The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-10-12
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RIVER CONTROL
Uperationoi Storage Reservoirs
NO Novelty abroad
ARE FOUND re- BE FEASIBLE
Many Sections of the United States
Successfully Operate Such
Works and Pennsylvania is
Expected to Follow.

While a comparatively new sub
ject to the people of Pennsylvania
river regulation is by no means
novelty to other sections of this
country and to Europe. To regulate
river is to get from it the fullest
possible use and this has been dem
onstrated as feasible and practicable
in many places. At the next session
of the legislature of Pennsylvania
plan is to be presented for the pur-
pose of having the state take up this
important question. In the mean
while a review of similar activities
elsewhere is interesting.
To Regulate Rivers.
In Germany the law authorizes the
formation Of Genossenschafts (com-
panies or societies) by voluntary as
sociations of all kinds of water users
and of municipalities, factories, pow
er companies, subsidiary associations
and organizations interested in river
Improvement. Provision is made for
empowering Genossenschafts for GER
tain purposes to compel membership
of benefited parties without voluntary
agreement Governmental supervis-
ion of organization, plans, financing,
construction, and operation OF these
Genossenschafts is provided. Annual
payments are collected from sub
sidiary associations and organizations
and from cities, persons and corpor-
atoms benefited and financial con-
tributions are made in many cases
by larger governmental units.
The Conservancy Act of Ohio,
adopted early in 1914, provides for
the organization of conservancy dis
tricts, including persons, corporations
and municipalities, for the purpose
of preventing floods, regulating
stream channels, retaining over
flowed land, providing for irrigation,
and regulating the flow Of streams.
Under this act districts are to be or
ganized and plans approved by the
Courts of Common Pleas and all
other questions regarding the organ
ization, plans and operations of such
districts are under the jurisdiction of
the courts.
State to Contribute Share.
The Jones water storage bill pre-
scented to the New York legislature
during the early part Of 1914 pro-
vlded for the organization Of river
districts and the planning and con-
struction of works under the super
vision of the State Conservation Com
mission. Similar provision for state
supervision was made in the Wiscon-
sin Water Power Act of 1913 (Which
was declared unconstitutional be-
cause of defects in construction),
and it is believed legislation of this
character is much preferable to that
of the type of the Ohio Conservancy
Act. No such legislation, no matter
how desirable, can be enacted in
Pennsylvania unless the constitution
is amended. At the present time
the Constitution limits the creation
of taxation districts to the extent
that river regulation districts are not
possible.
1t is therefore proposed for Penn
sylvania that the legislature enact
law committing the state to con-
tributing its share to joint fund
for the construction of river regula-
ton works, the other contributors
to be the nation, and the local COM
munities affected; the. work to be
done under the supervision of the
army engineers who are now en-
trusted with all river and harbor
work in this country.