New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-02
WATER, LIGHT AND POWER.

In the present somewhat complicated con-
troyersy over NETWORKS water supply and
lighting service there various disputed and
properly dsputable points, which are, however.
chiefly of secondary Importance, while there
are several of primary and fundamental impor-
lance concerning which it seems to US there
should be dispute, but prompt and general
agreement Among these latter are the follow
ing: That this city should be enabled to secure
the additional water supply which 1t needs;
that 1t should be empowered to gain such relief
as may be possible from the existing grievances
Of its lighting system; that it should have the
full use Of its own property for its own leg1t<-
mate purposes, and that it should not, under
pretext of doing one thing proceed to do an
other and very different thing, to the deri
ment Of other communities.
To secure the additional water supply it is
essential that some legislation shall be effect
ed at the present time and the consensus of
informed and impartial opinion appears to be
that the measure commonly known as the
Mayors bill is in the main admirably adapted
to that end. To get relief from the lighting
| burdens it is thought by many, including the
Stevens committee, that the city should at least
be free to make the experiment Of establish
ing and operating a municipal lighting plant
! That experiment may or may not prove sue
cesSfuI Obviously. however, its chances of
success Will be increased just as the cost OF
operating such a plant is decreased, and 1T is
scarcely to be disputed that the cost would be
greatly decreased by the employment of water
power. To make tais interesting and impor-
tant experiment under the most favorable con-
ditOns, therefore, and to have the use of Its
own property, the city should be authorized
If it has not already the authoriZahon-tO util-
lie the surplus water power Of its own water
works system
The fourth point is no less essential to right
government and It may be that 1t is pertinent
and timely There are those who suspect that
under the existing provisions Of the Mayors
bill this city could and would seize upon water
throughout the State, not for a water supply,
but for power supply; that it would acquire
water rights which it did not need for the in-
crease of its potable supply, and thus become
great and perhaps monOpohstic purveyor Of
power for lighting, manufacturing, traction and
other purposes. We have not perceived that
intention, even that possibility, in the bill
but We have hesitation in saying that If it
is there 1t should be at eliminated, for
such an undertaking by the city, under the guise
of a mere increase Of its water supply and dis
posal Of by-products, would be grossly improper.
1t ought not to be difficult to make the provision
in the Mayors bill for the utilization of the
water power entirely explicit upon that point,
so that there will be no chance of this cty's
grabbing GlenS Falls and the Genesee River
for the sake of their water power, and at the
same time the city will not be compelled TO pay
large sums for fuel for steam power while there
runs to waste, unused, valuable water power
in its own municipal water system.
The recommendation was made in these col
umns some time ago that those who have charge
Of the various pending measures and proposals
should "get together and formulate the neces-
sary legislation upon the basis of those funda-
mental principles upon which all are agreed.
1t would seem to be good time just now for
just that to be done