The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-10-05
STATE TO Join
WITH COUNTIES
Plan to Regulate Streams In
Pennsylvania Finds Favor
NATION TO BUILD THE WORKS
Cooperation Of Governmental Agen-
Giles in the Construction of Stor-
age Reservoirs to be AdVo-
Gated In Next Legislature.

With the assistance of Gov. Mar
tin G. Brumbaugh and the state ad
ministration much consideration and
study Is being given the form which
the river regulation legislation to be
introduced at the next session of the
legislature shall take. The plan
which has the most advocates Is the
one under which the necessary works
are to be constructed by the federal
War Department out of funds pro-
vided by the states and counties af
fected, as we'll as by the national gov
eminent.
In order to make such a plan work
able In Pennsylvania new legislation
was required and to that end bill
was prepared which permitted coun
ties to Issue bonds, the proceeds Of
which could be expended by the War
Department in conjunction with other
funds appropriated by the state and
nation. This bill was passed in the
session of 1911. No new legislation
by this state was required to entirely
legalize proceeding with the storage
reservoirs and other river regulation
works in this way, but an Act of
Congress was necessary. The Con
gress of the United States became
impressed with this idea of co-opera-
ton and at it's recent session bill
was presented which put this prin-
ciple into effect. This bill provides:
Up to the Army Engineers.
THAT all money appropriated for
works and projects relating to flood
control hereafter authorized shall be
expended, and all examinations, sur
veys and improvements of such
works and projects shall be made
under the direction Of the Secretary
of War and the supervision of the
Chief Of Engineers; and all the pro-
visions Of existing law relating to ex,
aminations and surveys and to works
of improvement Of rivers and harbors
shall apply, SO far as applicable, to
examinations and surveys and to
works of improvement relating to
food control. And all expenditures
Of funds hereafter appropriated for
works and projects relating to flood
control shall be made in accordance
with and subject to the law govern
ing the disbursement and expendi-
ture of funds appropriated for the
improvement of rivers and harbors.
"All examinations and surveys of
projects relating to flood control shall
include comprehensive study of the
watershed or watersheds, and the re-
IN, tO
matter upon which a report is re-
quired shall give such data as it
may be practicable to secure in re-
gard to (a) the extent and character
of the area to be affected by the pro
posed improvement; 90 the probable
effect upon any navigable water or
waterway; (c) the possible econo-
mical development and utilization of
water power; and Cd such other
uses as may be properly related to
or co-ordinated with the project. And
the heads of the several departments
of the Government may, in their. dis
erection, upon the request Of the Sec
rotary of War, detail representatives
from their respective departments to
assist the Engineers Of the Army
in the study and examination of such
watersheds, to the end that duplica-
ton of work may be avoided and the
various services Of the Government
economically co-ordinated therein;
Provided, That all reports on pre-
liminary examinations hereafter au-
thorized, together with the report of
the Board of Engineers for Rivers
and Harbors thereon, shall be sub
mitted by the Secretary of War to
the Chief of Engineers, with his rec
concentrations, and shall be trans
mitted by the Secretary Of War to
the House of Representatives, and
are hereby ordered to be printed
when so made.
How to Apportion Expense.
"In the consideration of all works
and projects relating to flood control
which may be submitted to the
Board of Engineers for Rivers and
Harbors for consideration and recon-
mendation, said board shall, in addi-
ton to any other matters upon which
it may be required to report, state it's
opinion as to (a) what Federal inter
est, if any, is involved In the pro-
posed improvement; (b) what part
of the expense, il any should be
borne by the United States; and (c)
the ACCESSIBILITY of adopting the pro.
ject
"All examinations and reports
which may now be made by the
Board of Engineers for Rivers and
Harbors upon request of the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors relat-
| ing to works or projects of naviga-
| ton shall in like manner be made
upon request of the Committee on
Flood Control on all works and pro-
| jects relating to flood control"
With the passage of this bill, which
| is contemplated at the December SEES
sion of Congress, the machinery for
participation by the Federal govern.
ment will be provided. To~complete-
ly carry out the proposal of co-opera-
ton by the counties, the state and
the nation an act of the Pennsylvania
legislature committing the state to
such river regulation projects is re-
| quired. The passage of such a law
will be sought in the session of 1917.