New-York tribune., 1908-02-03
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
ANTI-POLLUTION PLEA.
State RiUers Capable of Furnishing
a Million Horsepower.

e.ounoission to be submitted TO the Legislature
morrow because of the fact that it embraces
progress report in compliance with the Cow
ernor's Recommendation and the action OF ths
LEGISLATURE regarding state ownership OF its water
powers. The report was made In two parts. ths
first devoted to water supply matters and the
second the progress report. on the question OF
water powers that may be owned and controlled
nv rbe state The Joint reports embrace nearly
ten thousand words. and are TO be followed by
elaborate reports OF the engineer in charge. John
r. Freeman.
The report on water supplies calls attention to
the growing necessity Of employing drastic meas
ures in connection with a careful and farseens
policy to prevent further contamination oS the
lakes and streams of the state" II says that
the time may come when 1t will be difficult to
secure the necessary water supplies FOR the
munites state unless the pollution OF rivers
and lakes is prevented II states that the
source of supply for New York City In the Cats
kills will meet the growth Of its population for
only about twenty years. and that New York viii
then have to go to the Hudson River. probably
for an additional supply. and for this reason ef-
forts should at be instituted 70 prevent the
pollution of the Hudson
The report says "the pollution not only OF
running streams but of our lakes. great and small.
is notorious. and the work of enlightenRg the
public the consequent dangers. which has been
so well performed by committee Of eminent citi-
zens deserves the highest conmendation-' It
added that Investigation disclosed that Cayugs
Lake and other pure water lakes of the state were
being contaminated in the most objectionable
ner. rendering their waters a serious menace to
health
CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS
The most important suggestion of the report r.-
fers to the supervision of construction OF dams
State supervision is advised, for the reasons that
stored for power purposes by private
porations may be required for domestic consUmp-
ton at some future time. that without supervision
danger may arise from the construction OF irse-
state private interests may riparian rights
that will interfere with the interest Of the state
in developing water powers of its own and obt-
crate deface scenic beauties
The progress report the question Of stats
ownership of it's powers and state control OF
the food waters OF large streams states thar ex-
Guiding Niagara and the st. Lawrence the rivers
of New York with proper storage OF their Food
waters are capable of furnishing least one Mill
ion horse power for industrial purposes. and that
more than half of this is annually allowed TO run
to waste because well devised and comprehen-
sive plan for the development Of its water powers
has yet been undertaken by the state. At low
estimate the annual earning capacity OF this
wasted energy Is 100000, without reference
to the saving of 100000 a year from food dam
ages which would result from the equalization OF
the flow of the rivers
The commission states that nearly all the most
desirable water powers in the state. except those
along the boundary rivers. have been purchased by
private interests. and it advocates the construction
by the state of storage dams available points in
the belief that these will decrease the annual
damage by food waters. assure large minimum
flow, improve sanitary conditions provide a
deeper channel for the Hudson. insure an abun-
dance of water for the canals stimulate industries
by furnishing cheaper power for manufacturing
purposes and yield satisfactory income 10 the
state
VALUE OF SACANDAGA RIVER
The report pays particular attention to the value
of the Sacandaga River source OF power. and
says a dam can be built ConklingviIIe in the
foothills OF the Adirondacks. that will producs
5o0Oo horsepower OF energy, which is greater TRAN
the aggregate water power OF Lowell. Lawrence
and Holyoke. Mass. combined and that this dam
would increase the present available water power
at sites lower down the Hudson by 1000 herse-
power during the six dry months CT the year. This
dam would subnerge the Sacandaga Valley for
distance of thirty miles, covering nearly dozen
villages about four miles Of the Fonda Johns
town & GloversvilIc Railroad The enormous lake.
two-thirds the size of Lake George. thus created
would be made TO add 10 the beauty OF the foot
hills and furnish thousands OF delightful camp sites
upon lake much larger than most Of those in the
Adirondacks and easier of access from large CEN
tres of population
The report calls particular attention to The POS
sibiIities Of the Genesee River a power prope-
sition and says that the construction OF storage
dam at Portagevilie would flood area OF fifteen
miles up the river and form a lake as large as
CanandaiSua Skaneateles Lake storing B.ltn.-
OIJ cubic feet Of water, permitting gross develop
ment of S2,O horsepower and increasing by 1AA9
the actual horsepower developed at Roches-
Ter. producing annual income at 81 horse
power a year of $4,000. The proposed site
of this dam does not interfere with Letchworth
Park. both dam and pov-erhouse outside its
boundaries and part Of the area proposed TO
be flooded is within the limits of the park
POSSIBILITIES OF RAQUETTE RIVER
Reference is made to the possibilities OF t1s
Raquette River a of power and 10 the
advsability of having conference the ques-
tion of the control and utilization OF the hood
of the Delaware River. with the states OK
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as the Delaware -
a boundary interstate river
Attention is called the fact that the action of
the state in acquiring lands suitable for water
power purposes should be hastened. these arc
constantly increasing in value just as the foresr
lands have constantly advanced. entailing much
heavier expense the state than would have
been required if they had been purchased a Iss
years ago
The commission points out that in order %
build the Sacandaga dam at COnklingvtUe ana 20
build storage dam sites in the AdiTondacks sniai
areas of state lands would have To De flooded. anu
adds IAN amendment the constitution that VIII
permit the state 10 clear and flood state laiids
only where II shall -be necessary build Storass
dams in the interests Of the people Of the stats'
and for a state revenue these dams and ressr-
vors to be owned and controlled by the sta'e.
would be required TO meet the eXigsnCies or tns
situation. II is for the people OF the state 70 a.
eide In view of all the facts as 70 the expedlencS