195 
PARK AND 
CEMETERY. 
War Department thought proper. Within a very few 
moments, however, Secretary Taft voluntarily offered 
me opportunity to file the evidence I was holding up 
before him as to the entire accuracy of our claims, and 
I was glad to place on record the statement of an emi- 
nent and capable hydraulic engineer, Mr. James H. 
Fuertes, in confirmation of my claims for the most 
part, while the remainder of them found confirmation 
in the printed statement of Captain Charles W. Kutz, 
the army engineer who made the last investigation. 
The memorandum, or brief, which we submitted on be- 
half of the people, and which was most capably sup- 
ported by the speakers on behalf of the other organiza- 
tions, was not answered by the power companies 
in their argument in the afternoon. Mr. Stetson de- 
voted himself entirely to a dissection and denial of the 
statements sent out in our circular letters. The main 
arguments we advanced as to the power of the secre- 
tary, and as to his attitude under the law, were not con- 
troverted, and our principal contention as to the main 
purpose of the law was promptly and cheerfully ad- 
mitted by the Secretary. 
That Secretary Taft was impressed, despite his ex- 
pressed desire to avoid paying any attention to public 
opinion in a matter which he regarded as judicial, 
was obvious. That the vast flood of correspondence 
which had been poured upon him has had its effect is 
certain. He admitted that even his mother and his 
aunt had wu'itten him, insisting that he do wdiat he 
could to save the Falls ! 
I feel that great progress was made at this hearing. 
THE WORK FOR CIVIC CLEANLINESS 
The Women’s Civic Improvement League, of Kala- 
mazoo, Mich., is an object lesson in what earnestness 
and enthusiasm well-directed can accomplish for civic 
cleanliness, neatness and sanitation. Its members, un- 
der the leadership of Rev. Caroline Bartlett Crane, 
and I believe that justice will be done, according to 
Secretary Taft’s view. 
It should be noted, however, that this is but one of 
the out- works of the Niagara fort which must be fully 
carried before the great cataract is saved for all the 
people. There will be another hearing later on, in 
regard to the final permits to use for three years the 
water it is proposed to divert on the American side, 
and tlien, if the power companies are encouraged, other 
demands will be made upon the Secretary. The great 
danger is that inasmuch as each time both the power 
companies and the army engineers argue from the 
depleted state of Niagara, this course of insidious at- 
tacks will result in a serious interference with the 
glory of the Falls, even if their grandeur is not fully 
destroyed. It should be noted that the abstraction of 
water is gradual, and that each succeeding depletion 
for a new power house opened, or a new turbine turned 
on, takes out just a little more. Naturally, it is hard 
to see the effect of this on the Falls. There can be 
no question, however, as to the final fate if this assault 
is not completely halted. 
The Secretary was kind enough to permit me to 
institute a careful inspection and collation of the cor- 
respondence, which I believe will result in showing 
that the protest which he has received is perhaps the 
most impressive and important protest ever made in 
America. No possible question can appear as to what 
the people want in this matter, and we have confidence 
that the Secretary of War is impressed with that fact. 
AND BEAUTY IN KALAMAZOO. MICH. 
have taught the city how to clean streets ; have inter- 
ested the children to such an extent that they are sing- 
ing civic improvement songs. The league supports a 
visiting nurse; conducts planting and improvement 
contests for home and school grounds, and through 
TWO FIRST PRIZE YARDS, IN THE WOMEN'S CIVIC IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE GARDEN CONTEST 
Kalamazoo, Mich. 
