179 
PARK AND 
In the Rivers and Harbors committee room at Washington. 
Some sixty persons were present, representing every possible 
power development. After those desiring to divert water and 
to transmit power had presented their claims and filed all their 
proof. Secretary Taft said: 
“There is another interest, I am advised, represented here — 
the interest of the public in maintaining the integrity of the 
Falls or the volume of the water; and if any one is here who 
desires to be heard on that subject I would like to know of 
his presence.” 
Announcing that I was in the interest to which the Sec- 
retary referred, he kindly gave me permission to make the 
first statement, which I did, against the most hostile audience 
I have ever addressed. 
Subsequent to this hearing, preliminary grants of water 
were given, permitting the plants now actually developing power 
to proceed With what they were using, and no more. The 
status of this Association was fully recognized by Secretary 
Taft in his official order. 
Let me bring this sketch of a national movement to a close 
by saying that notwithstanding all effort and all this pre- 
liminary success, the great cataract is yet in danger. Every 
power development that was proceeding is proceeding; for these 
astute people believe that they will be able to break down the 
opposition, and eventually to secure that inordinate reward 
for their millions which was the purpose of their investment. 
There is but one safety, and that is to persist in the de- 
LILY POND, HUMBOLDT PARK, MILWAUKEE 
CEMETERY. 
as a scenic wonder this great gift to mankind to devote them- 
selves. 
The report of the Department of Public Nuisances was 
presented by Vice-president Harlan P. Kelsey, of Salem, 
Mass., in an interesting illustrated address, dealing chiefly 
with the billboard evil. Mr. Kelsey touched briefly on sev- 
eral national nuisances including mosquitoes, flies, and smoke. 
The house fly he considered one of the most dangerous as 
it was instrumental in spreading typhoid fever and consump- 
tion. Concerning the legal status of the billboard question 
Mr. Kelsey said : 
“The association has kept close watch on legislation de- 
signed to abate the bill-board nuisance. Many municipal ordi- 
nances have been enacted, some partially successful, but the 
rock on which they all meet disaster is the esthetic one. No 
final court in this country has yet upheld a law prohibiting the 
erection of bill-boards, as being a nuisance to the eye, but 
this, too, is coming, and I have the best legal assurance that 
sooner or later the court will undoubtedly rule that an offense 
to the eye has the same legal status as an offense to the hear- 
ing or the smell.” 
Three-fourths of the billboards, he said, are erected in 
violation of the law and can be gotten rid of without any 
further legislation. Indecent posters, 
billboards erected on city property, or 
on private property without the permis- 
sion of owners, those endangering pub- 
lic safety or in violation of building 
ordinances can all be obliterated now 
and improvement workers should take 
this work up first. Mr. Kelsey enum- 
erated a number of things to do as 
follows : Enforce the laws on the 
statute books ; take an interest in local 
government; educate yourself concern- 
ing city laws and ordinances ; have 
billboards removed from city property ; 
eliminate indecent posters ; have new 
laws passed with good legal advice; 
secure ordinances against the distribu- 
tion of handbills and for the licensing 
of bill posters with high fees; work 
with the local government ; do not use 
articles advertised on billboards, and 
write to the advertisers ; secure state 
and town laws taxing them as income 
producing property ; secure law allow- 
ing control of land along public prop- 
erty; present billboard matter to local 
papers ; and interest the children. 
mand for an international treaty. A letter received Oct. 22, 
from Secretary Root, does not show an encouraging state of 
affairs, for he advises me that although negotiations for the 
preservation of Niagara Falls 
“were begun between Mr. Hay and the British Ambassador, 
pursuant to a request contained in the joint resolution of the 
Legislature of the State of New York, passed March 17, 
1904,” 
yet no further progress has been made than to refer the mat- 
ter to the International Waterways Commission 
“for the ascertainment and agreement upon the facts form- 
ing the necessary basis for any possible treaty.” 
Secretary Root adds: 
“At present the negotiations are proceeding upon the basis 
of Ihe two reports already made, the Act of Congress of June 
29. 1906, and, upon our side the facts developed in the hearings 
before the Committees of Congress.” 
It is thus obvious that there must be a much more urgent 
demand for a treaty, both in the United States and in Can- 
ada. This demand should be brought to bear upon both of the 
governments involved while yet the sentiment for the preser- 
vation of the Falls is fully alive. 
If Niagara is to be permanently preserved, a treaty must 
be negotiated and ratified, and to foster that end I ask this 
Association and this audience, and all those who care to hold 
Friday, October 26th. 
Some miscellaneous official business was disposed of Fri- 
day morning before beginning the regular program. The 
Executive Committee reported, recommending that the annual 
dues be increased to $3.00 for individual membership and 
$5.00 for affiliated membership of organizations. This re- 
port was unanimously adopted. The Individual dues were 
formerly insufficient to cover the actual expenses of furnish- 
ing the printed matter that goes to every member, and a 
slight raising of the fees was deemed a financial necessity. 
Votes of thanks to periodicals who donated free adver- 
tising to the Niagara movement was passed and the thanks of 
the meeting to the generous and efficient Milwaukee hosts 
was expressed by a rising vote. 
The first address of the morning was delivered by Mr. 
Ernest A. Sterling, of the government forest service. Mr. 
Sterling told of the character of the territory embraced in 
the Apalachian and White Mountain Reservations, with the 
aid of stereopticon views, and described the government 
