New-York tribune., 1922-04-01
Miller
Private Control
OF Canal Power
Governor Declares Hydro
electric Development of
Waterway Will Be by
the State or Not at All
Hearing OH Robinson Bill
Jesse Urges State Chief to
Sign Act Giving I. r. I.
Use of Manhattan Tracks
FROM u sta0 Correspondent


ALBANY, March Ex-Governor Mil
ler to-day told hydro-electric interests
opposing his plan for water power de-
velopment along the states canal sys-
ten that he would rather sec the
canals possibilities for hydro electric
development run 70 waste than to have
it fall into the hands Of private cor
pofations.
The Governor made this attitude
known in course of a hearing on the
Robinson bill, which permits the State
Superintendent of Public Works to
utilize surplus canal waters for power
development. The measure carries out
recomm endations made by the Gov
ernor in his second annual message
and carries an appropriation Of 81 000,-
900 to be used in furthering power de-
velopment at Vischers Ferry and at
Crescent, on the canal sections Of the
Mohawk River.
S. I. Moran, representing the Cohoes
Light and Power Company, opposed the
measure, saying that the sum it appro-
PIRATES is not adequate to meet re-
quirements. He was interrupted by the
Governor, who informed him that the
100000 is merely the first step in
scheme Of state wide water power de-
velopment which will fit in with the
super-power zone plan formulated by
the Federal government and which is to
cover the entire Atlantic seaboard.
Power Can Be Marketed
81 recommend this measure" said the
Governor, "and / feel certain that the
power can be marketed on advantageous
terms. This $1,o00,0OO appropriation is
merely an entering wedge. And let me
add this: rather than to issue license
to private company to develop water
power along the canals l would have no
development at all.
History shows beyond question that
private companies cannot avoid the
human element of trying to get more
water than that to which they are en-
titlede The canals were built for trans
portat!on, and power development by
private interests would mean the sub
ordination of the canals to that devel
opment. The state, on the other hand.
would contract only to sell an amount
Of power which would not require the
conversion of water to an extent where
1t would endanger navigation"
An idea of the possibilities for power
development along the canals was Civ
en- by Mr.. Moran when he, in pleading
for his company to be given the right
to develop water power at the two
maximum development would produce
an annual horsepower Of about 1870 900.
The state will start with an initial de-
velopment of 10000 horsepower.
Jesse Urges Bill Signed
Anticipating possible dissolution OF
the existing contract between the In
terborough and the Manhattan Elevated
Railway Company Assemblyman George
N. Jesse, Of New York City, to-day
urged Governor Miller to sign his bill
permitting the Interborough to use
small stretch on the Manhattan COM
pany's tracks on such terms as may be
fixed by the courts. The bill, which
has been approved by the Transit Com
mission. will undoubtedly be signed
Former Justice Morgan j. OtBrien,
counsel for the Manhattan company,
opposed the signing of the bill, declar-
ing it was unconstitutional.
Although the act is drawn in gem
eral terms" he said "its character is
such as to confine it to particular
locality. and it comes therefore as
much under condemnation as a local
bill as though it designated the local
ity by name"
sands of New Yorkers would suffer if
the bill was not signed because Of the
probable curtailment of service grow
ing out of the unexpected breaking up
Of the New York Railways system.
Alfred T. Davidson, counsel for the
Third Avenue Railway, said that the
bill would permit the Forty second
Street company to continue It's through
operation on Broadway from Forty-sec-
ond to Manhattan Street, upon payment
Of such rentals as may be decreed by the
condemnation commissioner appointed
by the courts. He added that The bill
in no way affects pending litigation be.
tween the two companies as to owner
ship Of tracks.