Conservation Commission. 11 



and the use of that power in lighting the public streets, highways, 

 and buildings, and for other municipal purposes, and for light and 

 power for all, is a project having the public purpose clearly and 

 unequivocally involved, and could sustain, successfully, the power 

 of eminent domain. 



It is believed that the Commission's plan follows the only way 

 that is now open through the many legal difficulties. Other 

 methods require amendments to the State Constitution that are 

 themselves of doubtful constitutionality when referred to the 

 federal constitution. 



Economic Advantages of the Commission's Plan. 



In the opinion of the Commission there are two prime objects 

 to be secured in handling the water powers of the State, and only 

 two that are of sufficient dignity and worth to merit action by the 

 State. The first is to advance the economic welfare of our people 

 as a whole, and the second is to insure that the new opportunities 

 created and benefits conferred shall be and remain open to every 

 citizen. These objects will be attained by placing at the disposal 

 of all our citizens power in quantities limited only by their require- 

 ments and at the lowest price consistent with self-supporting opera- 

 tion. The plan of the Commission is virtually to bring into use 

 with the least possible loss of time the now wasting but wonder- 

 fully abundant water powers of the State by bringing them to 

 market ; to the doors of our farmers, merchants and manufacturers, 

 and alongside the cheap transportation and labor markets, thus 

 offering a premium to commercial expansion by enabling our 

 people to produce more cheaply and live more cheaply and com- 

 fortably. The Commission believes that this plan will effect 

 industrial expansion without industrial revolution. 



It is expected that in carrying out the plans of the Commis- 

 sion no storage reservoirs will be built until a sufficient number 

 of the lower riparian owners have joined in an agreement with the 

 State, under the terms of which the State will be assured a revenue 

 commensurate with the benefits conferred. Any legislation should 

 give the Commission means of dealing with any owners inclined to 

 be unfair. If deemed sufficiently important, the power from the 

 stored water can be utilized bv the State, the owners' rights therein 



