SPOLIATION OF THE FALLS OF NIAGARA 291 



but on his map of 1632 he represents a long series of rapids, located at 

 the end of Lake Ontario, and says concerning them, "A very high fall 

 of water at the end of the rapids of St. Louis (a name given to Lake 

 Ontario) where many kinds of fish in descending are stunned." That 

 the river was famous among the Indians, on account of the falls, and 

 possibly among a few " Courreurs de hois " and missionary priests, is 

 certain, as Father Lalement, who first mentions its name (Onguaahra), 

 speaks of it as " so celebrated." This was in 1641, yet he does not 

 mention the falls. In 1645, Dr. Gendron wrote a letter about the falls, 

 but this was not published until 1660; in the meanwhile (1648) Father 

 Bagueneau mentions them as occurring on Niagara Eiver. This was 

 the beginning of the historic period. 



3. Approaching Peril to Niagara Falls. — The Falls of Niagara are 

 now entering another and much more critical epoch in their history. 

 The time has not arrived when their use has become a necessity, and 

 even in their spoliation, other and larger interests are at stake. Niagara 

 is a world possession, yet its very existence is imperilled by the greed 

 of a few persons, or for the exigencies of politicians. 



4. Commission for Investigation. — Extended operations were al- 

 ready at work upon the falls, when Dr. Bobert Bell, Canada's most 

 distinguished geologist, at the head of the Geological Survey, commis- 

 sioned me, three years ago, to make a complete investigation upon the 

 recession of Niagara Falls, so as to record the undisturbed work of 

 nature, and also to determine how far the falls could be diverted without 

 bringing about unforeseen disasters. 



5. Opinions of Power Diversion. — At that time, in the opinion of 

 some serious observers, the falls were imperilled, and Dr. John Clarke, 

 state geologist of New York, pointed out the impending destruction of 

 the American Falls. There were also many sensational magazine 

 articles, bearing on the same subject, but in these no data were given 

 by which to form judicious opinions. On the other hand, those inter- 

 ested in the diversion of the water insisted that no serious damage would 

 be done. Personally I had no opinion whatever, though I regretted the 

 disfigurement of the falls, through the structures erected by the power 

 companies, one such being placed even beneath the cataract itself, inside 

 the Park Eeservation on the Canadian side, especially offensive as seen 

 from the American side (shown in a succeeding plate, figure 8). 



6. International Waterway Commission established for saving the 

 Falls. — Before this time, the late Honorable Andrew H. Green had se- 

 cured the passage through Congress of a bill, authorizing the establish- 

 ment of an International Waterway Commission, his specific object 

 being the preservation of Niagara Falls. Indeed it was for this same 

 object that the International Park at Niagara had been established at 

 an earlier date, largely through the efforts of the Earl of Dufferin, 



