To the Honorable, the Legislature of the State of New York:

As required by law, the Commissioners of the State Reservation at Niagara herewith submit their report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1911.

RESIGNATION OF COMMISSIONER PORter.

On December 27, 1910, Alexander J. Porter tendered his resignation from this Commission to Governor White, after having served actively since his appointment by Governor Black in 1898. A life-long resident of Niagara Falls, and a descendent of one of the pioneers on the Niagara Frontier, he saw the establishment of this first State Reservation by the Legislature of the State of New York, he noted the early work in the restoration of this property to natural conditions, and as a member of this Board he has for more than twelve years materially furthered its aim and policies for the improvement of the Reservation, and for its administration in a manner best meeting the needs of the annually increasing multitude of visitors. His experience and close touch with the local Reservation affairs have been of great value to the Board, and it was with a feeling of keen 'regret that his fellow Commissioners learned that business responsibilities would demand a greater portion of his 'time and that he deemed it advisable on that account to withdraw from the Board.

APPOINTMENT OF THOMAS W. MEACHEM.

To the position made vacant by the resignation of Commissioner Porter, Governor White promptly appointed Thomas W. Meachem of Syracuse. The appointment was confirmed by the Legislature early in the year, and Commissioner Meachem entered at once upon the discharge of his duties as a member of the Board.

APPOINTMENTS.

In April Robert C. Shoebridge, who had held the position of police superintendent on the Reservation since June, 1907, resigned to accept the position of manager of the Niagara Falls Transfer Company, and on May 5th the Commissioners appointed Harry K. Eckert of Buffalo to succeed Mr. Shoebridge in this position.

At a meeting of the Commissioners on August 10th, Clarence H. Atwood of Buffalo was appointed treasurer, succeeding the superintendent in this office, the duties of which the latter had performed together with those of superintendent and secretary for more than a year.

THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE J. HAMPDEN ROBb.

It was with deep regret that the Commissioners learned of the death on January 21, 1911, of the Honorable J. Hampden Robb, member of the first Board of Commissioners of this Reservation. As a member of the Assembly in 1882, and as State Senator in 1884 and 1885 he was one of the foremost advocates of the law creating the Reservation, and a prime mover in securing appropriations for the purchase of the property. Prominent in political circles he was for many years actively associated with Democratic State and National councils. As a member of the Park Board of New York City in 1887 and its president in 1888, his efforts did much to keep Central Park inviolate and to develop that and other parks in New York City in accordance with a wise and consistent policy. He was an incorporator and for the past five years a trustee of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society which organization he had aided the late Andrew H. Green to establish.

PRESERVATION OF NIAGARA FALLS.

Legislation by Congress concerning the restriction of the use of water from Niagara Falls has not yet been made coterminous with the life of the treaty concluded a year ago between Great Britain and the United States. The original Burton Act made the maximum diversion 16,500 cubic feet per second on the