New-York tribune., 1907-01-25
WATER STORAGE FIGHT.
OPPONENTS MEET TO-DAY.
arguments For and against Pro
posed Constitutional amendment.

Advocates and opponents of water storage IN
the Adirondacks are lining up for and against
the proposed constitutional amendment per-
mitting the use of state lands for water storage
when the Legislature shall consider such use
for the public good. which win come up for dis
cussion by the present Legislature.
The advocates of such measures say tnat
storage reservoirs in the mountains viii so con-
troll the flow OF rivers and streams as to pre-
vent disastrous foods: will furnish a pure water
supply and an additional flow for the canals
and will utilize the vast water power for COM
1nercial purposes. Their opponents say that the
vast plateau Of the Adirondacks should be pre-
served as natures reservoir and not be broken
into by artificial reservoirs. which would occupy
considerable land and necessitate the clearing
of much more. They say they see no reason
why the state should be taxed for reservoirs IN
order that private enterprises should receive
benefit from the water power.
Representatives of various interests and asso-
Citations which favor the protection OF the state
preserve including the Association for the fro
lection Of the Adirondacks and the New 1OIH
Board Of Trade and Transportation VIII holu
a meeting In the rooms Of the latter organization
at 3 o'clock this afternoon to agree upon q
general plan to defeat in the Legislature the
concurrent resolution for the proposed constltu-
tional amendment.
Men who advocate water storage contend that
their plan is no menace 70 the forest preserve
One Of them said yesterday:
the construction OF dam across Ine throat or some
stream at the foot OF broad level space wnIS1 1S
water is stored behind the dam. and In the dry
is used TO give fun and steaoy uo" "
/ have ''' seen the movement charaoterized as a
& 1f nc acvaS nSGTay % sueb GP
II all the reservoirs proposed IN the rep9TL OF Ho9
former Water Storage Commission are 0eil; TOs 1Ss
more than 1900 acres, or about per cent OF Ins
present land holdings Of the state tWheh Is ~ r4 n
has been proven that proPsry & STond;n
comntrV hut IMPROVES IL The one at Indian Lake
Is example Property aong rs , borders mas a.I1 in
OF us surface. and It Is more heaIthfu than before
Speaking Of the benefits that would accrue to
the state as q result OF water storage. the ad-
vocate OF the proposition dwelt strongly on the
prevention Of foods which. he said would alone
justify the plan He declared that the recent
destructive floods IN the Ohio Valley could have
been prevented by the establishment OF sys-
TEN OF water storage at the headwaters Of the
Ohio's tributaries,
Referring to the water power that could be
utilized through water storage. this man saidi
Falling water is Just real a source Of. wealth
IL comes bac srsT scb eeS5 more Sn permanent because
why il should be wasted provided the use OF u
In ten years the natural water resources OF the
state state would produce as much power as S25OOo.OOO
The The sanitary advantages, OF water storage are
supply to communities whose sTp3iy Il nov
dependent upon weather conditions When foods
those diseases which Invariably result from the de-
cay 9t I Vegetable matter aIte- hood has reeeded.
s canal SeaTnE with On the the Psrfseon Of the
Erie Canal there will be more feed water needed.
Warren Higiey. vics-president Of the Asso-
citation for the Protection OF the Adirondacks.
expressing the views OF those who are opposed
70 the proposed water storage schemes. said:
We claim that this great plateau OF the Adiro7-
dacks, especially that part OF IL embraced in the
served natures reservoir as in times past when
The regular flow Of the streams and their purity
day The difference to-day Is due 10 the openings
11,ora ra1,Iy ' ~ me tu'hng I'M on or me water
dGetion in size of the rivers in summer
We also claim that the building OF these reser-
voirs Mt the headwaters In the mountains would
occupy vast areas and destroy a large amount ef
Ie'; LIZ y would IeIier large areas subject TO viz
tne proposed reservoirs. Including the roadways
thereto. the settlements around them for their
building purposes. would take about one-seventh
ot the proposed park. or between 100000 and 5OOoO
We further claim that the whole scheme IS IN the
ccncerrs The Streams in these st'R tans wonS
be- re-enforced by the reservoirs ms 10 enable
the soft timber to be readily aoated to the mills
This would be Of distinct advantage to private
OF timber lands. and these ADVANTAGES
would be supplied by the without cost 20 the
Individual owners. and they would be maintained
az great cost the state.
. he arguments advanced Of regulating tho flow
of supplying water 10 the canals and securing pure
water we'll founded. II water for these
purposes and FOR power ought to be held back
IN great reservoirs. why not build them at the
foothills OF the AdiTOndaCks. outside the plateau
whence there would still be a fan OF several hun
dred feet? Such reservoirs could be maintained at
much less cost than those located fifteen miles or