The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-30

make it unacceptable to those most
familiar with it. The construction OF
dam in a mountain trout stream
does not necessarily ruin that stream
although very often the effect is
detrimental, rather than otherwise;
but when that dam diverts an entire
mountain river into another valley
leaving the bed below the dam a dry
ravine of sun-bleached rocks and
gravel, it is quite different matter
This is exactly what developments A.
B, C, L, and M would do to the Black
water, Gladly Fork and Shavers Fork
eff the State of West Virginia
| were in dire need of additional cleo
trio power, or if the cost of general
ing electric power by coal were pro-
hibitive, Il am informed by the power
interests that it is actually cheaper
to generate electricity with coal than
with water at presently the matter
would have somewhat different as
pect. Since no such emergency exists,
would it not be better to consider the
proposed developments, one by one,
as the need for their development
arises, rather than surrender practi-
cally the entire Cheat watershed for
all time to any private interest to do
with as, and when, they see fit?
Sentiment Not Included
81 have endeavored to present the
facts, as 1 see them, from the public
standpoint, and to keep away from
sentiment, although the latter surely
has a place when some of the finest
assets of the State of West Virginia
are in jeopardy. The State has long
been famous for its beautiful noun
tains and the splendid streams that
flow down rugged valleys between
them; and it is hard to find a section
that surpasses the upper Cheat
watershed in this respect. When an
application, like the present one of
the power interests, promises either
partial or complete destruction of
every good sized trout stream in the
watershed, it is a evry serious mat
ter.
"Until comparatively recent years,
the fishing and recreational facilities
afforded by such back country as the
Cheat watershed was seldom consid-
cred seriously as having any real
value. Today, the thousands of peo-
pie that annually spend days or weeks
fishing or camping along these
streams, or just touring along them,
is proof of the fact that these natural
resources do have very definite val
ue-and one that is constantly grow
ing from year to year as more people
learn to appreciate and love them. In
my own experience, encounter twen-
ty fishermen today for every one en-
countered twenty years ago, which
is undeniable evidence of the increas-
ing popularity Of fishing and of the
value of fishing streams. 1t is high
time for changing the viewpoint that
sees only so many kilowatt hours in
a running stream.
Eliminates Game Fish
"The argument is commonly adj
vanced by interested parties that the
erection of dams create large lakes
that afford splendid fishing. The
history of artificial lakes formed by
power dams, does not bear this state
ment out, at least for the fine game
fish that formerly inhabited the
streams flooded or dried up by the
dams. By their very nature, the
shore line is not constant, and the
water level often f1uctuates many feet
during every year, alternately drying
and flooding the banks, so that sue
cessful natural production through
spawning is very unsatisfactory, if
not wholly impossible.
81 sincerely trust that such mat
tiers will receive due consideration by
your commission at the hearing on
February II, and that outstanding
trout streams, with their attendant,
scents values, as the Blackwater
River, Shavers Fork and Gladly Fork,
will not be sacrificed in the name of
Power Development.
"Yours sincerely,
KENNETH A. REID"