New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-11
FLOODING STATE LAND.
q. II. p. Gould GiUes Reasons for
Permitting 1t.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
9r' On behalf Of the association of which
am an officer l wish to thank you for some very
sensible remarks which you made on the subject
OF water storage In your editorial last Thursday.
You did not give your approval to the proposed
amendment, permitting the of limited areas OF
state land for water storage but you showed very
concIusively that it a subject worthy Of
Iu consideration and not to be dismissed lightly.
That is all want-to have the matter consid-
cred carefully and thoughtfully. There has been a
tendency to dismiss the proposed amendment from
MIND simply because the persons who were not ia
nll1ar with the subject started off by saying that
II was grab" Now. we 90 not object to being
criticised. but DO feel that this measure which
we advocate deserves fair and open treatment. and
FOR that reason we appreciate such openmindedness
as Is displayed in your editorial.
What we have said about the impossibility CT
the states losing control of the headwaters of it's
streams can be easily verified by reading the laws
witch apply 10 the case but this apparently has
been too much to ask Of those who are so thought
lessly and so bitterly opposing the amendment The
statutes which apply Chapter 734 Of the Laws
OF 1904 which created the River Improvement Com
mission, and Chapter AS of the Laws of 1906, which
transferred all the duties and powers Of that COM
mission to the State Water Supply Commission.
You remind your readers too, that "Inanufactur-
Ing interests and power companies not
essarily terms of reproach. one might think from
much that has been SAID in the last two three
weeks tnat Inc prosperity or the state uepenusQ
upon the size of the obstacles thrown in the way
of manufacturing and that any measure which
encouraged manufacturing must necessarily be
bad We contend, and undoubtedly the more
thoughtful citizens Of this state viii agree, that
as long as the state confers benefits for which
it not well paid the prosperity Of manufacturing
is closely allied to and increases the prosperity OF
the entire state
The proposed amendment, If adopted. would not
give to the manufacturing interests any advantage
which would not he well paid for. The entire eA-
pense Of every improvement Is borne by those who
benefit from it directly and the improvenent is
taken. over by the state for permanent and abso-
Lutte ownership and control.
In its Issue February Engineering News
calls attention to the opportunities in water
power development, II the development IS carried
ont under state control. and reminds the opponents
Of the amendment that 1T ought 10 be recognized
that sooner or laer these reservoirs must be Gre
ated as means of scientific river regulation"
Now, viii You let me say final word or two
which you speak OF the state Water supply & ON
build storage reservoirs without using state land?
That is undoubtedly true The valley OF Schro29
condemninp lands owned cxcIusfveIT by private
parties. But allow quote from the commits
sion's report. as II appeared in The New-York
the D Subject under re- discussion as olows
The commission is convinced that II IS Praeil151-
bic TO build storage reservoirs, as already md
Gated on streams and at places that Nh not con
protection of the state forest preserves Weh VII.
regulate the flow Of such streams ana mus c'rrE
safety"
That is very far. It seems TO me, from saying
that a thorough water storage system IS poSslbl"
without using state land As a matter OF fact. II
is not Certain streams might he regulated In The
way the commission says. but the fun dement's
that will certainly result from complete system
cannot be had unless some state land Is made
70 the area needed is very small. but under the
present circumstances that small part may pre-
vent a public improvement OF great value. Thus
the Is placed In the anomalous position or
being able 70 use It's land for an improve
ment. though It condemn and use land which
belongs to others, expense to itself. We be-
eve that this constitutional restriction which for
bids the development 81 the states resources
should be removed. and II II is removed INC con-
stitution will st be left in such form that the
ruin" Of the forest preserves, forctold by some
whose imagination runs away with their Judgment
will be just impossible as IL Is now. 30 land
cor flooded = you say. except after public hear
ingA and after the approval of the commission the
lHiyislnturo and the Governor II would seem
that opposition 70 this amendment emphasizes The
opponents dstrust OF the entire system or our gov
eminent q. ~. i. GOT I'D.
President Forestry, Weter Storage and Manu-
featuring Association.
No. 30 Broad street. New York. Feb. g. 1901