THE FALLS IN WINTER 



main roads, wliere necessary or desirable, either by gifts or 

 grants or by conveyances, or by leases in perpetuity or foi' a 

 term of years, or by licenses and also to acquire by condemna- 

 tion any land not devoted to railroad or power uses, and not 

 held or intended for such uses. All titles to such land, and all 

 leases and licenses, would be taken in the name of the State of 

 New York. 



In the original plan presented to the legislature, it was hoped 

 to obtain not exceeding $500,000 from the state by direct ap- 

 propriations over several years, and a sum of about $80,000 a 

 year through a charge on water power. In the bill as last 

 amended, there was provision for a verj^ small initial appropria- 

 tion, only to cover surveys and some preliminary expenses, and 

 a pledge of additional sums up to $200,000 from the state, in 

 addition to the annual charge on water power. It is anticipated 

 that the project would require approximately $1,000,000 avail- 

 able over a period of about seven to ten years, for extensions and 

 permanent betterments. 



There is reason to hope that the measure in its essential form 

 will commend itself to the people of the state in the near future, 

 with proper provision for the gradual improvement of this fron- 

 tier; and thus will be started a great plan of regional develop- 

 ment along the Niagara River of which we shall all be proud, 

 and an imperishable memorial to our soldiers and sailors will 

 be created. 



40 



