14 Second Annual Kepokt of the 



Financing the Commission's Plan. 



While, as previously stated, the plan of the Commission con- 

 templates the ultimate construction of a complete system of power 

 plants and hydro-electric primary and secondary transmission 

 lines covering the State, the Commission considers the completed 

 scheme as an end that will be reached by growth from small begin- 

 nings, a supply being furnished only when called for by a suffi- 

 cient number of the municipalities of any group, but each step 

 will be so taken as to fit into the final system. The system is so 

 planned that construction by stages will entail an ultimate capital 

 investment but little, if any, greater than would be required by 

 construction of the entire system at once. 



From the foregoing it will be clear that while the ultimate 

 investment will be large only a very small investment will be 

 necessary to initiate the plan, test its various features and remedy 

 any defects that practical operation may disclose. Bearing in 

 mind that the entire expense will ultimately be reimbursed to the 

 State, it will be appreciated that the feature of construction by 

 stages is one of great advantage. 



Power Development for the Capital District. 



For example, there is an exceptional opportunity for the pro- 

 duction of cheap power in the vicinity of the populous district com- 

 prising the cities of Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Cohoes, Water- 

 vliet and Rensselaer and the smaller adjacent municipalities, 

 popularly known as the Capital District. The engineering corps 

 of the Commission has prepared preliminary plans in detail for 

 generating and transmitting power in this district. The accom- 

 panying map shows the area to be served, and the table the 

 available local undeveloped powers. 



It appears that : 



1. The construction of the Barge canal will create near the 

 center of the Capital District four large powers from which 

 energy can be delivered to sub-stations in Albany, Schenectady, 

 Troy, Cohoes and the other municipalities of the district at a price 

 astonishingly cheap. The heavy capital costs of dams and con- 

 trolling works have already been incurred by the State in the 



