The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-08-07
CoNSERvATIoNISTS OPPOSE DAM.
Mr.. Kehr, Secretary of the Association,
Visits Scene and Writes Intelli-
gently on the Proposition.

6NAuJ VII ehS AAOpOoAhOhs
HARRISBURG, PA, August 8, 1912.
ED. REPuBLIoAN:-
This is the first opportunity have had
of communicating with you since my re-
turn 10 Harrisburg. My visit TO War
rem, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, and Clear
field counties was one of great interest and
profit to me, but the most pleasing feature
of it all was the trip which l took along
the Tionesta in company with Hon. N. p.
Wheeler, Hon, F, y. Kreitler, T. d. Col
Inns and 7. +. Riichey, for Il convinced me
that the protest lodged by our Association
aud vigorously followed up, against the
proposed water-power project along that
stream, was not misplaced. Any sane
person who might make a similar trip
and be accorded the same privileges of
observation that were accorded me, could
not help but conclude that If this project
we're carried out il would mean eventual
ly an unnecessary loss of life and proper
ty which could never be compensated for
no matter how many dollars the power
companies might make in the venture.
1t must be clearly understood at the
outset that we do not oppose any move
ment which would make possible the use
OF power that can be derived from any
stream nor do we object to any effort that
may be made to make the waters of the
state pure for domestic purposes and nay
igable for commercial proposes. More
over, we will support any movement
that will prevent the loss of life and prop
erty by destructive floods. However, be-
fore we can give our assistance to any
projected scheme, we must be convinced
that the object will be beneficial! to the
greatest number Of people.
The hackers of the Tionesta water pow
er project have never been able to show
us that The greatest number of people
would be benefited il they were given
the privileges they asked for. Couse-
quently, we have always opposed the
proposition.
1t would be a crime to dam up the Tio-
nests as proposed, endsnger the lives of
many people who live along it, destroy
the prosperous industries, and inundsle
the valuable property that lies along it.
l can readily see what would happen il
the state ever gave its consent to the men
who are trying 10 get use of this water.
Notwithstanding the great things done
by our prominent engineers, / sm not
convinced that dams could be construct
ed along the Tionests of any magnitude,
that would hold water. The formation OF
soil is such that as soon as trees are re-
moved and it is exposed to the air and
sunlight, it disintegrstes. Add to this
the erosion which would be caused by
the water and the result would be even
worse. 1t would take millions and mill
lions of dollars to carry out the scheme
proposed by the projectors, and would
take hundreds of years to make up
enough profit to pay off the damage be-
fore power could be sold to the people for
less than it can now be manu- nufactured by
coal In the nearby large cities.
am informed by reliable.sources that
the State Water Supply Commission will
make no disposition ofthe charters which
are asked for along the Tionesta. until af-
ter the next Legislature, which convenes
next January, meets. Moreover, it now
appears that the new school code has
given the State Department of Education
the water rights of the state and the au-
thority of their disposition rests in the
Department of Education. 1t is evident
that the authority over the states streams
is not altogether clear, all of which tends
to the belief that any privileges derived
by any Water Company might be re-
versed in the courts before they could be
made use of.
1t occurs to me to suggest membersh ip
in this organization to strengthen both
the opposition of your readers and our
Association in fighting this "iniquitous
scheme" We now have enrolled with
us most OF the prominent men in your
vicinity but we should like to have more
for we are engaged in this work purely
from patriotic motives. We are fighting
for the conservation of the natural re-
sources of this state for ourselves and
children. Sincerely yours,
GEO. w. KEHR,
Sec'y Penna. Conservation Association.
Cherry Grove.