In view of the public character of Mr. Green's life, we have deemed it appropriate to add, as an appendix, to this report, the proceedings of one of the many public meetings held in his memory, namely, the Memorial meeting held by the municipality of New York in the City Hall, December 30, 1903.

We have also added to this report a copy of Mr. Green's last public address upon the subject of the Niagara Reservation and public parks generally, which was read before the annual meeting of the American Park and Outdoor Art Association at Niagara Falls, July 7, 1903.

Death of the Hon. Thomas V. Welch.

In the death of the Hon. Thomas V. Welch, of typhoid fever, on October 20, 1903, the Reservation administration sustained another serious loss. He had been Superintendent of the Reservation since the day following its formal opening in July, 1885, and had given 18 years of faithful and intelligent devotion to the execution of the Commission's plans for the development of the State's famous scenic park.

On December 22, 1903, the Commissioners adopted the following memorial:

MEMORIAL.

"The Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara record with sincere sorrow the death on Tuesday, October 20, 1903, of the Hon. Thomas Vincent Welch, the faithful Superintendent of the Reservation for the past 18 years. Born in Camillus, N. Y., October 1, 1850, he moved to Niagara Falls at the age of seven years, and for nearly a half a century lived in the presence of the great natural wonder, to the preservation of which he devoted the best interests of his life. Familiarity with this sublime spectacle, instead of breeding indifference, aroused in his large nature increased appreciation as years went on, and the happy coincidence that placed him in the Legislature of the State during

the critical period preceding the creation of the reservation supplied one of the ablest champions that the movement for the rescue of Niagara Falls had in the halls of legislation. The reservation having been acquired, the Commissioners turned to Mr. Welch as the man best qualified by familiarity with the ground, sympathy with the subject, executive ability and high personal character, to be Superintendent of this world-famous Reservation, and on July 16, 1885, the day following its formal dedication, appointed him to that responsible position. The wisdom of this choice was vindicated by the able, loyal and disinterested devotion with which he executed the plans of this Commission for the devolopment of the Reservation, and the single-mindness with which he performed his duties as a public servant of the State of New York.

"In addition to his services to the State in the Assembly and as Superintendent of the State Reservation at Niagara, he held many positions of trust in the village and city of Niagara Falls. As village Clerk and Trustee, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, one of the leading factors in the chartering of the city of Niagara Falls, member of the Board of Education, Trustee of the Niagara Falls Public Library, Trustee of the Niagara University, member of the Soldiers' Monument Commission, Secretary of the Memorial Hospital Association, President of the Civic Club, President of the Niagara County Pioneers' Association, Vice-President of the Niagara Frontier Historical Society, member of the Niagara Frontier Landmarks Association, member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and several organizations therein, President of the Catholic Total Abstinence Society, member of the Niagara County Farmers' Club, organizer of the Niagara County Savings Bank, Director of the Niagara Falls Power Company, and in numerous other relations, official, business and philanthropic, he was identified with practically every public enterprise in Niagara Falls for the past 25 years.

"His exceptional talents as a public speaker, reinforced by a cultured mind and the unreserved public confidence in his integrity and sincerity, enlarged the scope of his influence and made

him a strong power for good in the community in which, at his death, he was recognized as its best known and best loved citi

zen.

"By none is his death more deeply deplored than by the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara, who, as an expression of their sense of loss, hereby adopt this memorial this 22d day of December, 1903, directing that it be spread upon the minutes, and that a copy, suitably engrossed, be presented to the family of the deceased, and that the same be included in the annual report of this Commission to the State Legislature."

In view of the long-continued and exemplary faithfulness with which Mr. Welch served the State of New York, the Commissioners of the Reservation deem it fitting to add to this report, as a further mark of appreciation, some of the addresses delivered in his memory at the public meetings held in Niagara Falls in December last.

Improvements During the Past Year.

The most important work done upon the Reservation during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1903, has been the completion of the installation of a system of water pipes for the grounds and buildings; the grading of the bank at the entrance to Goat Island; the moving of the guard railing on Goat Island at a point where an extensive landslide had occurred; the painting of all guard railings; the laying of the main artery for the electric lighting system; the alteration of the Inclined Railway building; the raising of the walks on Green Island; the construction. of an inclined pathway at Horseshoe Falls in place of the old wooden stairway leading from the bluff to Terrapin Bridge; and the planting of trees on Goat Island and in Prospect Park. The details of these operations will be found in the Superintendent's report which follows.