KF.PnkT OF WATER SUPPLY < OMMISSION 





sequent upon such interference is out- 

 weighed by the danger it > the property 

 "t~ others and to the pnhlic good that 

 surely results fnnn their camp-fires. 

 When the interests of the Maine public 

 are at stake, our law officers must 

 ^urely be able to find some legal pro- 

 tection against non-resident tenderfeet. 

 The opportunity before our state 

 officials is an exceptional one. My 

 increasing the efficiency of the present 

 admirable forest fire warden system, bv 



expending la: Mils before th 



-tart and reKiiig less upon the aver, 

 rainfall, by promptly meeting each new 

 problem \\ith the proper initiative and 

 independence by c -iisj. leriug the in; 

 est of the whole peopk-. and that alone, 

 they ran in-ure the future prosperity 

 of the .state and be public henefac;or, jn 

 fact. Some of us may advoeate the 

 conservation of th<- state's wealth, to 

 the-e officials comes the privilege of 

 actually protecting the-e resouro 



REPORT OF THE WATER SUPPLY 

 COMMISSION OF PENNSYLVANIA 



ONE of the most enlightening and attention to the influences which are 



useful papers of the year on working to reduce the available water 



stream Mow and water supply is supply and to render stream flow more 



the Report of the Water Supply Com- irregular. 



mission of Pennsylvania for 1907. The Fortunately for the Commission it 

 Commission was established in 1905 to was provided with funds sufficient for 

 procure facts concerning the water sup- the employment of an able corp- of 

 ply of the state and to provide for its engineers under the charge of Mr. Far- 

 utilization, conservation, purification, ley Cannctt. Mr. ( iannett and his 

 and equitable distribution. -i-tants have not In en satisfied merely 



In 1907, the jurisdiction of the Com- to compile information. They have 



mission over the water companies of done this, to be sure, have compiled 



the state was increased by requiring all much in fact, but they have al- 



applications for charters for water and after original data on the top; -graphic 



water-power companies to name the and hydrographic conditions of the 



waters which it is proposed to use, by state. 



requiring all agreements for the con- The Commission has given a large 



solidation or purchase of water or amount of attention to the obstruction 



power companies to designate and limit of streams through various kinds of 



their source of supply the same as orig- elopment work. Its investigations 



inal applicants for charters and by re- have brought to light the existence of 



quiring all companies subject to the serious conditions in -everal important 



provisions of the law to procure the -(reams. For instance, "the carrying 



approval of the Commission before they capacity of the l\i<kim ; - River has 



can take or use any new or additional been greatly reduced by the flattening 



source or supply. of the slope by deposit-, carried down 



To intelligently carry out the provi- from ah< .\ v. and by encroachments 



sions of this comprehensive law the along its bank while changing condi- 



( 'oiumission f. -mid it necessary to study ti<>ns in its water-lied make iry 



the water supply of the state from sev- a greater facility for discharge. This 



eral aspects. Particularly it had to give stream was one of the chief contribu- 



