River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-02-03
MINORITY REPORT .
ON WATER POWER
Senators Husting and Krumrey
Make Radical Suggestions.
TAX ON POWER DEVELOPED
All Old Franchises Would Be Re-
peaIed Under This PIan--No Water
Power TRUSTEE Preserve
the Forests.

Madison. - Senators Husting and
Krumrey of the special legislative
committee on water powers, which has
had under consideration the general
question of conservation of the states
natural resources completed their re-
port, which will be in dissent to the
majority report to be formulated by
the other members of the committee.
The report is accompanied by bill
outlining the radical measures they
propose as a solution of the ques-
ton.
Among the propositions proposed by
the committee in the bill are:
The beneficial use and natural en-
ergy of the water of the navigable
streams and lakes of this state for all
public uses belong to the state in
trust for all the people.
The use of water in navigable
streams and lakes for power developed
under a franchise from the state is
hereby declared to be public use.
All of the energy, developed or I'M
developed, of the water in the naviga-
BILE streams of the state is subject to
the control of the state for the great
est public good.
Every franchise for the erection and
maintenance of any dam in or across
any navigable stream granted prior
to the passage and publication of this
act, and which is subject to repeal,
is hereby repealed, and all franchises
for the erection and maintenance of
any dam as herein provided shall be
granted subject to the provisions of
this act.
Every appropriation who shall ap-
propriate the use of the water of any
navigable stream under the provisions
of this act, shall, during the life of
such appropriation, as fixed by the
franchise creating authority to so ap-
propriate, pay to the state of Wiscon-
sin not less than ten cents nor more
than two dollars per annum for the
franchise value of each and every
horsepower represented and put to
beneficial use during the year. The
franchise value of each and every
cost between the production of IL
horsepower by water power and the
production of horsepower by steatn
power, at the same place, in lie
quantities and under like circuit
stances.
1t shall be the duty of every appro-
priator to keep a correct daily record
of the number of horsepower daily PVT
to beneficial use.
The report tells of the work done
by the committee, and says there are
183,1O5 developed and S27, 900 unde-
veloped horsepower on the rivers of
the state, most of this being on the
Fox, Rock and Wisconsin rivers.
THAT it is essential" says the re-
port. "for the best interest of Wiscon-
sin and it's people that these water
powers should be developed, cannot he
questioned.
"The committee found no evidence
of any water power trust in Wiscon-
sin, but while there is an absence of
anything showing any such trust i'll
the state, we are inclined to believe
that what has occurred by way of mo
nopolization of other great natural re.
sources in the past is not impossible
or improbable in the future.
'The committee recommend the
levyir6x of ten per cent. on the annual
franchise value per horsepower The
state should prohibit any monopoliza-
ton of water power upon pain OF for
fixture of franchise. The state should
reserve the right whenever the public
necessity requires to take over and
condemn any water power for public
purpose"
The senators then take up the ques-
ton of the Wisconsin River Develop
ment Company, which is maintaining
a vast reservoir at the headwaters OF
the river. and show how this reservoir
system Yields a great influence upon
the water power of the whole river,
an enormous amount of power.
The report on forestry conditions,
urges the early carrying out of the
plan for a state forest reserve of
100000 acres.
On the question of drainage the COM
mittee says:
1--WE favor every amendment to the
drainage laws which will promote their
efficiency, but oppose any amendment
to the law which extends the powers
of drainage commissioners to naviga-
BILE rivers and lakes and to such an
extent we oppose any amendment to
the law AS the law now stands those
desiring drainage have full and COM
plete authority to drain marshes.
New Corporations.
Articles of incorporation were filed
in the office of Secretary of State
Frear, as follows:
The Fleith Company, Wausau: capt.
tai $40 0AA. incnrnoratOrS H G.