The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-11-13
Fake Conserva tionists.

The following article embraces the
statement made by j. Horace Mcfarland
in answer to Engineer Morris Knowles,
of Pittsburgh, president Of the new fake
water conservation association recently
organized in Harrisburg for the purpose
of grabbing the water powers of the
state. Mr.. Mcfarland is in every sense
of the word a true conservstionist and
"speaks by the book" as ii were:
81 agree with Mr.. Knowles that 1t Is
desirable to look in the face the eventual
extraction of the coal supply in Pennsyl-
vsnia and TO plan for a proper develop
ment of the water powers Of the State. l
do not agree with him, however, that this
ought to be done in the manner being sd-
vocated by the Sc called Water Conservs-
tion association which seems to be an
rganization primarily formed to secure
the repeal of the provisions of the Act of
1905 in respect to the use of the right of
eminent domain by water power corpora
tions.
zone needs only TO look at the dreadful
waste, at the frightful loss of human life,
and at the industrial disorder which have
followed the unchecked corporate use of
the coal supply of the State, to know that
in this enlightened time we ought to pro-
vide first for the public in the use Of any
remaining natural resources of import
snce to all the people.
~ favor comprehensive survey Of the
water powers of the State, by State-ap-
pointed and State-psid engineers o abili-
ty, so that we may know just what re-
sources yet remain to us. should think
it would be a wise thing to so modify the
laws as to give to the State Water Supply
Commission, in connection with enlarged
powers, the right to confer the power of
eminent domain upon water power COR
peration for specific purpose and at 8
specific time-this gift always to be ao-
accomplished by safeguarding reguls-
tions, which while they should not stand
in the least In the way Of perfectly de-
sirable and proper reward TO the investors
who risk their money, would give to the
public some little measure of protection
as to votes for power.
ut has been inferred that the water
which falls from the sky drops alike up
on the just and the unjust, and that there
fore 1t is public property. The laws and
the corporations OF Pennsylvania, how
ever, have taken good care to interfere
with this truism. There has been char
tered by the State, according to the last
report OF the State Water Supply Com
mission. 1,75l water and water power cor
porations, of which S5l are yet in active
operation. Since this report "A new water
power charters have been granted in the
State.
"over the navigsble streams the Unit
ed States exercises quasi control. Over
the small streams the riparian owners
have a control, and about all the water
that is left for an unprotected and I'M
defended public is that which falls on an
umbrella one may hold over his head,
and then IL belongs to him only while It
is on the umbrella, and not aftei it falls
to the ground.
Notwithstanding my high regard for
the engineering ability of Mr.. Knowles,
the president of the socalled Water Con-
servation Association, 1 cannot feel that
he is acting in this matter in any other
capacity than that OF paid attorney of
tho water power corporations which seek
first to obtain an extension of their own
powers, without any definite or clear-cut
arrangement looking either TO improved
laws or to State control. Nothing is
mentioned in the statements MIR.
Knowles has made Of the purposes Of the
so called Water Conservation Assoc citation,
as to survey, mapping, the control of
rates, or anything of that sort. There are
vague generalities as to proper supervis-
sion, but very definite actualties as to the
desire of the corporations, for whom this
effort seems to be proceeding, to obtain
the right of eminent domain and to be
able to combine and merge while retain
ing that right, as they may not now do.
at is not unfair to say that there was
no great publicity given to the formation
of the association headed by Mr..
Knowles, on July 6 last, and it IS certain
that very few, If any, persons psrticipat-
ing have ever shown any interest, other
than professional interest, in the pub
| lie welfare.
"Mr. Knowles is an able and competent
engineer, and be is certainly well within
his professional rights in making the ef-
fort now appearing. This effort, how
ever, should not masquerade under any
guise of conservation, for nothing has sp-
peared in connection with it which can
properly be called conservation.
"The fourth and fifth provisos in the
! Ten Commandments adopted by the