New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-17
EVEN PARKS IN DANGER.
SUeeping Grab Biz for Po,cer Com
pGnies Introduced.
TBr rELEGRApH TO THE rRrpUxr.l


Albany March ia real grab" bill was
) introduced by Assemblyman Leggett, of
| Niagara, to-day. in the shape of a compre-
! hensve power measure, vastly broader in its
scope thar the notorious Niagara grab vetoed
by Governor Odell last year, and even more
sweeping than the Niagara bill reintroduced
| by Assemblyman Leggett at the present ses-
sion Central Park. Riverside Drive and every
street. avenue and boulevard OF the cities of
the State, except the Niagara Reservation and
the Coney Island Concourse, would seem to be
left open to invasion by the terms of this re-
markable measure, which cOnfers power privi-
leges, condemnation privileges, franchises and
charters by the wholesale. 1t has no occult
purpose and seems to seek in the briefest pos
sble space to give the power companies Of the
State all that they have been seeking to attain
for many years by a series of mysterious and
involved bills. The bill starts out by adding
to the reasons for Incorporation. generating,
purchasing. selling and supplying electricity or
power. 1t authorizes any stock company
organized, or hereafter organized, for the pur-
pose of manufacturing or selling electric light
or power to extend it's lines to any city or
village in the State by simply filing in an
amended certificate the territory it wishes TO
invade.
The measure then proceeds to remove the
limit of legal restriction from the power CON-
organized for light and power purposes shall
in addition to functions possessed have the
further power of entering on lands or waters
anywhere that are wanted for their transmits
sion lines to acquire real estate by condemna-
ton when desirable for their Accommodation to
lay out their right of way for electric transmits
sion lines not exceeding three hundred feet in
width TO take such additional land they may
want for guying and overhead construction ana
for securing their poles and towers and to cut
down standing trees along the right of way
which might endangeT the safety of the wires.
In addition the companies may construct their
lines across any stream, highway. turn
pike canal of the State, may lay out any
dams races other waterworks that they
may desire. All land acquired is to be deemed
taken for public USE but it is prohibited 10 take
land occupied by railroads. 1t is provided that
the electric company about to seize land. shall
file maps and give notice and the owners of
land affected may file petition setting forth
their grievances with justice of the Supreme
Court
The justice is to appoint commission of
three one member to be practical engineer.
and If the engineer shall agree but not other
wise the route may be changed Coney Island
Concourse and Niagara Reservation are ex-
cluded from the effect of the law Everything
else in the State is at the mercy of power
corporation.
Buried in the bill is a provision that no cleo
trio corporation shall construct transmission
without the consent of the local authorities. but
Just how far this limitation affects the broad
terms of the bill is doubtful The final section
of the bill compels the power company to sup
ply with electricity regular prices any
living within hundred feet of the wire line.