New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-26
WATER STORAGE HEARING
Proposed Amendment Meets with
Strong Opposition.
GIVES AWAY STATES RIGHTS
Friends of Measure Say 1t Would
Purify the Waters and Increase
Wealth of the State.
fRr relerranh to The Tribune ]

Albany. April 25-Strong opposition from
organizations interested in the AdirondacKs
continues against the Merritt proposed con-
stitutional amendment. to permit the use
by the state and under state control or the
state preserve for water storage reservoirs
for the canals. municipalities, to prevent
floods and for private enterprises. The op-
position was expressed at a hearing on the
measure this afternoon before the joint sen
ate and Assembly Judiciary Committees.
The provision 10 allow private companies
TO exploit the water powers of the state
preserve seemed be the principal cause
of objection.
John O. Agar. vice-nresident OF the as
social ton for the protection Of the Adiron-
dacks. declared that such an act would re-
suit in the giving away Of states rights 10
private individuals and that it would be
dangerous 10 trust the power OF granting
franchises 10 private companies 10 the Leg
islature He believed that while the pres
ent LEGISLATURE might not abuse il, no one
could tell what others might do.
Mr. Agar was Of the opinion that If 1t is
permitted 10 use the state preserve Tor
reservoirs and water power there should be
a definite area mapped out in which such
reservoirs could be established. He said
that a resolution containing such restrlc-
lions was now being prepared. He com
mended the constitutional amendment in
troduced last night by Senator Burd. Of
Buffalo. which would permit the flooding
of the state forest land by the state only.
but said that it did not go far enough. He
intmated that the amendment now being
Il no
as far as it went. and in addition limited
the territory which could be used for reser-
voirS.
Commander A +. Frye. of the state Ar
mory Board. consulting engineer of the AS
ISOLATION for the Protection Of the Adiron-
dacks. said that II was known that II was
possible 10 define such a territory. He later
gave figures to carry out his claim.
Frank T. Gardner. secretary of the New
York Board of Trade and Transportation.
declared that if the state gave away the
rights, which it was proposed 70 do in the
Merritt bill. the state Itself could not at
any tim eavail itself Of them
Others who spoke against the amendment
were Thomas A Fulton and George P.
Decker. of the state Forest. Fish and Game
Department
Ex-State Senator Elon r. Brown, OF
WATERFOWL. was the principal speaker In
favor Of the measure. He held that under
the English law man had right 10 use
water power wherever it existed, and de-
clared that the amendment was in the in
terest of public health, and also would
greatly increase the wealth of the state.
He believed that the placing Of reservoirs
AT ~ Ia
Of the state, and cited the Black River.
which runs by Watertown, as an ex-
ample Of the need of such publication. The
measure. he said, would add to the wealth
of the state. without taking anything away.
by increasing its taxable property, making
new industries. with work for thousands
of persons.
Virgil X Kellogg. of Jefferson County,
and Assemblyman Merritt who introduced
the amendment, also spoke for the measure.