The New York herald., 1921-02-28
LICENSE FOR WATER
POWER Is PLANNED
Governors Bills Would Retain
State Rights Under Esch
Federal Law.

Specie, Despatch. to THE New YORK HEsALD.
New York Herald Bgresg.
Albany, Feb. "a.
Final agreement on a broad. state
wide water power development plan is
expected. soon to be announced by Gov
ernor Miller. Outside Of Transit ana
Public Service Commission reorganiza-
tion, the Governor probably has given
moro study to this question than any
other. He has been holding frequent
conferences with legislative leaders ana
State officials. including State Engineer
Frank NJ. Williams Attorney Generai
Charles d. Newton and representatives
Of the state Conservation Commission.
A tentative bill is now In his hands
and the annual report Of the Conserva-
ton Commission. which has been held
up because of the conference, Will carry
out the Governors ideas in It's water
power recommendations.
For twenty years water power de-
velopment has been one Of the most In
vestigated subjects taken up by legis-
latures, and State officials. but because
Of conflicting interests and failure to
get together on any common ground no
progress has been made The result is
that year after year the States vast
water power resourcesN have been going
to waste. with the public the principal
sufferer through the prices 1t has to
pay for light. power and heat.
Ono group In the water power fight
sought to have the State itself develop
its power and then lease 1t on the same
plan as now in operation In Ontario,
Canada. The other group holding that
such a plan would require too great an
outlay of State money. favors having
the State lease the Embarrassed power
to private corporations or municipalities
which would do the developing and in
stall the necessary plants. In the mean
time the coal, gas and electric power
interests have been accused Of USING
their influence to impede both plans.
A part Of the water power developing
plan. II is said. calls for the creation OF
q State licensing agency, SO that rights
which the State now has will not be los
under the Esch Federal water power
law. The conservation commission 4
urging that such a bill be immediatel,
passed to forestall the Federal commits
sion The commission also favors tn
leasing for power of surplus barge cana
waters.
Gov. Miller. II is understood. will favoi
water power development on n large
scale through regulation OF stream flow
the cost to be assessed on public and prl
vate property and municipalities in pro
portion to their benefits. Another steI
is the construction of storage reservoirs
wihout which power could only be had {
certain part OF the year from man,
streams. The impounded water could b.
held and released in the dry season.
In order to bring about Statewide
system of stream control constitutions
amendments will be needed to permit o.
the use of forest preserve lands To-
building dams and reservoirs and for th'
construction Of transmission lines. Th'
cost OF the construction OF storage reser
voirs would run into the millions. prob
ably requiring bond issue. which woult
have to be voted on by the people.
The plan would provide for a reason
able return to the State through tn
leasing Of the water power, construction
of power dams upon State owned powe
sites and leasing Of power privileges Z
private companies or municipalities, witt
provision for periodical readjustmen
of rental. values. The generation, trans
mission and distribution OF power woul'
be conducted by municipalities and pri
vate companies. subject to the Publ
Service Commission.
The Governors plan. II is believed. vii
act as a compromise between the con
flicting ideas of the two main groups
water power advocates.