The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-07-17
Kill the Snake Now.


Editorislly the Oil City Derrick of Mon
day again sounds warning on the possi-
bility of the approval of the hideous dam
proposition on Tionesta creek, and calls
upon the people TO wake up to the danger
of the situation. We give below the
article in full because II lays bare the
situation and points out that powerful
monied interests are back of the diaboli-
cal scheme:
From the actions of interested parties
1t is evident that the citizens Of the Tio-
nests and Allegheny valleys have need to
take active measures to kill the Tionests
dam scheme, and do it at once. The
Water Supply Commission instead of re-
fusing the application for the charter TO
the water privileges of the Tionesta and
its tributaries, passed 1t over for action
on the part of the Legislature when it
meets next January. The only excuse
given or apparent for this shifting OF the
decision from the commission to the
Legislature, was that further Legislation
was needed. 1t is evident, however, that
there is strong influence back of the
scheme and 1t may develop that State
officials have more than casual interest
in it.
"Lsst Monday number OF people met
in Harrisburg, quietly and without news
paper notice. These men are interested
in getting possession of the streams of
the State, and to sell the water for power
or other purposes. The moving spirit in
this meeting was W. NJ. Jacoby, secretary
of the Flood Comm ission of Pittsburg,
aud he was the presiding officer of the
meeting. The ostensible object of the
meeting was to secure legislation to pre-
vent devastation by floods. Underneath
this legislation aud depending upon it for
the success of the scheme, would be the
necessity for controlling the streams, and
for this purpose the water power COM
psnies would promptly offer their SER
vices. The Flood Commission will sgi-
tate the demand for lessening the devasta-
ton by foods, the Legislature will be i'm
portuned to pass the laws and provide the
appropriations for the purpose, and the
power companies will throw themselves
into the breach to save the people and the
State, by taking over the streams to their
advantage. II would seem there is TO be
a coalition between the power companies
and the Flood Commissioners.
"The people of Pittsburg are interested
in preventing the yearly floods, the peo-
pie of Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Scranton
and most of the State are indifferent TO
matter which applies only to this little
corner of Pennsylvania, and therefore the
danger of leaving the decision on this i'm
porlant affair to the Legislature, with the
strong political and official influences
back of it, is apparent at once. The
members OF two-thirds Of the State would
have scarcely passing interest in it, and
would be as liable to vote for as against it.
"The matter is one of vital importance
to thousands of people. The conditions
of the soil and rock formations at the
mouth ofthe Tionests are such that
ubstantial dam with 800 ieet breast can
not be built, or any other that would not
be menace to the people living below 1t.
1t might hold year, two years or ten,
but it would break at last, and the de-
that occurred at Johnstown and
Austin would be multiplied thousand
fold. For 800 feet below the surface the
fresh or surface water courses through
the sedimentary rocks OF this section, and
to place upon that head of 800 feet of
water aud lake as large as Chautsuqua,
could not avoid bringing about disaster
in time. There is always too little care
given to the question of safety in erecting
such structures. Promises of absolute
integrity as to concrete and foundation,
and in the employment of the best engi-
neering skill are easily made to obtain
the desired charter, but those living be-
low that dam would never feel safe.
"The people of this section should in
sist, as they have the right, upon the
Water Supply Commission refusing the
application for the charter now. They
do not want to live in apprehension of
what may happen when the Legislature
with the uncertainty of what
that means. The Water Com mission has
the power to grant or eject, and it should
be called upon to exercise that power.
Now is the time for our citizens to take
action. Those seeking the charter are
not idle, and we should be equally as
active. Those having the matter in
charge would act wisely if they made
their protests and demands now.
"The appearance of the secretary of the
Pittsburg Flood Commission in secret
with others at the State capitol
iniects a new element of danger in the
and one that is suggestive to say
the least of an umbilical connection be-
tween the Flood Commission and the
Power Promoters. Wake up"
Cooksburg.
The social at A. J Cooks was decid-