Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-05-16
VETOED FALLS GRAB
Niagara, Lockport and Onta-
rio Power Company Out.
GOVERNOR ODELL GlVTS REASONS WHY
Beauty of Niagara CnacaGc Ia Dam
gcr-Sunimarixcd History of Corr
pOrnti0n Since 1884 Showed
EcncIts Predetermined.


ALBANY, n. Y, May 1G.-Governor
Odell last night gave out his memor2n-
dun explaining his disapproval Of the
bill of Assemblyman Thompson eX-
tending the time for beginning york
by and also enlu7ging Tie scope and
powers of the Niagara, Loc&port ana
Ontario Power company. The veto was
fully expected.
In his memorandum the governor
says that, while the bill is desired by
the immediate locality concerned, he is
convinced that throughout the state ii
is almost universally disapproyed. He
summarizes the history of the corpora
ton since 1894, when the company
was chartered by special act ito fur
nish pure and wholesome water for do
nestle purposes to the city Of Lock
port az we'll as to generate and sell
electricity in the counties of Niagara,
Orleans and Erie" and remarks that
the time in which work was to have
begun has about elapsed without adj
vantage having been taken of the valu-
ablo rights conferred by the original
act" 1t is now proposed, he points out,
to eliminate the water supply feature
and extend to all the counties of the
state the right to sell electric and by
draulic power, with very broad powers
Of condemnation and few restrictions
or safeguards and without In any way
exacting compensation. There is moth
ing, he says, to prevent the sale of this
charter to a competing company, and
therefore competition is not assured.
1.-THE benefits are problematical."
Governor Odell calls attention then
TO the widespread solicitude expressed
in protests from all over the Union as
to peril to the beauty of Niagara falls.
On the question of threatened danger
TO the falls, he says, there is wide diff
ference of opinion. IF the result, how
ever, would be less harmful" says the
governor, than those who seek for the
preservation of the falls believe, 1t GER
tainly would lead or rather be an eX-
cuse for other companies that would
in the end produce the results which
are feared. However much we may
NiotOulL anu utlIctulc tht iut'l ltI
cnce of the sentimental with the prac-
ical in life, we cannot get away from
the fact that this sentiment is not one
of r-etrogression, but of constant pro-
gression in civilized life. There is due
to 1t, therefore, the same consideration
which should be given to all practical
affairs Of life. This seems to me to be
a second and fully ms important a rea.
son for objection to approval of this
measure.
THE legislature should protect the
falls rather than increase the menace
TO which l have referred by restricting
those corporations which are already
in possession by compelling the re-
moval of distractions and unsightly
structures which mar the beauty of
Niagara"
Governor Odell has signed the Smith
bill prohibiting New York city from
taking water from Wappingor Gnd
Fishkill creeks in Duchess coun.y.
In Il. statement which the governor
has issued giving his reasons he says
he is willing to call an extra session
Of the legislature to meet the water
situation for New York city. The gov
ernor first recites the provisions under
which New York city is authorized to
condemn land and water rights in the
various counties of the state.
He shows that the effect in Duchess
county of such proceedings would be
to destroy manufacturing establish
ments in Wappinger Falls and Fish
kill, which support directly and indl-
rectly a population of about 1900 in
%habltants. M VI
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