New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-07


park owners and other owners Of Adirondack lands
destroyed by the construction the reservoirs?"
That may be. but have never learned who the
Me- bill a. the M to BE- m 9 BY @
bic to have it,
ARGUMENTS OF THE PROMOTERS.
What OF the arguments in favor of the
passage OF this bill?''
I'm order answer that question I shall have
to go back few years in the history of legisla-
ton affecting water powers in this State. Be
tween 1865 and 1870 several special were passed
In each of which commission named author
lied to make surveys and to construct reservoirs
In the Adrondacks, and appraisers named to assess
damages and to amounts to be paid by
water power owners who were benefited by the
construction of such reservoirs. Under those acts
a few reservoirs built but after some years
the work lapsed, the reservoirs neglected and
me whole thing became simply matter Of history;
have increased so enormously in Northern and
Central New-York SO many important industries,
practically dependent for their prosperity and very
powers, and at the same time such vast quantities
of water have been allowed TO go to waste that it
is now high time that some intelligent. comprehen-
sive plan for preserving and maintaining the full
streams should be undertaken and carried to a
successful conclusion
part of water power owners to place one cent Of
az burden pPen the taxpayers Of the State
ask is to be allowed to construct and maintain
vast quantities of water which now go to waste
every spring, so that such water may be used
dustries dependent upon water power to continue
this In such way that no injury shall be done to
structed and maintained under the supervision of
s be nnde thee Of b and s they
of the Fisheries Game and Forest Commission. the
Construction and maintenance, such expense to be
assessed upon the various power owners in pro-
"If this bill becomes law its enforcement will
the b Itself provides for that by proyng ths
these improvements shall be made without in1uring
mads by nn n
formed but probably well meaning persons"
SENATOR BROWNS ATTITUDE
The water power owners In the city Of Water
town take entirely different view as to what is
needed in the way of legislation to aid their in
terests. Senator Elon R. Brown, OF WATERFOWL
who represents. attorney of the largest
owners Of water power the Black River at
WATERFOWL very frank In stating his position
He said that he considered the proposed bill. pro-
viding for the construction and maintenance of
storage reservoirs, to be unconstitutional inasmuch
1t gives the power to individuals to interfere
with lands in the Adirondack Forest Preserve and
for that alone he stated that ne believed
the bin would be again defeated this year, al
The Senator said that the water power owners at
ma tbt nav nronoeed to as fa , puit
tion affecting the Black River only and that they
struct the necessary reservoirs and that the water
power owners would expect to remain in full con-
This seemed to be the sentiment of the larger
of the larger enterprises using vast amounts of
power at Watertown are the works of the New
M n 8abe ee Wagon
and the Bagiey & sewail paper machine works
It will thus be seen that two distinct propositions
the position Of water power owners in Northern
w be ade by some
Of ne sf5 Park be In the APon
eon to the proposed Legislation is to be seen np in
bs st S6ws2S RenaRS in the Of in
large owner of Adirondack lands in Franklin Coun-
g he PAPER eompnS Tasng
its dam at Piercefed, In Franklin County. Mr.
am at y d viii BE- e as 1
his s ana TO- G red ses
a referee. and its outcome will be eagerly watched
by the promoters of the proposed storage reservoir
Senator George R. Malby, who will. be the spon-
his opinion that Bill viii beooms iaw an 10 be be
stsmpt The bill win not in any sense qns IN Be ths
party measure and il wiz have the support OF Re
section of the State. where vast water power I'M
provements and enterprises are now being pushed
forward with great energy.
among these enterprises to be noted is the great
Water Power Company at asnawa Fnis on Sa hs
Raauette River. about boz. three miles from Potsaam.
a masonry dam more than thirty feet high and
about three hundred and fifty feet long which d.
yerts the river through canal half mile long
thus securing fall of ninety feet and developing
mtted to Potsdam, Ogdensburg and other nearby
towns for power and light. This company is now
constructing a private railway OF Its own from
Potsdam up the Raquette River.
Edward H. LitchfeId owns an extensive preserve
in the southwestern part Of Franklin County and A
p. Low has a large one In the southeastern corner
of st. Lawrence County. Parts OF these preserves
drained by the Racquette River and the pro-
posed bill well calculated arouse the opposi-
ton OF the wsll known Bsooklynites mentioned.