New-York tribune., 1898-06-08
LOCKPORT'S GOOD THING.
WHAT LOOKS LIKE SCHEME TO GIVE
ALMOST FREE WATER POWER
TO MANUFACTURERS
STATE RECEIVES ONLY $500 FOR POWER EsTl-
MATED AT ssas5o-ExTRA DEPTH WEST
OF IOcKPoRT SHOWN TO


MATED AT sasco-EXTRA DEPTH WEST
OF IOcKpoRT SHOWN TO
BE UNNECESSARY
fay rrLsaRAPH To THE TRIBUNEl
Rochester " Y, June members OF the Canal
Commission were engaged to-day in an attempt 10
learn the reason for expending $4,000 In deepening
the Erie Canal TO the remarkable depth OF thirteen
feet for distance OF two miles west OF Lockport'
Those reasons they apparently discovered In
design 10 insure TO the manufacturers OF Lockport
uerpetua water power almost without cost
n was shown in evidence that the ostensible
reason for the enlargement of the canal spoken OF
n 10 increase the amount of water I'm the Erie
Canal east OF Lockport by 6WoVU cupic leet
daily other evidence showed that this en-
argement was unnecessary, since there Is suhi-
cient water now diverted from the Erie Canal into
Eighteen Mile Creek al Lockport 10 supply the
additional 100000 cubic feet required.
The water power developed by the State Is 1850
horse power which. at a moderate estimate. is
worth $3.50 annually. For this the state now
receives on a lease made In 1856 only 500 a year
George ". Rafter. an engineer, argued that the
increase IN Lockport's ability 10 pay State tax
justified this policy. but he admitted tina; George
Clinton, Of the Canal Commission. was right when
he said: 1T s TO be argued then that the state
should enter upon a policy of the manufacture and
Eratuitous distribution of water power Mr.. Raf-
ter said that he would make no such contention
Mr.. Rafter is an Acknowledged expert on @onni th9
years he was connected with the state Engineer
6sRs R wss sd ss 'Af If made
ton in ss for State Engineer a Adams am ,,,i T5h ear e
@ S Ss to ws F the fhns s sad a
amour, Of water diverted from the canal at Lock
port for milling purposes entered @ ma,eTaII 9% U
references to his previous reports on the water
storage Investigations and to reports by other en-
ESTIMATES OF THE FLOW.
In 1850 Mr.. Tracy estimated that the now of water
through tho canal at Lockport was about BLOW
cubic feet a minute Prior to 1887 Mr.. Kendall the
resident engineer. computed that the how was
1900 cubic feet a minute. There was diverted at
Eighteen Mile Creek for milling purposes about
sl.Ooc cubic feet for the canal. AT Rochester the
Rsf,er gave il as his opinion that in the last few
years when there have been far less number or
boats passing through the canal than formerly the
supply has been adequate. He also gave II as his
opinion that there had been water surrepti,iousK @
as at one or two other points between Lockport and
Power Company, Of LockpOrt Claimed the right 70
under a isase from the State made in Sepismber
1926 Under the terms of that lease, MI Rafter
SEC sHs YEAR 'Sf and th he had been unable ind
any record OF any change in the terms OF the lease
THE STATES COMPENSATION.
ber of mills served by the Lockport Power Com
pany. or the horsepower. he gave 1t as his opinion
that the Lockport millers were using more wafer
than formerly. Mr.. Rafter said 1t was his
estimate that S.3S5 horse power was diverted into
Eighteen Mile Creek. Al $40 year horsepower
the value OF this privilege $3.50 Directly the
State received no compensation. indirectly 1t was
largely compensated by the increase In property
1T il we're not for these mill pryllegss." said said
ha nriC Of
thirteen feet through the rock cut?,
that 9Se State n9 should rot ignore the commerea
and manufacturing interests along the line OF the
ssna m y thsn the Of
nishing Increased facilities for navigation" -.....
With the canal deepened TO nine feet from Buffalo
TO the Loskpors 6ass 80 called 3.s WITH tn se PT fs
above the locks win there be enough water passed
into the prism Of II hs ne ss iSd h after
Il think so." answered Mr. Rafter. He further
canal fnas sss the
If possible. TO obtain flow Of 1900 cubic feet
is so nigh as to at times seriously interfere with
Hdssnr a1S a II Mr. Rser fAa The s EA
Nile Creek taking X M asr y 1@ u Of
Pubic % Pvr% WORK. i Hannan The domes,ic supply of
water in Lockport is taken from the canal 1t is Is
sd se hasled t M per @
this way. Mr.. Rafter then submitted statistics
paa ~ Ioefpor snes the the
tabshed and argued that the state had received a
return for its gift Of water-power in this way.
CoMPANYs RATES
Terence T. Raymond secretary Of the Lockport
Water Power and Hydraulic Company, next gave
his testimony. He said the company was estaO-
lished in 1857 by buying their rights from Marcy
Hunt
Our rights" said Mr.. Raymond. have been e'-
tablished by suit In the Supreme Court. We lease
TO various manufacturers at Lockport all the sur
plus water not required for navigation. We pay
the State $500 year for this privilege. We utilize
water as 1t flows around the locks l think we use
about four thousand horsepower on fall OF 81
feet"
"wha. was the price paid for this right to Marcy
II hing .hey were paid $1,000 in stock. and our
What is your normal income?"
"1t is 10000 year"
What is your rate for horsepower
ut runs from Ni year horsepower down. When
the Lockport Wood Pulp Company makes nothing
we nothing for its use OF water
Gould you any more water power?"
Eve could the south side of tho canal,
who your stockholders
''The A. s. beverly estate holds the chief block
Of stock the Reserkeep estate some and G Ashley
Smith some more