New Britain herald., 1914-07-24
L0N[RGAN ARGUES
 FOR CONN. RIVER BILL
Says Water is Running to Waste
 at Enfield.

dl ulIIIlu. '
 Washington. July 24-Congress- man Lonergan of Connecticut ad- dressed tho house today on the bill calculated to improve the Connecticut river. He said in part:
 The people of the district which I have the honor to represent are greatly interested in the immediate passage of this bill or a measure of similar purport. We have on the Connecticut river, about twelve miles above Hartford. at what are known as tho Enfield rdpids. S0,000 horse power running to waste every day, although 1t Is situated in the center of a manu- featuring section where, within the radius of a few miles, there are over 100000 horse power being manufac- tured by tho use of coal at compara- lively high cost to the manufacturers.
 By the development of this water tho manufacturing plants in small communities at about one-half of the cost to them of producing steam power. The development of this wa ter power has been delayed and pre-
 
 solve the water power problem. so far as navigable rivers are concerned. which the present bill will and does solve. and will permit the utilization of these water powers now being wasted, and will at the same time greatly aid the development of our rivers for navigation, with the ex- pense of this development borne by private capital rather than by the government.
 The state of Connecticut has al- ready granted authority for the de- velopment of this power and in Con- necticut the state owns the bed of the river. Over six years ago the legts- fature of that state passed a special act permitting the damming of the Connecticut river at Windsor Locks, and, in so far as 1t could, made the necessary grant to permit the conser- vation of this great natural resource of the state.
 Capital Is Ready.
 The capital to develop this project, which 1t is estimated will cost at least five million dollars. I am in- formed is ready and waiting. I am assured that company oc over sev- cHty COHneCIiCuC dHu WcSlcTH N1dSS1- chusetts men has been orga iized, who are anxious to see this develop ment made, and who arc willing and ready to invest their own money in this project and are simply waiting for permission from the United States government to go ahead with 1t. This company is made up of manufacturers who want the cheap power for their own individual plants; of men interested in ths inn provement of navigation who arc ready to Invest their money in this project in order that navigation on the Connecticut river may be opened up from Hartford to Holyoke and the advantage of cheap water transpor- tation gained for the manufa curing cities which have been built up along the Connecticut river
 The only thing which prevents the immediate development of this pro- ject is the failure to secure authority from congress for the right to place a dam across the Enfield Rapids. There is no navigation on this river today above Hartford on account of these rapids. The government has to the expense of placing dam across 1t in order to enable boats to surmount these rapids. It has, after a very careful and complete exam ination, recommended the improve hnent of this river, contingent upon a dam being built by private capital at Windsor.
 The passage of this bill will go a long way toward permitting this inn provement to be made and Is pre- liminary step which Is absolutely necessary before these developments 1 can be started.
 Not for Private Interests.
 I do not think our waterways should be left to the exploitation of private interests but favor a program fair to all concerned. 1t is probable that in another generation or two l the government will own all water powers, but in the meantime they should be utilized under government control.
 The development of the water power at Windsor Locks is matter which concerns all of the towns sit 1 uated near that place. This is a l, manufacturing as well as an agri- 1 cultural part of the state of Connect ! icut. The communities which will be | directly interested, and their popula- tibn in 1910 follows
 ffartiord 9S.915 1 New Britain .............. .43,916 1 f'ast Hartford 8,138 Wmdsor ATS | south Windsor .............. 2,251 r East Windsor .............. 3,362 Windsor Locks .............. 3.715 Sufheld ..... 3.S41 Enfield ........ :. ......... 9.719 Rockville .......... :. 9,O87 Mancnester ................ .13,641 Stanord springs .... 5235