The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-11-06
Water Power Companies Will Attempt
To Steal All Streams Through
Next Legislature.


or Conservation association of Pennsyl.
vania, is preparing to go before the Legis-
lsture a, its coming session and endeavor
to secure legislation giving water COM
psnies that apply for charters the right OF
eminent domain. This will enable them
to enter and seize streams, dam them with
monstrous big dams, and create new
peril such as was born of the dam at
Johnstown and Austin, which broke aud
caused the loss Of many lives. AT pres
ent these water companies do not enjoy
the right OF eminent domain, although
they have on several occasions endeav-
ored to have legislation enacted confer.
ring that right upon them, all Of which
efforts were frustrated. They are even
debarred the right to dam streams by the
State Water Supply Commission, a de-
termination reached alter the Austin dis
sster, unless there is no protest from land
owners, and they will not get that right
until tie Legislature can confer II, as the
State Water Supply Commission has de.
clined To charter any water company that
proposes to dam streams and destroy sd-
joining lands and ieopsrdize life.
The TACT that these people have banded
together to secure such legislation was
brought to light this week, when the cat
was insd vertantly let out of the bag. On
the 9th of July last small band OF
capitalists who have had an eye on the
streams of the State for some time with a
view TO securing them for water power
purposes, met secretly in Harrisburg and
formed what is known as the Water Con-
seryation Association of Pennsylvania,
the similarity Of names with that Of the
Pennsylvania Conservation Association
being designed to confuse those whom IL
was suspected would oppose what they
intended to do, and would not make such
opposition if they were impressed with
the idea that the water conservators were
the same as the Pennsylvania Conserya-
ton Association.
The meeting was in secret, and at Its
close long hood wink ing statement was
given out for publication to the effect
that the new association intended to guard
the waters of the State. A little probing
soon discovered the African in the wood
pile, but in the stress off political cam.
paign no great attention was attracted to
the movement.
This new organization of capital, with
an eye to the SEIZURE OF the State waters,
at once began campaign through press
agent that was calculated to deceive by
sending out to the newspapers long
stories of what it intended to do in tine
way of conserving the State waters for the
good of the general public, and It strived
to create the impression that it was akin
To the Pennsylvania Conservation as.
socistion, which, although in favor of
conservation, is in no wise affiliated with
water companies, and has looked askance
at the propositions that have been ad-
ysnced by the water company people. OF
late, however, the Pennsylvania Conser-
vation association has awakened to the
that is to be done, and il will
very likely take some steps to dissvow
with the men behind the
water companies
This has been brought about by an in
ierview with Morris Knowles, of Pitts
burg, president of the Water Conservs
lion association, sent out for publication,
n which Mr.. Knowles is quoted as say
ng that the great stumbling block in the
way Of the water companies that propose
o do so much good for the people in the
way of taking care of the waters is "that
he right of eminent domain 10 appropri-
tie waters and the underlends for these
purposes does not exist with the new
at the present time" Thus"
he interview with President Knowles
"the development of new re-
sources cannot go on, for it is within the
power of any farmer who does not fully
the needs of water power
or Of any antagonistic owner,
to hold up any company and prevent its
the necessary and proper rights
to do this work" President Knowles
frankness in admitting that the water
power companies are after legislation
which will confer the right of eminent
domain on them is what has caused the
original conservators Of the State to get to
work, and they will be heard from before
long. Among the men prominent in the
State, one who has nationwide fame az
as a conservator in every sense of the
word, is J. Horace Mcfarland, long the
head of the National Civic association, al
present one of the Pennsylvania Conser'
vation. When Mr.. Mcfarland was
shown the Knowles interview, he read II
carefully, and then prepared statement
in answer to 1t. I. M. j.
The foregoing special dispatch to the
Derrick, is from Thomas NJ. Jones, thar
whom there is no better posted man II
the state, and as 1t sets forth the tru'
status of the attempt to steal, through
legislative enactment at the coming ses
sion, the water power sights on ever,
stream OF any size in Pennsylvania it be
hooves the people to be on their guar'
and ready to fight the theft by ever,
means possible. Keep an eye out for tn
snakes now in process of incubation
They will appear early in the session G
the next legislature. We shall give Mr.
Netherlands answer, above referred tC
in our next ISSUE ED. REPUBLICAN,.
Birth Rate Is Twice Death Rate.
The birth rate in Pennsylvania
August was double the death rate, a
cording to the bureau Of vital ST
| tistics.
parIR Green Antidote For Trouble,