The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-09-13
NO DECISION ON WATER CHARTERS
Full Text Of Forest COunty's Petition
Protesting Against the Granting of
Water Power Charters.


for the chartering ofs big water project
along the Clarion river and Tionests
creek, which was held today before the
State Water Supply Commission. was
marked by some spirited passes between
counsel. Attorney Frank NJ. Eastman
of Harrisburg, representing the promo
ters of the project, charged that the delay
in securing final action was due to the
"dilatory" tactics of the Pittsburg Flood
Commission. This body, he said, first
opposed the plan, then favored it; then
switched again and finally did not appear
at todsy's hearing, which probably will
bring about another hearing. Members
of the Water Supply Commission said to-
days special meeting had been called so
hurriedly that the Pittsburg Flood Com
mission could not arrange to be here.
and the Forest county commissioners
both appeared today among the opponents
of the charters being granted, neither
having figured before. Eighteen different
companies are asking for charters, of
which J. r. PAUL, J. r. Rose and ex-
Senator Jonn s. Weller of Pittsburgh are
to be the incorporstors, with PAUL hold
ing all but two shares ofthe stock in each.
The plans include S00.foot dam across
the Tionests creek valley just above Tio-
nesta, the power to be generated at the
mouth of the Clarion river. The protest
of the Pennsylvania railroad, which was
filed by Lyman d. Gilbert OF this city,
was awakened by the possibility of direct
damages. The Pennsylvania and under
lying corporations have considerable
holdings in the territory affected and Mr..
Gilberts protest was in the nature of
"hands OFF, warning. Mr.. Rose and Mr..
Eastman said that no danger exists of the
water backing up to an extent which will
injure the Pennsylvania property Con-
Trajectory opinions as to just what will
happen we're expressed by Eastman, Rose
and A. c. Brown, Forest county solicitor,
who presented the plea of the commits
sioners Of that county. Brown was
backed by Don. c. Corbett of Clarion
county; II. f. Ritchey ex-Congressman
n. p. Wheeler and f. K. Brown, of For
est county. Solicitor Brown declared
that the dam would wipe out from 81 ,000-
600 to 50, 900, 900 worth of assessable prop
erty, six bridges which cost SIS, 900, rem
der 1000 homel sss and remove their en-
ployment and play havoc generally. He
further declared that half OF the county
tax will be wiped out aud Forest county
showed to the verge of bankruptcy. Mr..
Rose and others said that Brown was ex-
sggerating matters. that not more than
1900 persons would be directly affected
and that the project would bring new in
dustries into the valley to replace any
which may be destroyed. Mr.. Rose also
disputed statement by Mr.. Brown that
the bacKwster will be eight or ten miles
wide, saying that its average width will
be only $500 feet Mr.. Brown said that
the residents OF Tionests would not care
to remain in that town with the dam just
above them for fear that the barrier would
break. John Birkinbine, chairman ofthe
Water Supply Commission, stated that at
the request of the comm ssion he has
made personal examination of the ter
ritory. His remarks indicated that he
thought Solicitor Browns statements
we're two sweeping, although neither he
nor any of the other members of the COM
mission made any direct statement as to
the probable action which they will take,
The commission continued the applica-
tions under advisement. No disposition
of them will be made until further data
is obtained from the Pittsburg Flood
commission.
J. K. Rose, the chief engineer for the
incorporstors, will he in Tionesta tomor-
row, Thursday, for conference with the
county commission ers.
FOREST CoUNTY's PETITION.
In re applications ofTionests Water Pow
er Company, Green Water Power Com
psny, Kingsley Water Power Com
pany, Howe Water Power Company
and Forest Water Power Comps any, for
charters.
To the Water Supply Commission of
Pennsylvania
We, the undersigned, County Commits
sioners of the county OF Forest and state
of Pennsylvania, on part and behalf of
the citizens, residents and taxpayers of
said county, do hereby protest and object
to the granting o f the charters as prayed
for.
First.-We aver that the county of For
est has a population of about 10000, and
that the Tionests creek runs through
said county for distance of SO miles and
that the said creek divides the said coun-
ty into two parts of about equal area.
Second.-That along and adjacent to
said creek and along its tributaries are
many farms with buildings erected there
on and large number of inhabitants of
said county reside along said creek and
its tributaries.
Third.-That the Tonesta valley ex-
tends all along said creek and located in
said valley are factories, farms, tanneries
gristmills, saw mills, manufacturing
plants, railroads, churches, kindling
wood factories, handle factories, public
roads, gasoline plants, oil and gas pro-
duction and other industries all of value
and of use to the county OF Forest.
Fourth. That along said creek and in
said valley are many villages, public
roads extending all along said creek and
at many places crossing the same, and
the value of the property situate in and
along creek and valley is worth upwards
of three or four millions of dollars.