New-York tribune., 1911-01-07
uons Term Leases Greatly Desired.

Long term leases are greatly desired by
ihe power interests In other years they
E7lave been opposed bitterly by the Board Of
Trade and Transportation and the Society
for the Preservation of the Adirondacks
The states policy In treatment Of this sub
ject as outlined in messages of Ex-Governor
EHughes 3and legislation advocated by the
State Water Supply Commission is for the
state TO issue bonds 10 pay for the con-
struction Of storage reservoirs, letting the
use of the waters thus stored to power
plant owners on ffty-year contracts at such
rentals as would retire the bonds at the
end Of that period and pay net revenue
10 the state.
A constitutional amendment is required
before water storage can be begun in the
states forest preserves. One fathered by
Assemblyman Merritt passed the last Leg
islature and will be presented for passage
again this year. It's form was not at all
satisfactory TO some OF the conservationsts.
1t did not provide for flooding of state
lands for power development purposes, nor
did II authorize the assessment OF private
property in any case save for the actual
cost Of improvements. II omitted entirely
reference TO deriving any revenue for the
state from water storage.
At the same time the general legislation
urged by the Water Supply Commission
was killed, largely owing to opposition by
waterpower men in the northern part OF
the state voiced through Mr. Merritt. They
demanded that when the bonds issued by
the state to pay for building the storage
reservoirs had been paid off. at the end OF
the ffty-year term the storage reservoirs
Ii, ,If ~
the private interests which had been rent
ing the waterpower developed. The state
thus would be robbing itself OF property
worth many millions of dollars. and turning
1t into the hands OF few citizens, at the
same time lodging in them vastly valua-
bic power monopoly.
Sliding Scale of Compensation.
one of the last power company charters
granted by the state-that of the Long
sault Development Company-provided for
a sliding scale Of compensation to the state
for the power developed. Many private
concerns are not developing water power be-
cause they are unable TO acquire all the
land Necessary TO their schemes.
II is reported that legislation Will be pre-
sented conferring the power of eminent
when they can SHOW they have two-thirds
Of the land or consents Of owners OF that
proportion Of the tract which would be
fooded. The theory would be that the
water power thus developed would be
public convenience and necessity"
/ The water power interests for years have
desired such law. Any such legislation
certainly would be opposed bitterly as
tending 10 break down completely the
states control OF its streams. and TO lodge
in a power monopoly the ability to- exploit
the general public through its demand for
heat, power and light Stories are going
the rounds that the power trust already
has optIonEy on most OF the power sites in
Northern New York which are at ali de-
sirabe so il could go ahead as soon as any
sJch measure became law.
s With all the private interests thus ac
tive and keeny interested in obtaining ia
vorable legislation, Governor Dix's atti-
tude- toward the question OF state owner
ship and. control OF storage. reservoirs be-
comes of the keenest interest. In his last
annual message Governor Hughes ex-
pressed himself very strongly on this mat
ter saying:
With respect 10 streams having their
headwaters within the boundaries OF the
forest paTks, all plans OF regulation or
power development should be executed
only by the state. and all reservoirs and
their appurtenances and the impounded
Waters should he the property OF the state
snd under exclusive state control and not
be permitted 10 pass into private hands.
As Il Is Of great public Importance that
the water powers OF the state should be
deveoRed In a comprehensive manner, and
that these natural sources of industrial
energy should not become the subject Of
an injurious private control, such develop
ment should be undertaken by the state
whenever such action appears TO be feas-
y M fnr hA. nI lrliAr