New-York tribune., 1903-03-09
WATER STOR4GE~
n Bill Embodying Official Viescs on
the Su5iect.

commission appropriatng $4,000 toward the
establishment of system of governing rivers
SO that freshets will be prevented and power
1or machinery generated. It has been estimated
tnat oy storing water and controlling the rivers
power can be obtained that would give, if sold
by the State. a revenue of S1S.OOOOOO.
The Water Storage Commission not only pre-
sented report regarding it's entire work as
commission but also will have special reports
on the measures that should be taken in
rlous parts or the State to prevent freshets and
TO store water. The State has been laid out in
divisions, and separate reports have been pre-
pared. or will be prepared. on the conditions
tending to freshets in each division and the
measures that should be taken in each division
to check them. An interesting report regarding
the conditions that cause freshets in the west
ern part Of the State has just been completed
by Professor Lambeth. of Union University,
one Of the members of the Water Storage Com
mission. who had Dewitt c. Middleton of
WatertoUn, as his associate in this work.
The division committees have also made in
quiries regarding the efforts of other States to
prevent freshets and store water for the devel
opment of power. They have learned that twen-
ty-eight States have passed mill acts which
encourage the storage of water for the develop
ment of power but the people of New-Gork
have thus far not had legislation of this nat
It is said that Massachusetts. Connecticut
and Rhode Island far excel NewYork in the
development of water power. In reference to
this matter the Water Storage Commission in
the report says:
In these States liberal policy toward manu-
featuring has always been exercised. There is
system of reservoirs practically utilizing the
water power of every stream. and even com
parativey small brooks are in many cases fully
developed. and are a source of wealth TO the
citizens.
George ". Rafter of Rochester, one of the
members of the Water Storage Commission in
the report of the commission considers In 4 gem
eral way the question of the control of freshets
and the development Of water power. He re-
views the natural water storage capacity OF the
State, and expresses the opinion that in most
instances reservoirs will prevent freshets and
argues that in the northern part of the state
water power could he developed by a reservoir
system that would give the State revenue OF
S4,S 500. 900 yearly. He says:
These several northern reservoirs of them
selves will have total capacity OF l3GWooV.c
600 cubic feet. an amount of water sufficient II
uniformly distributed, to produce contlnuously
under the existing conditions OF fall on the seE-
eraI streams about 100000 horsepower. worth
ct So a year 81. .SO0.NG0. But $4.SO0oO0 is the
interest on S120.0O0.OO0. Hence this amount OF
money could be actually invested in combined
flood protection and water storage Tor power
purposes before the project would become COM
InercialIy praCtica BILE. AS a matter or fact,
the storage system here outlined would not eX-
ceed in cost $17,0OO,OO Such project: there.
New-York the possibility of commercial develop
ment on sound manufacturing lines far beyond
anything thus far experienced in this State.
In the report the following statement is also
made:
The area of New-York State, not including
water surface is about $4,000 square miles: Of
Massachusetts,, about 5000 square miles; OF
Island. 300 square miles The water power In
use in these States in 1900 was: New Wy OK y X
36S,456 horsepower; Massachasetts, do' .o53 C 20
in Rhode Island, 29.035 horsepower Comparing
the areas of these States with NeW-fork, 1t ap-
pears that NewIork is a bout six tunes as large
AS Nassa chusetts. If the area of Massachu-
setts were the same as that Of NeW-1ork, there
would have been in 1900 something like l,l2I,-
OUO horsepower in the State The area of New.
York is about times as great as that or
Connecticut. If the area were the same there
would have been in 1900 over Goo,Hto horse
power in Connecticut. The area or New orh
is forty times great as that Of Rhode lslaho
If Rhode Island had the same area as New
York there would have been in that state IN
1900 16iN0O0 horsepower
The last census shows that in New-York the
total Capital invested in manufacturing was
81 651 n1u oo0 and the value of the manufact-
ured product S2,113,126Sh In Massacnu1,
setts. according to the last census the 10y 1o9a
capitaI invested in manufacturing was So-'.-
2ti4 1S1 and the value of the annual mahuldct-
ured product WAS S1.035. $50. If Massachu-
proportionate manufacturing, the value OF INC t!e
annual manufactured product in Massachusetts
would be over S6,Om,O00oDo. or, rounoIy' tnree
times as great as that of New-York In CON
necticnt the total capital invested in manufact-
urine in 1900 WAS 1914 500 I36 and the value
of the annual manufactured product was S3,I--
S14 1856 If Connecticut had the same area as
New-York, with proportionate manufacturing
the value Of the annual manuta m Gtnred % pro9u,t
in Connecticut would be So S241, $50, or about
one and A half times as great that of New
York In Rhode Island the total capital m
vested in manufa cturing in 1900 was SlH5 'H4,
:IST and the value of the annual manufactured
product was S1S4, ,014.3IS. II Rhode Island had
the same area as New-Y with proportionate
factured product would be 1882. 2.91J.120, or
about three and a half times as great as that
of NeW-York
MIR. Rafter in his report regarding the storage
of water in the central part Of the State says:
The value of the agricultural productions in
New-York in 1900 over S245.WOOOO, on
which assuming annual profit OF Z per cent.
the annual value was over 81 IOU.ho care
full consideration Of the matter or water stor-
age for manufacturing purposes In this state
makes 1t apparent that this sunJect IS nearly
as great in importance as the question or ag-
riculture Assuming annual value OF Si2 Tor
horsepower, 100000 horsepower-the ultimate
On annual nrotit Of $4,000 O00 and represent
at 4 per cent a capitalized investment of $40O'-
OOOODO The importance OF this question ls'
therefore, obvious.
The bill of the Water Storage Commission does
not give that commission any authority TO DO
anv work toward checking freshets and storing
water unless such work is authorized by the
city, town or village which will be benehted
by il. The State does not contribute any money
under the bill for work of the character men
toned, unless navigation OF streams Will be
,nonroved or conditions tending to health In
creased.