OF 236,000 horse
power. On the Canadian side the diversion for
power purposes is limited to $4,000 cubic feet.
which will give z25,000 horsepower.
Tne Chicago drainage canal will be allowed
70 take 10000 cubic feet of water second.
The treaty will run for period long enough
70 demonstrate the effectiveness of the pro-
posed limitation