New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-18
STATE RICHES GIVEN AWAY.
AN AMAZING FRANCHISE BILL PASSES
THE SENATE AT ALBANY.

THE ERIE CANAL WITHOUT PAIN"
CENT FOR THE PRIVILEGE
fry TELEGRAPH To THE tribune
Albany March 1.-THE enlargement OF 'he
canal, of the State has attracted the Afternoon
az specuators IN franchises, who have suDn'i''eu
n large number of measures TO the Leeisia'u'e'
the sole design OF which appears 10 DE TO sa'"
control Of water that Will be badly neeueu ny
the canals after they are enlarged anu '"en
se,l the water back TO the state at Dig profit.
The most dangerous BIZ Of this character passeu
the Senate to-day. Its title frankly moica'ee
its purposes 1t is IAN act TO incorporate 'he
Genesee River Company and TO authorize 'he
.e,d cor,panv to construct and use dam or
reservoir near Portageville for furnishing water
for the enlarged Erie Canal and for municipal
purposes and developing. utilizing ana uiSp'S-
ing Of the waters and water-power Of said river
ord ,.s tributaries above and below said dam
or reservoir"
Portageville Is a village in Wyoming county
on the Genesee River. The river near 'nis
place is hemmed in by narrow banks ana
plunges from a higher 10 lower level Inc
principal office OF the Genesee River company
f. to be in Rochester, and the electrical or NY
draulic power developed by 1t VIII be soio Il"
over Western New-York The company Is
authorized to have capital stock OF SJoooV'"
and to increase its capital from time 10 tln'e
unit, II reaches a total of $12,O00OOO The
State Is to receive no compensation lot uhe
grant other than the organization tax on the
capital.
The company is authorized TO build dam
us feet hish above the ordinary water surface
OF the Genesee River. and 10 utlllze all tho
water and electric power thus created lhe
dam It is said. will flood fourteen miles OF Ter
ritory The men whose farms VIII be hoooed
have received promises of big prices Tor 'hef
land II the scheme is carried out ana they
therefore favor 1t. incidentally some loul'ee
miles of the tracks of the Western New-York
and Pennsylvania Railroad VIII nave u oo
elevated and reconstructed. The right or con-
demning lands is given TO the corporation anu
this right Of condemnation. it is declared shan
Include ALL cemeteries in the limits OF the How
age grounds.
BOLD STATEMENT OF THE SCHEME.
Tha, The company intends to secure the per-
ne,ual right TO sell water to the State Is mace
evident by the following extract from the bill;
After the completion of said main dam or res Tp
vor the said corporation shall, during eacn G cana
snbject to the reauston of the - of
Public Works for the use h EI million cubic
feet Of water and shall be emitted 70 IeveiIHtoo
therefor aMG dGI Before such completion in con-
formity with the requision OF the Supel,n'elu t
OF Puohe WnTpinsi compensation therefor rate
per million cubic feet TO be agreed upon bv and
between the Superintendent of PUBLIC Works ana
saa ana paid into the canal fund and
the Superintendent Of Public works Sh9 ana fund
at the end of each canal navgaton season ba s s9
corporation accordingly.
ONE VIGOROUS PROTEST.
,Aw davs ago Senator Higgins chairman Of
The Senate Finance Committee, received a letter
from, William p. Litchworth. of Buffalo. former
president of the State Board Of Charities. con-
tanning most impressive protest against the
passage Of the bill Mr.. Litchworth has beau
t!ful GUNNER home at Portage. and is there
fore well acquainted with the locality where
the dam is TO be built. In his letter he says
The giving away By 4s S5sis Sf al the Bed g an
owags Of the srsss as gveF n EVEN Swng
The Pennsylvania line to Lake Ontario Is a prop
SsGn so IF fe qs to Ss and
reiterated again and again that the nOwage OF
Inc view of the vast commercial interests present
and prospective. dependent on the efficiency OF THIS
Wster and agree to pay for the water supplied
S rate u6 aE 0 woks and S said
seems suicidal policy . $500.
ensineers it is not at ali certain that the proposed
dam us feet high WI be equal TO t1e e. hs
. Constant menace to the residents of tho lower
BY the construction OF a dam at Portage. as IS
proposed in this bill a vast area OF and iying IN
water Is drawn in summer. leave the damp earth
and decaying matter within the area Of the res
srSalatiSPs Dr. WeHde Health Physician Of Bu-
ta0 ibat sn nbtse exhSatons will inevitably pro-
duce intermittent and remittent feyers ana AFFECT
SewYork. II this evil we're created by the State
loIt . Will
created for the benefit of modern corporation.
Aside from Niagara Fails the three %ateTi IN
Whatever protestations may be made to the con-
dence of hs he of THIS TG that they
tend to control the water OF those falls which
would destroy some of the most attractive scenery
!n this State Is this saCrilege TO be permitted
be denied breat hing places and the enloynent OF
natural beauty? Must everyihi9g be saGIihcsd to
mammon and adversely 10 the interests OF the
people? Aware of the philan,hropic and disinter;;
ested spirit governing an your public actions i
subject which, I think touches the interests
OF our common humanity.
SENATOR H1GGINs's ATTACK.
When the bill was announced on the order OF
third reading in the Senate this afternoon.
an attack was made on II by Senators Higgins.
Ellsworth and Stranahan.
This bill" said Senator Higgins. gives TO a
private corporation the largest water power in
the State. and without a penny OF compensation.
This proposed dam will food fourteen miles Of
land and put in jeopardy one Of the most beau
tiful valleys in the State The people who are
getting this charter need not use it, BY con-
venient suits they can prolong its life and finally
sell at great price. The interests Of the State
are not guarded 1t seems TO me very bad poll
icy for the State thus TO give away It's property.
Think of what you doing You propose 10
give the Of the water OF the second river in
the State 10 a private corporation at time
when the State is engaged in charging its ca
nails and will speedily need more water for