The citizen., 1910-01-21
TO SAVE WATER POWERS.
Creation of a State Commission
is Recommended.

Tie saving Of the State water powers,
the improvement of canals. drainage OF
swaulos and marsh lands, rescue Of
streams from pollution and the practica-
biIitv OF irrigation are the subjects en-
brsced in Z report submitted TO Governor
Crothers By the commission appointed by
him 10 consider these and kindred sub
iects. The Governor will transmit the
report TO the General Assembly. Ii was
prepared bv Mr.. Ezra B. Whitman, a
division engineer OF the sewerage system
Senator Lewis ~ Mllburn IS chairman Of
the commission. Other members OF the
{ commission. in addition TO Senator Mil
bum and Mr. Whitman, who were pres
I ent were Senator Slay and Mr. Frank H.
F Zouck. Governor Croihers listened at
tentiyely 10 the reading Of the report.
3 Among the recommendations Of the
commission was that looking TO the saw
ing of the States water powers. The
Z commission recommends that perma-
nent State waterways and water power
f commission be established. TO be COM
posed Of the auorney-general. State comp
tTolier. director Of the Maryland Geologi-
s cal Survey. chairman OF the State Board
f Of Health and civil engineer, TO be ap-
pointed By the Governor This commits
sion. with the assistance Of the Maryland
+ Geological Survey. and the United States
/ Geological Survey. should investigate the
( possibilities Of power development on all
streams within the State and make cen
sus OF all water power, both developed
and undeyeloped. within the State. All
applications Tor water power should be
f referred 70 this commission. applications
+ 10 Be accompanied by plans for work.
f These plans are 10 be Investigated, in
order 70 determine that they do not inter
t-Te with existing riparian rights or de-
+ yelop the water power OF the stream in
such Z way as to lesson the water power
+ OF the stream for future development
Z No water power franchises should be
I granted for a period longer than 80 years.
The capitalization OF the companies.
+ the method OF accounting and the rates at
which power IS sold 10 the public should
: De subject 10 the control Of the proposed
( State Public Service Commission.
/ Franchises should expire If the improve
ulents are not installed within q limited
T peuOd- and il the power lies idle for a
term Of years to Be specified the State
shall have the right 10 annul The franchise.
The commission. with the assistance Of
the Maryland Geological Survey. the
United States Geological Survey and the
United States Department Of Agriculture.
Z should Make complete survey OF the
> swamp lands Of the State, examining the
soil with regard 10 lis fitness for agricul-
ture. make plans for reclaiming these
swamp areas and estimates OF the cost of
the work Il these investigations warrant
Il general drainage law for Carving out
the work should be passed
+ The other subjects discussed were:
/ Waterways, Drainage. Sanitation
and irrigation.
+ In discussing the subject OF waterways
E and canals the commission pointed out
f the fact that the natural WATERWAYS are
/ under control OF The federal government.
Z The great project of connecting the Chesa-
( p-ake and Delaware BAYS by ship
( canal. the report said Is already being
Z considered. The extension Of the c. &
+ O. Canal 70 Piitsburg. according 10 an
Z old report, would cost, with repairs.
SIS. 3SI.459.sI. The locks would have
+ % De enlarged 10 enable the canal 10
Z compete successfully with railways.
+ Tne report says that the lack of exDe-
/ Renee Is an obstacle 10 the proper hand
I Ing OF the water powers. which have been
( granted 70 responsible parties. Ii IS BE-
( l.1ved. however, that the value Of these
rights can Ultimately be determined and
{ revenue derived from them ihout ar
Z resting the industrial development Of the
Sale NhiCh Is the main Consideration
! aIler all
n Norway 2 company TO which water
1 power rights were granted pays the gov
eEnul11t y cents annually for each unit
I 0, horsepower developed. In MARYLAND
( the -zrg-st river Is the Susquehanna The
7 iaA OF the river in the State IS @ feet in
I : miles Il Is estimated that ior every
! loot OF this fall, which can be utilized for
I power, Il VIII D possible ior SIS days Of
/ the year 10 develop so horsepower. The
/ control ot the water power Of the Potomac
/ : complicated By the river being border
+ stream, which would probably make il
Necessary for Maryland 10 combine with
I Virginia and Vest Virginia in the State
! development and control Of It's wafer
I powers The great disadvantage Of the
T uyer as q source Of water power Is the
I variability O. is flow
+ II considering the possibilities Of drain
& age Wltll1 the State Two classes OF lands
I are 10 Oe considered; first. water marshes
and low-lying lands subject 10 overflow.
Z a. vel q tidal marsh lands. The fresh.
+ water MARSHES can be reclaimed bv sys-
/ ten oi uIdrrdTsinage Low-lying lands
subject 70 overflow can be reclaimed bv
/ Strengthening and deepening the bed Of
/ the overlooking stream. OF bv building
dykes 70 keep the stream within bounds
I during foods To reclaim saltwater
/ marshes dykes and tide gates are neces-
I ssry, aEll. where the rise and fall OF the
tioe : small, pumping must Be resored
| 10, N order 70 effectively reclaim the land
Holland. with is dykes and wi1duillS
I furnishes the best known example of what
can Dc done toward reclain1iug salt
Z marshes. While much work has been
Z done IN the Middle West toward drs;nao,.
Of swamp lands. but little has been done
/ along The Atlantic Coast toward the re-
claHlatlon Of tidal. or salt water. marshes
Enough has been done. however 10
demonstrate that many Of our tidal
marshes can be reclaimed and made
profitable for agriculture. The recIama.
ton o. marsh lands add much TO the
nealtntulneSs OF the community To
carry on the work there must be laros
individual ownership OF large areas of
march land or Cooperation among small
owners
On sanitation the report says: In order
10 De ciaSSed among the most progressive
!. States IN the matters of sanitation and the
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