The San Francisco call., 1909-07-30
LAKE TAHOE IS
NOT IN DANGER
FROM GRANTS
Activity of Harmon on Truckee
River Explained by the
Power Concessions
Government Makes 0vertures
in Order TO Gain Water for
Nevada irrigation

The activity OF the representatives
OF ". p Harmon on the Truckee river
has occasioned widespread interest
among the power companies. and re-
ports have been circulated OF impend-
ing deals calling for investments of
s50,00o.000 or more. 1t appears, how
ever. that the Hammon interests, while
OF great extent, are not Of the proper
lions indicated. The Truckee general
electric company, one Of Hammon' S
concerns has recently entered into an
greement with the government by
which the corporation surrenders con-
troll OF the outlet of Lake Tahoe at
the Truckee river in exhcange for va
- riOus concessions.
These concessions, il is understood,
include grants Of power house sites,
water rights and other privileges in
the adjacent lands.
TRANSACTION Is SIMPLE
The transaction was simple one,
said A z. Boynton, attorney for the
Harmon interests. The government
found that il did not have enough water
for its big irrigation project in Nevada
and opened negotiations with US in
order TO acquire the outlet from Lake
Tahoe. In this manner the govern
ment viii be able 10 regulate the flow
OF water There VIII be no interfer-
ence in any way with the natural
beauties Of Tahoe. Nor will the lake
be drained or anything of the sort.
Ii viii be left just as it is. Neither
the scenic attractions nor the fishing
advantages viii be in the least af-
fected."
While Harmon has recently taken
the preliminary steps toward the de-
-Velopment Of the Loon lake project, il
may be some time before this is made
part Of the general plan for a consoli-
dated power company.
NOT CONNECTED WITH HAMMON
Boynton denied emphaticany that
HammOn was in any way connected
with f. H. Hartman. He said, how
ever, that when Hartman converted
the mountain system from steam to
electricity Harmon would be in a posi-
tlOn 10 sell him power.
The privileges granted us in eX-
change for the lake outlet" said Boyn-
ton, are really Of minor Importance.
The government proposed the exchange
and we hesitated before accepting it.
There has been no secrecy, and there
need be none We do not come into
possession of Lake Tahoe watersheds.
as has been represented. Al we get
are a few privileges on which we do
not place a very great value. IT is
not true that any power concessions
have been granted US ia perpetuity nor
do our plans contemplate any cOnstruc-
tion work that need alarm the resi-
dents on the shores of Lake Tahoe"
The agreement between Harmon and
the federal authorities must eventually
be submitted TO Secretary Richard A.
Ballinger Of the interior department
for his approval. AS the request for
the exchange came from the govern
ment officials the Harmon people be-
ieve that the terms of the agreement
viii be formally ratified.
BaIIinger Not Informed
PORTLAND, July 2s.-R A Ballin-
ger. secretary Of the interior, is on the
westbound Union Pacific train between
Boise and Portland today. In answer
TO the telegraphic inquiry by the Asso-
ciated Press If the government had
granted or intended TO grant power
concessions asked for in the Lake
Tahoe watershed by W. p. Harmon
and others Secretary Ballinger replied
that he has no information as to the
alleged privileges desired by W p.
Harmon and others" Ballinger also