the American side. Trees and shrubs were seriously injured by pieces of rock hurled over upon the New York Reservation by these explosions, and on October 28, 1902, the climax was reached in the killing of two of our employees by flying fragments from the same source.

On the Canadian side, the contour of the shore has been changed noticeably and given an artificial appearance. At the Horseshoe Fall, the shore line has been shortened about 200 feet. The diversion of water by wing-dams has made dry a large area of the river bed in the neighborhood of the Dufferin islands. And the power houses will present incongruous objects in a landscape which was taken to be preserved as nearly as possible in its natural condition.

CONFERENCE AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH CANADIAN COMMISSIONERS IN REGARD TO DISFIGUREMENT OF CANADIAN

PARK.

Learning that these operations were in prospect, the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara in July, 1902, requested the Canadian Commission to take no final action to permit them until a joint conference relative to the subject could be held.

On August 2d, Commissioner Porter and Superintendent Welch met with the Canadian Commissioners at their office in the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park.

Commissioner Porter stated to the Canadian Commissioners that the American Commissioners had been informed that some power company or user, was to be granted or had been granted the right to construct penstocks over the high bank at a point

about where the old "Table Rock House" was located, also for the erection of a power house on the lower slope, under the bank, at the same point. The American Commissioners would deeply regret any such grant on the part of the Canadian Board, as the erection of buildings at that point, while on the Canadian shore would be seen almost entirely by visitors to the American side, and would be a blemish and defacement to be regretted by all parties. That the policy of the American Board was to remove all structures, as far as possible, from the grounds, and especially from the upper and lower banks of the river adjoining the New York Reservation. That in line with this policy, already nearly 150 buildings had been removed from the State Reservation, and that the Board intended to remove other structures as rapidly as possible, especially having in mind the removal of the Inclined Railway on the face of the cliff, substituting in place thereof an elevator in a shaft through rock.

Commissioner Porter further stated that on behalf of the New York State Commission, he urged that no buildings of the kind contemplated should be allowed by the Canadian Board, and concluded by thanking the Canadian Commission for their courteous attention to the matter.

Superintendent Welch stated that at the time of the establishment of the State Reservation at Niagara, it was the desire of the advocates of the movement, to cause the removal of all the manufacturing and industrial establishments in the immediate vicinity of the Falls. The vast amount already invested in the Schoellkopf Power District, made it impracticable to include that district in the Reservation. The many manufacturing and other business buildings and dwelling houses actually included within

the lands taken for the State Reservation, were promptly removed. Buildings, until recently used by the Commissioners and by visitors, that could possibly be dispensed with, have also been removed, including the office building on Green Island, removed during the present year. This had been done with the understanding that it was the common policy of the Commissioners of the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park, and of the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara, to remove all unnecessary and incongruous structures from the immediate vicinity of the Falls, in order to restore the Falls and their surroundings, as nearly as possible, to a state of nature.

On behalf of the Canadian Commissioners, Chairman J. W. Langmuir, stated that the Canadian Commmissioners cordially welcomed the expression and feeling of the New York State Board, and felt that great good could be had in many matters relating to the two parks from occasional joint meetings of the two commissions, and their Board would be glad to have further conference regarding this matter. That the position of the Canadian Commission was materially different from that of New York State Board, in that the funds necessary for the carrying on of the Niagara Reservation were supplied by the State of New York (whereas, the Canadian Commission were required to supply their own financial resources.

With this condition, it made it necessary to deal with the several electric railways and power companies in a different manner from that which would be possible were the Commission in an absolutely independent state of financial resource. That is was true that the Canadian Commission had granted to the Ontario Power Company the right to carry water over the high

bank from a point about opposite the old "Table Rock House," in penstocks, and to construct a power house upon the lower slope of the river, directly beneath; that this grant was entirely on the condition that such structures should not be placed unless their plan of construction and appearance should first meet with the approval and sanction of the Canadian Board, and, further, that at a conference had with this same power company at a meeting of the Canadian Board, that day, a modification of the plans of this Ontario Power Company had been agreed to, by means of which, no buildings would be constructed by it else where in the Canadian Reservation.

Chairman Langmuir stated that the New York State Reservation Commissioners could rest assured that there would be allowed by the Canadian Commission but one building, if any, to be constructed on the lower slope of the Canadian Reservation between the upper Arch Bridge and the Horseshoe Falls; that this building should be in form as to style of architecture, so as to be in the least degree objectionable, and that after the submission of plans for such structure and approach to the Canadian Commission, the members of the Canadian Board would invite the New York State Commission to informally inspect the plans submitted, and would welcome any suggestions or criticism from the New York State Board.

At a meeting of the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara, held September 17, 1902, the President was requested to communicate further with the Canadian Commissioners, expressing the earnest desire of this Board that the Canadian Commissioners take every possible precaution to preserve the immediate vicinity of the Falls from disfigurement. In accordance therewith, the following letter was written:

the lands taken for the State Reservation, were promptly removed. Buildings, until recently used by the Commissioners and by visitors, that could possibly be dispensed with, have also been removed, including the office building on Green Island, removed during the present year. This had been done with the understanding that it was the common policy of the Commissioners of the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park, and of the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara, to remove all unnecessary and incongruous structures from the immediate vicinity of the Falls, in order to restore the Falls and their surroundings, as nearly as possible, to a state of nature.

On behalf of the Canadian Commissioners, Chairman J. W. Langmuir, stated that the Canadian Commmissioners cordially welcomed the expression and feeling of the New York State Board, and felt that great good could be had in many matters relating to the two parks from occasional joint meetings of the two commissions, and their Board would be glad to have further conference regarding this matter. That the position of the Canadian Commission was materially different from that of New York State Board, in that the funds necessary for the carrying on of the Niagara Reservation were supplied by the State of New York (whereas, the Canadian Commission were required to supply their own financial resources.

With this condition, it made it necessary to deal with the several electric railways and power companies in a different manner from that which would be possible were the Commission in an absolutely independent state of financial resource. That is was true that the Canadian Commission had granted to the Ontario Power Company the right to carry water over the high