New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-05
SEEKS TO HAVE STATE
SELL ELECTRIC POWER
The Conservation Commission
Wants to Use Stored Water
on the Ontario System.
BILLS FOR LIMITED TRIAL
Legislature Asked to Authorize
the Scheme for Albany and
Nearby Cities-Favored
by Consumers.
I BY Telegraph 10 The Tribune.

by elegrapn 10 i ne tribune
Albany. Feb. bills will he introduced
tomorrow authorizing the Conservation
Commission 20 embark on system OF
development and distribution OF electrici-
" from stored water. along the line or
the work Of the ontario Hydro-E Electro
Commission. The Conservation Commits
sion considers this work not only great
benefit to the consumers of electricity Tor
light ana power. since II saves them
much money but a financial success IN
that il does not lose money for the prov
ince. A legislative committee frankly
opposed TO government ownership has re-
ported, on figures which the Ontario body
says are incorrect, that II loses money
for the province each year.
The Conservation Commission has tried
for a couple of years to have enacted q
general statute permitting II TO apply tho
Ontario scheme TO the development ot
the states water powers. Now II wants
to try out the system In limited com
pact district. surrounding this city. Inc
experiment would be made under unusu-
ally favorable circumstances as to slight
expense and limited area OF distribution
for the electric current. II Is favored
by authorities of all the municipalities
which would be affected: local lighting
and electric concerns and the bigger cleo
trio interests. including the General Elec-
trio Company and the Anthony y. Brady
concerns. will bitterly oppose the project.
Under the Conservation Commission 5
bills the waters OF the Hudson now stored
by state dam at Nisscher's Ferry and
the surplus waters Of the barge canal at
Crescent will be transformed into cleo
trio energy. This will be sold 10 the mu-
inequalities In the capital territory AT cost.
they TO sell the electricity. I'm turn, Ia
consumers at n slight advance, enough
TO cover the cost incurred by them. ~
tercst charges on the distributing plant.
and the like. IL is estimated that the
consumers of this city. Troy. Science
tady, CohOes. Watervliet and neighbor-
ing smaller communities would receive
electricity for light and power for less
than one-half Of what they now pay.
Powers Of Proposed Bureau.
The commissions bills will create
hydro electric bureau in the commission
authorized TO develop and distribute cleo
tric energy from stored water for sale
at cost to municipalities. II Is IL have
power OF condemnation, and may build
storage dams, power plants and transmits
sion lines The state for this purpose is
divided into development districts, and
these bills create the first. or capital dis
trict, 10 be served by the power coming
from the Crescent and Nisscher's Ferry
dams
/, is provided that the initial cost
which II Is estimated will not be more
than about $3.50 600 on plants 10 develop
Il. goo horsepower--shall BE- paid by the
state. and the cost Of the power developed
10 consumers shall be enough 10 pay the
interest on this money. the upkeep Of the
plans and transmission lines and wipe out
the initial expense I'm fifty years.
Engineers Of the commission estimate
that II. 900 horsepower would be the mini
mum low water power development For
at least half the year. they figure, there
" ould be $4,000 horsepower and at times
as high as $4,000 horsepower. II is
planned first TO build power plant and
transmission lines 10 handle 1000 horse
power and later 10 enlarge them to
handle the 49,. 900 horsepower. II Is es-
timated that this could BE- done and an
auxiliary steam plant installed TO keep the
output Of electricity up 10 that standard
even in low water periods. for about 81.
500. 900. The distances for distribution
of the electricity from the dams TO the
municipalities vary from six to thirteen
miles, so no unusual difficulty or expense
would be encountered I'm building and
maintaining the distribution lines
Consumers Favor Trial.
Local authorities and consumers OF cleo
tricity and commercial bodies OF the COM
munities to be benefited are heartily in
favor OF this trial Of government develop
ment Of It's water powers. Several small
communities adjoining those TO be bene-
fitted. but not included In these schemes,
are begging to get In. so their business
men may have the cheap power and light.
Before any community could take adj
vantage OF the scheme IL would have TO
vote at n special election To adopt it and
TO build it's transmission lines within the
city limits, as the state would transmit
the electricity only 10 the city line. II II
for lines, plant. upkeep and the like would
average 81 per capita a year. which, en-
gineers say is less expensive than well
built and cheaply run water systems.
BRONX 'GANGMAN' CONVICTED