tion proceedings by the Commissioners of Appraisement. In 1885, the Commissioners of the Reservation submitted to the Legislature the award of the Commissioners of Appraisement amounting to $1,433,429.50 and asked that that amount be appropriated. Then came the tug of war. Few persons realize the powerful concentration of effort made at that time by the devoted friends of Niagara; the terrific strain which they sustained for weeks and up to the last minute of grace allowed by law for the signature of the bill; or the narrow escape of the great and glorious project from defeat. The bill passed the Legislature April 16, 1885, and went to Governor Hill. He had until April 30 to sign it, otherwise, according to the two-year limit in the Niagara law of 1883, all proceedings would be void and of none effect. It is said that he had a veto prepared, but that word from my distinguished associate and Hill's political mentor, Samuel J. Tilden, revealed the matter to Governor Hill in the right light. As the clock was ticking away the precious minutes of the last hour allowed for the signature of the bill, and while some of the friends of the measure, including Mr. Welch, were almost holding their breath with anxiety in the office of the Secretary of State, the Governor's messenger entered with the signed bill, and the great victory was won. Niagara was saved, and a precedent of vast and far-reaching importance established which other State Governments and the Federal Government have freely followed.

You have asked me to say something about the administration of the Reservation, but time will not permit me to enter upon the extensive details of this interesting branch of the subject. The Reservation speaks for itself. The improvements were begun at once and continued upon a single plan, to which we have consistently adhered, namely, to restore the environment of Niagara

Falls as nearly as possible to its natural aspect, to remove every objectionable condition that in any way impaired the fullest æsthetic, educational and moral enjoyment and benefit of the spectacle, to facilitate public access in every way possible and to exclude every thing of a commercial nature from the limits of the Reservation. The greatest work of improvement along these lines has been accomplished during the past five years under the Commissioners who have just been reappointed by Governor Odell.

As the original creation of the Reservation was in the nature of an example to the Country, so have the Commissioners endeavored to make it a model of administration. From the very inception of the Niagara movement, down through the campaign culminating in the law of 1885 and through the administration of four boards of Commissioners, no touch of self-interest or curruption has tarnished its fair record. The Commissioners themselves receive no compensation in return for their sacrifices of time and convenience, but find their recompense in the approval of a good conscience and the knowledge that the proper adminis tration of this great trust is making the work of park creation and scenic preservation easier throughout the United States.

I trust that the American Park and Out-door Art Association may draw inspiration from its visit to the Niagara Falls Reservation, and find therein a strong encouragement in the useful work which it has undertaken.

APPENDIX

Memorial Addresses Upon the Death of the Hon. Thomas Vincent Welch, Superintendent of the State Reservation at Niagara.

Memorial Addresses Upon the Death of the Hon. Thomas Vincent Welch, Superintendent of the State

Reservation at Niagara.

A public meeting in honor of the memory of the late Hon. Thomas Vincent Welch, Superintendent of the State Reservation at Niagara, was held in the auditorium of the new high school building in Niagara Falls, Tuesday evening, December 1, 1903, under the auspices of the Niagara Frontier Historical Society, of which Mr. Welch was a charter member and vice-president.

Mr. W. A. Philpott, Jr., called the meeting to order and introduced Dr. Thomas B. Lovell as chairman. The order of exercises was as follows: Address by Dr. Lovell; invocation by the Rev. A. S. Bacon, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church; resolutions of the Niagara Frontier Historical Society, presented by Mr. R. A. Taylor, secretary; the singing of "Ave Maria " by Mr. James E. Rock, the words being by Mr. Welch; the reading of letters of eulogy, by Mr. E. T. Williams and Mr. Walter McCulloh; an address upon the life of Mr. Welch as a citizen, by Mr. Charles E. Cromley; an address by the Hon. W. Caryl Ely, of Buffalo, a colleague of Mr. Welch's when the latter was in the Assembly, upon Mr. Welch as a public man; an address by the Hon. Peter A. Porter, of Niagara Falls, upon him as a friend; and the benediction by the Rev. Philip W. Mosher, rector of St. Peter's Church.

Address by Charles E. Cromley.

Mr. Charles E. Cromley said:

Ladies and Gentlemen.-When a man wins greatness, attains prominence among his fellows, and takes a commanding position in his community or elsewhere, he ceases to belong to himself