New-York tribune., 1911-02-03
STATE TO GUARD RIGHTS.
So Announced at Hearing on
Genesee River Improvement.
LIE PASSED AT ROCHESTER
Adelbert Moot Resents Assertion
That He Had Other Motives
than Protecting Park.
tBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune. ]

Rochester. FEB. THAT the state does
not intend to relinquish any OF its rights
in the streams To which II may have &C
quired power rights, either through pur-
chase or otherwise, because OF improve
ments to be made on the approval OF the
State Water Supply Commission was amply
demonstrated at the hearing before the
commission on the Improvement OF the
Genesee River here to-day. Henry Selden
| Bacon. Second Deputy Attorney General
this afternoon made this clear in an ad-
dress before the commission. The hearing.
which II was expected would be finished
this afternoon. will not be completed before
tomorrow night. and a night session then
may be required
The full membership Of the commission
was in attendance to-day. They are Henry
IT, Persons. OF East Aurora: Milo " Ack-
er. Of Hornell. who acted as ch, .rrnan OF
the hearing; Charles Davis OF Saugerties;
John a. Sleicher. Of New York City. and
Robert II. Fuller Of Albany. Mr.. Bacon
appeared for the Attorney Generals office,
| and George Y. Webster. County Attorney,
and ". W. Webster Corporation Counsel,
conducted the examination Of witnesses.
The method OF procedure differed from
/ the usual plan. as witnesses were called
and sworn. being questioned By the attor-
news in favor Of the Improvement and
| cross-exannined BY those opposed. Adelbert
s. Moot. OF Buffalo represented the inter
ests opposed TO the improvement
At the morning session Mayor n. n.
/ EdsertOn. City Engineer r. A Fisher. and
other city officials testified that the pro-
posed storage dam ar Portage was a neces-
sity for the safeguarding OF the health and
property interests OF the city. Their testi-
mony was corroborated by many OF the
most prominent business men OF the city.
/ including George Eastman, OF the Kodak
| company. and Albert B. Eastwood. prest-
/ dent OF the Chamber Of Commerce.
/ The opposition is based largely on the
supposition that the Rochester Railway
/ and Light Company. which owns about
/ S7ia per cent Of the water power now gen
/ Grated by the present dam. will receive
/ three times the quantity Of power generated
/ az the new dam. for which. II was declared
/ by Mr.. Moot. it would not pay proportion
ate sum, and It Is further believed there
is a community Of interests between the
I company and the Ceuesee River I'm.
| rrovement Company. a moribund concern
which has charter giving Il EXTENSIVE
rights on the river. The representatives o
the COMPANY denied that they would no
Jay their fair share Of the cost Of TN,
dam. but failed TO answer the questions o
/ counsel as 20 present profits or estimate,
profits under the new Improvement.
Mr.. Moot. who was personal counsel 70
the late William Pryor Letchworth. an,
who is counsel for the American Scent
and Historic Society, which has contro
of Letchworth Park. opposed the improve
ment on the ground that II a storage dan
was required 10 control the flow OF IN,
river the Mount Morris site offers create
advantages than does the Portage site
and the scenic beauties Of Letchworti
Park would not be interfered with. Thos
in favor Of the plan have declared tina
the Portage site would not only not dis
figure the park out would through in
suring a uniform flow Of water over tn
falls in the park. really add 70 its beauties
The opposition Of NJ. Moot vas the onl,
serious argument heard against the i'm
provement.
An exciting tilt took place between Coun
/ - Engineer McClntock and Mr.. Moo
when the latter was questioning the en-
gneer. NJ McCllntock told the Buffal
man that he had heard that he (MooU Wa
coming 10 the hearing 10 oppose the dan
| because Of some other motive than tht
safeguarding Of Letchworth Park. He re
fused % divulge the name OF his inform
ant
"It is an Infamous lie, Numbered Mr.
Moot. and he was proceeding TO say some
thing else when Commissioner Acker raped
him 70 order