Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-02-12
COMPANY INCORPORATES.

Atty A. Ill Reid, of Merrill. passed
through the city last Tuesday evening
on his way to Madison, where he pre-
sented to Senator Marsh copy of
bill to be introduced in the legislature,
giving the Wisconsin River Improve
ment association certain rights in Gre
ating and maintaining reservoirs along
the Wisconsin river and its tributaries.
Speaking of this bill the Milwaukee
Journal says:
The Wisconsin river dam or storage
reservoir bill was introduced in the SEN
ate Thursday afternoon by Senator
Marsh, who succeeds A. t. Kreutzer.
The bill is very similar to Senator Wip-
perman's s measure which drew the fire
of Gov. LaFollette and met quick death
in committee, two years ago.
As presented now it is entitled "a bill
to authorize the Wisconsin Valley I'M
provement CO., its successors and as
signs, to construct acquire and maintain
a system of water reservoirs located on
tributaries of the Wisconsin river north
of the south line of Lincoln county, for
the purpose OF producing uniform flow
of water in the Wisconsin river and its
tributaries and thereby improving nav
igation."
pany to construct, acquire and operate
system of water reservoirs in or along
the northern part of the Wisconsin river
and in or along any or all of the direct
or ladirect tributaries of the Wisconsin
river that discharge into it north of the
south line of Lincoln county, and to con-
struct, acquire and maintain all such
dams, bOoms, sluiceways, locks or other
structures along or across any or all
such tributaries and the said portion of
the Wisconsin river as may be necessary
and may clean out, deepen, straighten
or otherwise improve any of its tribu-
taries in order to improve the navigation
of the Wisconsin river and prevent
injury to property along its banks.
All franchises other than corporate
and all riparian rights or right of flow
age, either perfected or inchoate, held
by any person or by any corporation
organized to improve the navigation of
either the Wisconsin OF the Tomahawk
rivers or their tributaries are made as
signable to the Wisconsin Valley I'M
provement Co.
The powers given by this grant are to
produce as nearly uniform flow of
sin and Tomahawk through all sea-
sons, by holding back and storing
up in the reservoirs the surplus
water in times of great supply
and discharging the same in time
of drought and scarcity of water. 1t is
claimed that this will improve the navi-
cation of the Wisconsin and the Toma-
hawk rivers for their entire length for
boats and barges and for the driving of
logs and timber, and that it will dimin-
ish the damage from floods and freshets
to property along its banks.
1t is made the duty of the company so
to manage and operate all of its reser-
voirs that as nearly uniform flow as
practicable shall be maintained. When
impracticable to furnish the same flow
of water above and below the south line
of Lincoln county, the river above is to
be given the preference.
The power of eminent domain is given
to the company while owners are given
the same right in case of use of property
along the river before title has been ac-
quired by the company or the right to
use the same by purchase or condem
nation.
Tolls may be charged for the improve
ments and the right of lien may be in
voked to enforce collection of tolls.
Methods of computing the tolls and of
iu dying the amount of water power fur
nished as result of the Improvements
are given and it is provided that the
company may charge tolls netting 6per
cent on its cash capital actually paid in,
after all reasonable costs of operation
and maintenance have been provided
for. Tolls are to be fixed semi annually
and methods for settling disputes be-
tween water power operators and the
company are provided.
The act is declared public act for the
accomplishment of public purposes.
The right is also reserved to the legisla-
ture to repeal or amend the act at any
time, provided there is no confiscation
nor destruction of the value of any of
the eompany's interests without provis
ion for compensation.
The association also filed with the
secretary of. state on Wednesday, arti-
cles of incorporation. The incorpora-
tors are Geo. A. Whiting, Walter Alex
ander, r. B. Tweedy, Lewis Nj. Alexan-
der, A. III. Reid, Neal Brown, r. B.
Goggins and G. ID. Jones.