Conservation Commission 33 



mission. Comprehensive hydrographic surveys have teen made 

 of practically all the inland streams of our State, and we have at 

 the present time reliable data showing the power possibilities of 

 every important inland river within the State. 



No State in the Union possesses greater water power resources 

 than New York. The St. Lawrence river on the north and the 

 Niagara river on the west furnish immense power possibilities. 

 No river surpasses these in volume of water and none has a more 

 uniform flow. We have in addition a large number of inlan4 

 rivers capable of vast power development. Our extensive canal 

 improvements have likewise created many useful water powers. 

 It has been established by careful hydrographic surveys that 

 within the borders of this State it is commercially feasible to de- 

 velop at least two million five hundred thousand horse power 

 (2,500,000 h. p.). This is more than sufficient to supply all the 

 needs of the State for light and for power for manufacturing and 

 industrial enterprises. Approximately one million (1,000,000) 

 h. p. has already been developed. There remains, therefore, 

 within the State in round numbers one million five hundred thou- 

 sand (1,500,000) h. p. undeveloped. 



The advancement in the art of electrical transmission has made 

 this vast amount of potential energy available to the inhabitants 

 of every municipality within the entire State. The prime 

 importance of this resource lies in the fact that this latent power 

 is located within the borders of a State containing a population 

 of nearly ten millions (10,000,000) of inhabitants, and is avail- 

 able for our vast and varied industrial needs. It is valuable 

 because it is in the very heart of commercial activities, where 

 there is a growing market therefor. 



Two vital questions arise with respect to the policy which the 

 State should adopt regarding, first, the water powers already de- 

 veloped aggregating approximately one million (1,000,000) h. p.; 

 second, the water powers yet undeveloped approximating one mil- 

 lion five hundred thousand (1,500,000) h. p. 



By reason of the fact that every stream contains developed as 

 well as undeveloped power sites, these two questions are so inter- 

 related that a discussion of one will in a large measure embrace 

 the other. 



