THE MENACE TO NIAGARA. 



493 



The use of Niagara waters for power production has been the 

 dream of years and its earliest successful achievement is expressed in the 

 present Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power & Manufacturing Co., whose 

 existence as an active consumer of Niagara water antedates its statu- 

 tory recognition. The legislature of New York began giving away 

 franchises to power companies about twenty years ago. It has never 

 a eked a financial return of any sort for any of these, as, during the 



The American Channel at the Crest of the Falls during the Ice Jam of 



March, 1903. 



period from 1885 to 1894, when they were most freely granted, it 

 probably seemed not. wise to inflict a revenue on a budding industry. 

 New York thus receives nothing whatever in return for the privileges 

 it has granted for the consumption of its own waters. We mention 

 this fact incidentally, just as we may mention that the Canadian com- 

 panies are to pay a substantial return for similar privileges; but this 

 matter of revenue has no bearing whatever on the. theme before us. 

 Whether or not any public revenue be derived from the use of Niagara 

 is entirely beside the issue save' as taxation of the product of the com- 

 panies can be used as a means for the control of the situation. 



Nine of these companies have been legally recognized or chartered 

 in New York. Of these charters, all were granted in good faith, but 

 it may be doubted if all were asked for and received in the same 

 spirit. Some, it would seem, were immediately for sale as soon as 



