Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-17
Gorge Is in Danger.

lean falls, and Goat Island are within the
area of the state reservation. and their
preservation is assured. Bat more irnpor-
tant in many ways than the tract in the
immediate vicinity Of the brink Of the
falls is the gorge, where is witnessed an
eNhlpiuon OF power more impressive to
many observers than that of the great
cataract itself, seen, as it generally is,
from the top. As the best view of the
American rapids Is from standpoint
where, the water appears to tumble out of
the sky, so the most impressive view of
the falls is from below. either near at
hand or from a distance. The whirlpool
and the lower rapids can only be seen in
their full majesty and might from near
the waters edge.
If present conditions continue and the
gorge remains in private ownership not
onl, will the Disbursements increase and
multiply. but the extent of them will in
crease rapidly until the whole gorge will
entirely lose its value from an esthetic
point of view. 1t is already projected to
elevate the railroad tracks a short dis
lance away from the edge of the cliff
The present electric road. which is desir-
able because it makes the gorge accessi-
BILE, Is scar on the fair face of nature
tained without regard to the beauty of the
landscape.
These are only few but perhaps some
of the most cOgent reasons which lead the
earnestness that strip of property be
acquired by the United States connecting
with the state reservation at one end and
extending the whole length of the gorge
embracing the taluS, the cliff and a tract
of land at the top of the cliff not less
than 100 yards wide, and that the same
be converted into national reservation
under proper federal control.
Changes Made Possible.
This accomplished. all the buildings
within this strip can be destroyed or
moved back under suah arrangements as
will impose the least possible hardship
upon private owners and corporations, the
vegetation can be readily restored, and
within reasonable period of time the
whole area in the immediate vicinity Of
nearly as possible to its original condi-
ton with the added advantage of acces-
sbility.
BY means of additional legislation and
agreements with the Canadian govern
ment the diversion of water for power
purposes should be kept within such linz
its that the impressiveness of the cataract
shall not be diminished. Nothing less will
suffice to preserve to the world this great
natural heritage, the destruction of which
for commercial purposes is crime
against all peoples for all time
THE establishment of the proposed
reservation, with its proper restoration,
regulation and maintenance, is therefore
urged upon the favorable consideration of
all those whose cooperation is REQUIRED
to bring il about
Legislation Proposed.
A bill has been prepared at the War De-
partment under the direction of Secretary
Dickinson, and has been introduced into
both houses to carry out the recommends
tons of the commission, and the multi
tudes of people who feel share In the
ownership OF the worlds greatest natural
wonder will be grati1ed when it be-
comes a law and the suggestions of the
commission are carried out.
Mai kutz who Is one of the original
members of the commission. has recently
been relieved and Maj. Charles Keller has
been appointed in his place The latter
has reported to the Secretary of War that
Of the gorge are already removing the
Objectionable features. The refuse ac
cumulated during many years between
the buildings and the river has been re-
moved And future dumping will be pro-
hibted.
The offensive water pipes and other OBJ
iects that impair the beauty of the
scenery are being covered with walls of
rubble masonry which harmonizes with
the adjacent cliff as we'll as any artificial
structure can be made to do and the at
tempt to restore suitable growth NJ
vegetation on the denufled slope on the
American side. Maj Keller saws. appears
to be successful.