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To James Terry Gardner
| My Dear Gardner; | 209 W. 46 ST. NEW YORK. 2d Oct. 1879. |
Please consider whether it would not be well to print the enclosed (with such revision as you may choose) on a half sheet of thin note paper, to be sent to all whose aid in getting signatures &c may be desirable, and as a courtesy to all who have aided. It would follow English usage in like matters only that in England it would be signed by a lot of honorable promoters. I think no signature is necessary. It should only be used enclosed in a written note which of course would be signed.
F. L. O.
Confidential.
The project of relieving and preserving the scenery of Niagara Falls from certain offensive conditions has taken the form of a proposition (1) that the islands and a strip of land along the shores of the river from the head of the Rapids to the bridge quarter of a mile below the cataract shall be purchased by the State of New York on one side and either by the Province of Ontario or the Dominion of Canada as may be determined, on the other; (2) that the present dams, piers, sluice-ways, retaining walls, mills and shops near the river shall be removed and buildings at a greater distance obscured by planting; (3) that natural conditions shall as far as possible be everywhere restored and preserved, only such artificial constructions being permitted as are essential to convenient communication and observation of the scenery, and these to be as modest and inconspicuous as possible; (4) that only a single small fee shall be required for admission to the reservations the proceeds to be used to defray the necessary expenses of maintenance, and that visitors shall as far as possible be relieved of all other of the present numerous interruptions [421] to their enjoyment of the scenery in the form of tolls, fees, huckstering and solicitations for employment.
The proposition as thus defined has been favorably considered by the Commission appointed by the State of New York to examine the matter and by the Council of the Province of Ontario. It will be officially recommended to the Legislature of New York.
It is expected to be resisted as a measure involving a large outlay to be defrayed by the taxation of people who will generally receive from it no special benefit and it is hoped will be carried by an appeal to their pride and public spirit.
Letters or memorials sustaining the project have been received from several United States senators; the Secretary of State, the heads of numerous institutions of learning; from Emerson, Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and other eminent Americans, and from Carlyle, Ruskin, Sir James Stephen, Lord Houghton and others in England. Aid in the developmnt and expression of favorable public opinion, through the Press & otherwise, is invited from all to whom the matter is of interest. Decisive debate of the question may be looked for early next year.
To James Terry Gardner
| Dear Gardner; | 209 W. 46 ST. NEW YORK. 3d Oct. 1879. |
Yours of yesterday recvd.
With regard to buildings the usual course is to take them under condemnation and afterwards sell at auction with the condition that they shall be removed before a date fixed. We should take care that what can be got in this way is available for improvemnts — as a discretionary fund to be used to eke out anything else that is short in construction, maintenance, or incidental expense accounts. I inquired about the Tugby building & was told that it was a balloon frame & could not be moved, but I think it can, by inserting a sill & strengthening the frame work. You might get Eaton’s opinion.
I have slept out a clear conviction upon a point as to which I must at times have appeared temporarily muddled. It is important to us to get as much as we can of the back part of Prospect Park and to form a distinct, capacious, well arranged ante-room to the American reserved ground. It is not desirable that this should be held as a picnic ground or a park or common by the village or by private owners. It will play a most important part in the scheme of managmnt and the larger the area that can be secured for it the better.
I wish now, before defining the boundary lines, that I could have a close topographical map of the American shore as far back as we can think of taking land & go at once to work upon a plan of laying it out — not an official work but precautionary — with a view to determining safely just what will prove to be important and the relative importance of every foot.
I am making up my mind that the military project must be fought at the outset & very warily, & that we must stand or fall upon cardinal principles which will exclude the idea & every other idea but that of the simplest enjoyment of natural scenery. People must not come to the reservation for any other purpose & must be even required to submit to some inconvenience and restraint (such as is not required in public “parks") for the sake of opportunity [423] for contemplativeness. It is a big problem. I feel as I get nearer to it and the liklihood of its becoming real increases that if not the most difficult problem in landscape architecture to do justice to, it is the most serious — the furthest above shop work, that — the world has yet had. All practicable room to work in should be secured.
Although we must look to separate administrations; the International idea must be kept prominent. We can resist the militia best by making it so and pointing to the impropriety of showing our arms, under the circumstances. I suppose that we can arrange that an admission on either side passes the admittee free on the other.
F.L.O.
I send you Holley book by mail tonight as you may like to look it over en route. You should review the geological chapters.