390 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



throats at the lower ends should show rock foundations either at the surface of the 

 ground, or at moderate depths in order that substantial masonry dams may be built. 

 Thus far most of the storage projects for the benefit of the water-power interests carried 

 out in New York have been marred somewhat by the construction of temporary 

 wooden structures, which require considerable expenditure for repairs every few years. 

 This mistake has led, as pointed out on a previous page, to the abandonment of some 

 of the early reservoirs. In New England, where experience in the construction of 

 dams is more extensive than elsewhere in the United States, important barrage works 

 are now made chiefly of stone, but in New York the use of temporary timber structures 

 is still much too common. This is the more astonishing because if a timber dam is 

 well built it is apt to cost about as much as masonry. Usually, when we take into 

 account first cost, repairs, renewals and the fixed charges generally, it will turn out 

 that masonry structures — although generally more expensive in first cost — are the 

 cheapest in the end. 



HUDSON RIVER RESERVOIR SYSTEM. 



We may now describe Hudson River with special reference to the proposed 

 reservoir system on the headwaters of that stream.* 



Chapter 599 of the Laws of New York of 1895 directed that the State Engineer 

 and Surveyor, acting in conjunction with the Superintendent of Public Works, should, 

 as soon as practicable, make a survey of upper Hudson valley in order to determine 

 what lakes, ponds and river valleys could be improved by the construction of storage 

 dams in order to provide additional water for: 



(1) The use of Champlain Canal. 



(2) For restoring to the water-power of Hudson River water diverted 

 for canal purposes. 



(3) Water for improving the navigation of lower Hudson River. 



The main branches of Hudson River rise in the elevated mountain region of Essex 

 and Hamilton counties. The whole region is rugged and mountainous, and was 

 originally covered with heavy forests. The forest area has, however, been considerably 

 reduced by lumbering operations in the last forty or fifty years, and by severe forest 

 fires which have in places run over very extensive areas Aside from a considerable 

 summer population of tourists, the whole upper Hudson valley is sparsely populated, 

 there being little opportunity for farming. The occupation of the great bulk of the 

 people is lumbering. The cleared area is in consequence only a small per cent, 

 of the whole. 



* This description of Hudson River basin is condensed from a paper on Indian River Dam in 

 "Engineering News" for May 18, 1899. 



