WATER POWER 187 



Originally, Congress left the regulation of navi- 

 gable streams, and the building of structures in and 

 over them, entirely to the states. Later on, with 

 recognition of national responsibility, individuals 

 and corporations were granted rights to develop wa- 

 ter power incidental to damning streams for slack 

 water navigation. 



The authority of federal control over water 

 power is recognized to-day as resting on three bases : 

 first, the United States owns the Federal Lands in 

 which the great bulk of undeveloped power oppor- 

 tunity is found; second, the United States controls 

 navigable streams ; third, the United States controls 

 international waters of every kind. Eighty five per 

 cent of the waters suitable for power fall into one 

 or more of these three classes. 



For many years power was taken directly from 

 the passing current by the overshot or undershot 

 water wheel. In the early days of hydro-electric 

 power, Niagara furnished three quarters of the 

 power in the principal plants of the country. Nota- 

 ble activity in water power development began in 

 the eighteen nineties. There was little early legisla- 

 tion beyond the act of 1901 pertaining to power de- 

 velopment of streams on Federal Lands. The first 

 general act concerning water power development was 

 passed in connection with navigation improvement 

 in 1906, placing no time limit on grants. This, re- 

 vised, was the act of 1910, completing power legis- 

 lation previous to the Federal Power Act of 1920. 



