The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-02
MORE PROTECTION
FOR VT. RESOURCES
Urged by Franklin S. Billings in Article
on Conservation Prepared by the
Vermont Commission.

coal OF vermont IndL III SeeilIS " hic
time to look over the history of the
development of the water powers OF our
state, to see if such privileges have
been granted in a proper way, and to
study carefully plan for the wise de-
yelopment OF this power IN the future.
Any unparalleled citizen will acknoWl-
cage that the natural resources OF our
state should be used and developed IN
way that will accrue to the greatest
good of the greatest number OF the IN
habitants of Vermont, and in so doing,
accrue to the benefit OF the state as a
whole. Has this development in the
past been made in this way: My per-
soual opinion is emphatic that it has not
been, but that it has. OH the contrary,
been used for the benefit o. the few.
In tho past, the state has granted the
right to use and develop this valuable
power to individuals or private cor
porations and has not received proper
return for this immensely valuable as
set. This should be stopped at once
and some general plan adopted SO that
the state, and the people of the state
as q whole, shall receive a proper re-
turn for the natural resources that it
still owns, and also give a fair profit
to the individual or corporation that
wishes to invest money in such develop
ment.
The state of Wisconsin has some eX-
cellent water power" laws. having been
progressive in this department as in
other legislation. This article is too
short to give these laws in detail, but
it seems to me most important for YER
a.. Ia ~ Ia n NJ.
ccmplsh the same results that have
been accomplished in Wisconsin.
Taking the water power" laws OF
Wisconsin as a guide, but not following
them in every particular, | would sug-
gest that what we ought to have IN
this state are laws that would attain
the following result The state should
reserve the right to manage, regulate
and control the use and distribution
Of the power, and the level and flow OF
water in all naygable waters OF the
state, and no person, firm, association OF
individuals, corporation or municipal
itv should build maintain or operate
any dam or other improvements in or
across any stream, navigable in fact for
any purpose whatsoever, without OBJ
tanning franchise authorizing such
work
To obtain such franchise an applica
tion should be made to the public serv-
ice commission, or to the conservation
commission. if it is made permanent
and important body as il should be, and
has already been in many states. The
application should contain all informa
ton needed to give a fun understand
in1 OF the situation. This information
should be sworn to BY the person or
persons, or officers Of corporation or
municipality making the application.
The commission designated to receive
such applications should set date for
public hearing on said application,
and said public hearing should be held,
ii possible, in the town or city near
est the site OF the proposed improve
ments.
At the hearing the commission should
htar the applicants or agents Of appli-
cants asking for the franchise, and any
third person, or agents of persons OPP
posed to said franchise The commits
sion should have the right to subpoena
any witnesses whom it might wish to
hear ON the subject Upon the conclu
sion OF the hearing. said commission
should carefully consider all the evi
dence and facts obtained, and il they
tind that the Improvements asked for in
the application shall promote, conserve,
ard protect all public rights in such wa
tiers and viii not eudanger the life,
health or property OF the public, and
that said improvements will serve the
interests of the public better than any
other, then said commission should have
the power TO grant such franchise, with
the approval OF the governor of the
state. Ii. on the other hand, it Is found
that public rights would not be con
served, or that the life health or prop
erty OF the public would be endangered,
then the said commission should refuse
the application.
All construction Of dams, or other i'm
proyements, should be absolutely under
the supervision of the commission, and /
ii the holder Of the franchise should not |
obey any order of the commission, the |
franchise should at once be cancelled
Two most important points have not !
been mentioned. The period for which |
the franchises should be granted, and I
the remuneration the state should re- |
ceive for such franchises.
In Wisconsin the franchise is granted |
for twenty years with the privilege of !
two renewals. This term seems to me
too short. and [ should advocate fran
chisc for ono hundred years. with regu !
lations for adjusting it at the end OF
the term.
As to the remuneration the state
should receive. Wisconsin collects five
per cent. on the value Of each horse
power, with certain restrictions. Would I
it not be better for this state to inn
pose a franchise fee of certain per
cent. on the gross earnings of any such
and if. for any reason, the
were not used. to impose
q fee or fixed sum graded according
to the value of the franchise? Failure
to pay the franchise fee should for
felt the franchise, and il should be dis
tincty understood that the franchise
fee is not tax and does not take the
place of any tax.
There are very many other details, II
such as the right to appeal TO the courts,
&c, that it is not necessary to men
bion here. but the foregoing gives a
general idea of the legislation that / Il
would strongly urge for enactment by n
The legislature of our state 1t is to be
hoped that some such plan for the regu-
alton of our valuable natural resources
viii soon be adopted by the state of
Vermont
Troun,s Hand,y Dpsiou Rook