The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-07
QUESTIONS AS TO
SAFETY OF DAM
At SOMERSET
Letter From Judge Bond Of
Searsburg
RECORD OF OLD DAMS
None Of Those Built During the Past
Hundred Years Proved to
Be Permanent
RECORD OF OLD DAMS

Editor OF the Banner:-m your Is
sue of January 10 | notice you have
an extract from the Brattleboro Re
former in regard to the Deerfield
water powers, in which that paper
holds that it would be a sufficient
safeguard to the people of Vermont
if a law were passed obliging power
companies in Vermont to supply the
demands of local consumers, before
carrying power out of the state, and
also that power companies should be
allowed to sell anywhere until such
times as local consumers needed the
whole output.
Now does the Brattleboro Reformer
suppose for a moment that manufac-
turers in Massachusetts, will buy
power from the Deeriield river unless
they have a safe guarantee for its
use for a long term of years? Such
leases are usually drawn for SO
years or longer, and Vermont can
hardly afford to paralyze her indus
tries for that length of time, and If
Vermont should make no objection,
and acquiesce in such transmission
of power out of the state, doubt
very much If the laws or courts Of
Vermont could oblige the mills Of
Massachusetts to surrender their
leases or the power companies to pull
down their lines. Consequently, the
legislatures of Vermont should make
their charters so plain on this point
that they could not be mistaken. Now
If Vermont will let water power com
panies sell wherever they wish until
such times as Vermont industries
need It; that is all other states ought
TO ask, and all Vermont ought to do.
Vermont should legislate for Yer
mont first, and other states after
wards.
The Banner holds that, to forbid
the transmission of power generated
in this state to points outside the
state is not only unreasonable, but
impossible, and the courts would over
throw such law.
| think The Banner will recollect
that few years ago some power
companies undertook to build a dam
across the Colorado river, within her
territory and transmit the power to
Arizona, New Mexico and California.
Colorado people objected and carried
IL to the United States Supreme court
and il / mistake not, the court held
that Colorado had an unlimited right
TO regulate the use of all waters with
in the state, so long as they allowed
said waters to leave the state in their
natural channel
The Banner further says that: Yer
mont can get the benefit of her own
power by developing 1t, and putting
IL. to work In Vermont TO build up
Vermont industries" Now this is
true in one sense. But does The
Banner believe for moment that
capitalists will come into Vermont
and build mills when they can get
the same power, just as cheap hun
dred miles nearer marketY
Would II not De better to hold the
power by proper laws, and say to
capitalists. we will give you cheaper
power and just as good encourage
ment. II you come to Vermont, but
we decline to build up the industries
OF Massachusetts at the expense OF
our own. The immense water power
of Vermont is one of its most valu
able assets, and will grow more ana
more valuable as the supply OF wood
and coal diminishes.
1 heartily agree with The Banners
remarks in regard to the great dam
nj Somerset, and that the men at the
head of that enterprise are men OF
high character and honest purpose IN
the construction OF that dam. NO one
should suppose for moment That
they intend to build an unsafe dam,
for the failure of such large dam
would not only be a heavy loss to
the company. but the destruction oil
life and property in Deerlield valley
would be appalling.
The building OF that dam, II Sc
curely built, will be a safeguard in
stead of menace to this valley from
the fact that Il win tend to hold back
mart of the floods that sometimes
rush down tho valley and also give n
more uniform flow OF water during
the dry months and thereby enhance
the value OF such mills as use water
power.
but | have lived near the Deerheld
river for more than sixty years, ana
| believe am not egotistical when
say that understand the conditions
in this valley, as well, at least, as
any other man, and | do not hesitate
TO say. that / have no faith In dam
on the Deerneld river composed
wholly Of dirt. MS | am told by their
superintendent Is the intention AT
Somerset
Let us read little Of the history
of Deerneld river dams. Probably
the FIRST one built was at the Chase
upper mill" so.called. somewhere
about the year 1900. to drive saw
and grist mill have no knowledge
Of how long this remained. but 1t was
gone in iS4S. r. d. Chase rebuilt II
some 20 years ago but the water soon
went around Il and although repaired
since. II has never been called a SAFE
dam and has not been used In the
last few years.
Then a low dam was built at Ohas'
lower mills. and M this dam was on
solid rock both sides OF the stream
and was very low dam. II has stood
up to the present time with occasion
nj repairs. -
About 1850 Haynes 6 Liyermor'