The sun., 1910-01-31
THE WASTE OF WATER POWER
REPORT OF THE STATE WATER
SUPPLY COMMISSION.
Il Estimates That 100000 Horse
Power OF water Energy Is Running
Away. which n Properly Controlled
Could BE Rented for $4,000. 900.

OF oAdJt JULIUS AOL eAV DNAAN-
ing OF storage reservoirs with view OF
generating electric power and controlling
the water flow Of the streams OF the State
is recommended to the Legislature by the
Water Supply Commission. After a thor
ough investigation of the question the
commission estimates that 1, 500, 900 horse
power Of water energy is running 70
waste in the State annually and that il
would have yearly rental value Of SIS
600. 600 If properly controlled. The in
tsrest charges on the cost OF developing
this water power is placed at IS. 600 600 a
year, leaving an annual revenue to the
State OF sI2 ,OOO, 900. The commission says
the time has arrived for the State to
adopt plan Of water power conservation
not only for the purpose OF generating
electric power but with a view OF regu-
lating the fiow OF our rivers and to make
possible the control OF floods.
sThe necessity for water storage says
the commission, was unknown to our
ancestors. To clear the land was their
first effort. Now the forests>having been
has become unreliable unless regulated.
The time has arrived for stream regula-
tiansand the conservation Of the States
WADcT .TcSOuTCCo W OOSNhAC " SV@NS iNAS-
ton"
Less than $4,000 acres of. State land.
of which but II ,OOOsacres is timber land,
would be flooded blythe storage reservoirs
proposed, and the commission recon-
msut permitting,it.
The commission has already investi-
0ated the water storage capacity Of the
D NJ. WfU
watersheds and has located four great
reservoirs-the Sacandaga and Schroou
Lake reservoirs on the, Hudson drainage.
the Portage reservoir on the Genesee
River and the Tupper Lake reservoir |
ON the Raquette River. The Oswego.
Black and Oswegatchie watersheds are
mentioned as Of almost equal importance
for water power purposes, and the other
streams of the State are being rapidly
surveyed and tested.
The construction OF the water storage |
dam at Conklingville on the Sacandaga
River fifty miles north Of Albany Is ia !
vored first by the commission. This would |
convert thirty miles Of the present river |
valley into an artificial lake as large as
Lake George and would cost 1850 900. |
The annual fixed charges and mainte- |
nNnCe WOulu W S@Sf 'sVOs
the gross earnings of the plant from |
the sale Of electric power would be st27 500. |
leaving an annual net revenue to the |
State Of SiSe. 800. The Genesee River dam |
and reservoir at Portage would cost |
st,5is.O0O.
The commission recommends the con- |
struction OF other reservoirs by the State |
for the purpose Of regulating the flow OF |
the rivers for power purposes and flood |
control whenever the owners OF the in |
tsrests which will be benfited by such |
control shall ask by petition the State |
Water Supply Commission TO build such |
reservoirs and furnish a sufficient guar
antee that such reservoirs when COM
pleted will provide net revenue g. The
State.
The commission recommends that the |
work be undertaken by the State. because
under State control the necessary funds |
can be more economically provided and
the people be absolutely safe uarded in
their right to have the natural beauty /
Of their streams and lakes maintained
at the highest degree consistent with the
necessary and proper measures for the /
regulation OF water flow and the utlliza-
tion OF water power, under a pressta6 o
lished plan by which growing needs may
be progressively met without impairing |
the v entual completeness OF the develop
ment. The need Of State supervision |
over the construction OF dams to insure /
their safety and stability is emDhasized,
The bill which accompanies the COM
missions proposed plan OF operation
provides for general and systematic
development OF the water resources
Of the State, Under its provisions the
initiative for building storage reservoirs
may be taken by individuals. associa-
tions or corporations subject tosthe recon-
meudations OF the commission and the |
approval OF the Governor. All contracts
for the acquiring OF lands and the con-
struction OF reservoirs by the commission
must have the Governors . approval. The
commission is empowered to sell or lease
tho water stored in any State reservoir
and to sell and lease power that may be
developed thereby; it may make con:
iyearly benefits conferred by reason Of
regulating the flow OF any stream upon
which State reservoirs may be built and
may provide the manner OF assessing and
collecting yearly benefits where contracts
are not made.
The prime. inclusive reason for the exer-
cise Of State authority over the control Of
stream flow for power development IL tina |
under modern social and economic condi-
tions this step Is necessary to insure the
equal participation of all citizens In this
form of natural wealth, which 10 peculiarly
the heritage OF the whole people The
state is the proper authority 10 undertake
and carry out the conservation Of its own
water resources. The advantages to be
gained by the state in dealing with this
natural resource have been forced upon the
public mind none too soon. Even though
the profits may not appear generous In the
near future. our own experience and the
experience and observation Of our neigh
bors show that in the not distant future
ample returns will result from all possible
outlay The next generation will either
commend our efforts for prompt action OF
condemn us for inexcusable delay.
Our ancestors found unlimited resources,
Immense forests which held the deep SHOWS |
and heavy rainfalls In the strong grasp
OF their shadows. roots and tangled under
growth. and permitted them to escape in
slow and easy stages all through the dry
summer months. The necessity for storage
and stream regulation was unknown TO |
them. They did not dream OF the possl-
bility OF converting their water power into
electricity and transmitting IL long dis
tances. nor did early industrial and social
conditions supply a general market for |
power at large centres OF population To
clear the land was their first effort to des-