New-York tribune., 1909-02-01
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
WATER Storage.
Early Construction of Units Of De-
UeIOpment Recommended.

water powers Of the state aggregating s1s.sss
horsepower, and it declares that, with the complete
utilization Of storage possibilities. eventual
development amounting TO not less than 100000
horsepower for the entire state is possible It
ommends the immediate adoption OF progressive
water storage policy and the early beginning Of
actual construction more units Of devel-
opment- The commission reports that the time is
not ripe for the state install power plants and
engage in the business of developing electricity. but
that it should proceed plan to build enormous
reservoirs for storage purposes and food
prevention on the upper Hudson. Geneseo and
Raquette rivers.
The statement is made that the com mission has
good reason t" believe the cost Of these great
storage reservoirs would he willingly borne by the
properly owners benefited, and that they could
fair rental to the state for all time. IF they
assured of a permanent source of power
The report urges the beginning OF a definite
programme of conservation of the power resources
Of the state in the public interest and their deve
opment by units. market for the power arises.
Under the heading why the State Should Develop
It's Water Powers" the report says:
That hundreds of thousands of horse power of
potential energy is running to waste In the hood
That it is within engineering skill and sound
business economy to store large part OF these
That when, such waters are stored the. can be
increasing the power of each developed mill site
lower down the stream and the uniformity Of flow
dustres at rapids and waterfalls not used
nlace Of auxiiiary steam plants. which nov con
sumo thousands of tons of coal yearly. with great
iieve periods of idleIess Of operatives caused by
TReTe there 9l is If i steam 81 aux m mn
That the demand for water power is steadily in
.ites under consideration can he produced at far
ess cost than steam power and Will tnerefoIe,
attract new industrial development To these sec
aS ] Dgen 90 tb T-s- S MY Hudson 1;Tesee and
-iy-o SrIcI,t hat fha hidi Of D
the several storage reservoirs nov specifically rec rec
would pay profit the investment.
That the general welfare of the state demands
profitable use can be demonstrsted mons rat z.-.,
s 60 ~ s - ~
with greater efficiency by the state itself than b.
he sts}e the % Policy Of
enter at once upon the duty of carrying such policy
| into effect. 49,
The first reason why the state can carry out the
project more cheaply than be done by private
enterprise is the fact that the state can borrow
cent or less. while private concern would have TO
SON oF the state cre1ft e. an iI1narfsnt Factor in
A second reason is that the state take
| broad view Of the su5jec' and enter upon state
policy that will take advantage Of storing the
largest reaSonao Die amount or the ho0d waters aoop
hampered with the desire make the quickest and
Si soskRodeS 20 20 She 3etrient Of tse
ultimate cQnservat1on an6 use of the natural re-
A third reason IS that the state. having defined
monopoles trusts for the control of these nat
or power developed therefrom, to produce
direct revenue for the state and at the time
many indirect benefits that will follow such pub
The fourth reason is that as the law now stands
no prEate indiyduai r. or E G0TPera59n @
We m ts IL may ee sns new % sr5 TST
Wi. pc dIqGn ] easier t aid Nc more 1 Rfpe t; %s 4 g
1au sta TAX
lands for such q purpose than It would be TO give
such power to private concerns. is done under
I the mill acts OF sons other states.
The report of the commission. which is voumi-
, lous and embraces numerous illustrations and val
charts and maps. comprises thres parts. COW
erng the respective fields of water supply. river
/ Improvement and water storage for power pur-
poses. The public will be most interested in its
findings and recommendations for the adoption OF
permanent and definite policy OF water storage
for power development Tor the public and bene-
fit The report points out that the Hudson the
Genesee and the Raquette rivers offer large oppor-
tunfties for the application Of this policy.
Extensive studies and surveys have also been
made on the Delaware and Schroon rivers, and
there are promising possibilities OF power develop
rnent on a number OF other streams the study Of
which is under way. The incidental benefits which
will follow adequate river control are very consid-
cradle. including food prevention. Improvement or
conditions of navigation. protection Of public water
supplies diiution of in streams and protec-
water power in place OF steam
TIE studies far made demonstrate without
the three best opportunities for the state 10
put into practice policy of power development for
public benefit. These rivers are the Hudson. Gen
esee and Raauette named in the order OF their i'm
portance, and the surveys have shown without
question the most favorable sites for the construc
ton of storage reservoirs these streams
None Of the projects in the Adirondacks. the re-
port shows can be constructed without state land
being flowed. The commission says in this con-
nection:
Rv proper construction and control of the reser-
voirs and wise treatment Of the shores 0Iehsl.e
tractiLe lakes adding to the value Of the WOODS
as health and pleasure resorts one cam Oh
vii not only develop 5000 additional -hour horse,
;hI I ,ast of water second during the three
dry months thereby increasing the depth OF , low
Hnanv over one foot when 1t IS most needed for
carrying the commerce I wnich mus IN addtion n
would dimnsn Isen VaI1ey1 When al Of the available
erISoir al lI9 sites on the upper Hudson nave been
utilized and the food waters OF tIsaeed tIs Ileetd S'
The state 77s acres OF ianG 70 I6e no
Adirondack park On a coasepI 1 tsn per cent
or less than of each four square tbs
9irondsck mountain streams at AL available sites
Fifteen thousand acres 20 PEI rive thousand acres
land he flooded. is sWainpH- nv
are timber lands.
The most important single obstacle TO ire carr
ing out by the state of this conservation pohcE
is the state constitution. which torpids ''e 'oou
ing of state lands. and the ooIhnlissIol' ~ ~
urgent recommendation for an amendment 10 0eI
NIT the flooding with well established ana cIearS
daAned limitations and safeguard. OF snnai' areas
of state forest land by the state only
Tho commission recommends that the cohsutu-
., he 50 amended as to permit the state to build
,.r.sa reservoirs that may AooC not to exceed
+e,t,. thousand acres % land now owned by the
tata such reservoirs to ne forever owned nam