The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1904-12-20
Introduces a Bill Regarding
Dams in All NavigabIe
Streams
IAN IMPORTANT MEASURE
Many Grants Of Water Power Priv
iesss, involving Construction Of
Dam, is Made by the GeoruIs
Congressman


Washington. Dec. 19-Judge Adam.
son of GEORGIA, who is a member
oi the interstate and freign commerce
committee of the house, has made a
special study of all matters bearing
upon land and water TRANSPORTATION
has introduced an important bill affect
ins the construction Of dams in all
the navigable streams in the country
In very many places ell over the
country grants Of wtaer power priv.
iiges have besn given private com,
panies or Individuals. In most Of
these instances. the construction Of
dams across the streams are provid
ed for, JUDGE Adamson believes
there should be uniformity Of con.
stIuction, under the direction Of the
engineers Of the war department
With view to future development
navigation.
Judge Adamoon's bill porvides that
all dams AMI other distractions ex.
cert bridges thereafter placed in or
across any OF the nayigable streams
Of the United States for developing or
Utilizing power or for any other pur-
POSE. shall, in plan and structure. con.
form to a general uniform plan, to
7o devised. formulated. and promul.
gated by the secretary Of war. who
slau furnish circular COPIES thereon
% all persons making requests there,
Tor. Such rlan shall provide for
dams Of such torn and character that
when completed VIII be so arranged
as to permit a portion or section
thereof to be removed and a lock con.
siructed thereon the most convenient
end economical way possible. without
weakening or injuring the dam. when.
ever the government OF the United
States may wish to use the same for
purposes Of navigation
Whenever the owners, whether nat.
ural or artificial persons, Of shoals
and riparian lands and water rights
desire TO construct dam in anv nav
ieable stream Of the United states
complete plans and specifications or
The proposed structure, with a state.
ment Of the purposes thereof Of, shalL
Judge Adamsons bill specifies. be
submitted 10 the secretary Of war and
bis approval De secured before work
snall be commenced on such structure
Hefore approving the plans and spec.
ifications the secretary Of var shan
satisfy himself that they fully con-
torn to the plan prescribed BY him as
provided in section one of this act.
TO this end he may require changes
and corrections in the plans and spec
llications submitted, Withholding his
arproval.untii they arc made.
Sites Reserved for the Government.
The secretary OF war Is authorized
ar any time when required for pur.
poses Of navigation to have removed
tiom any dam constructed under the
provisions Of this act the section rro.
Yided for in the plans ard speci6ca.
tions for that purpose, and construct
therein such lock as may be deemed
necessary for the purpose OF nayiga-
tion. This right and power are spe.
.cially reserved to the United states
and in no case shall any compensation
or damages De paid nor shall any pc.
euliar liability or responsibility be as.
stunned or incurred by the United stat.
es either by reason of inserting the
lcck or By reason OF any rauages in.
flicted by constructing ana maintain
ing such dam, from overflow. seepags
Tercolation, or any other cause aris.
ing In connection Herewith. The
builders and owners Of the dam shall
bear the entire responsibility and lla-
bility for all such matters. and shall
exclusively own and control the pow.
er generated by the Improvement.
subject only 60 the right Of the United
states to construct locks and nayi
Eate the streams with such incidental
rights as may be necessary thereto.
The secretary o. war is Authorized
to lease or rent. IN such terms and in
such manner rs he may prescribe. to
persons, either natural or artificial.
any or all Of ibe power generated at
any dam constructed wholly at the
expense Of the United States govern
II ent where such government has BY
purchase. condemnation proceedings
or otherwise extinguished the titlaf
, and claims OF all holders aod clakfn-
ants Of lands and water rights and
thereby become itself the owner Of ell
!, rights Of property as well as the easn.
u-snt for the purposes Of navigation,