Preservation of the Falls 



possible for them to drain the Niagara river, and, in addition, to 191 1 

 draw upon the waters of lake Erie. As the true state of affairs 

 at Niagara, and the consequent possibilities became better appre- 

 hended, public opinion began to take definite form in favor of the 

 preservation of the scenic grandeur of the great cataract. Another 

 factor was that, in many instances where water-powers had passed 

 into private or corporate control, there was a disposition to sell 

 the developed hydro-electric power at a small fraction under the 

 cost of steam, thus depriving the people of the benefits of one of 

 their greatest natural heritages. 



Members of the American Civic Association, the American 

 Scenic and Historical Society, the Colonial Dames of America, 

 and other organizations were zealous in their efforts to secure the 

 preservation of the scenic grandeur of the Falls. The efforts of 

 such organizations in the United States and in Canada were the 

 immediate influences which resulted in definite action being taken 

 to preserve the Falls and the scenic beauty of the Niagara river. 



General Conditions Governing Power Development at Niagara 

 From an economic standpoint the power possibilities of the 

 Niagara falls and river constitute to-day the most important 

 hydro-electric power site in the world. The process of depletion 

 of the known coal fields of the United States — especially the 

 anthracite coal beds of Pennsylvania — will tend, in the near 

 future, to cause the aesthetic claims made on behalf of the scenic 

 beauty of the Niagara falls and rapids to yield before possible 

 aggressive demands made by companies to utilize the waters dis- 

 charging from lake Erie. It is noteworthy that many of the 

 charters already granted companies for power development are 

 kept alive, even though, as yet, no construction works have been 

 begun. 



Marvellous is the regulated flow of water from the Great 

 lakes, as it exists under the laws of the Creator. Referring to 

 this natural regulation of flow, the Joint International Waterways 

 Commissioners, in 1910, reported that " no work of man ever 



1157 



