44 Third Annual Report of the 



MEMORANDUM BY COMMISSIONER FLEMING 



I am in hearty accord with the general policy of conserving 

 and utilizing the water powers of the State; but I do not agree 

 with my associates upon the plan of utilization and the places at 

 which the policy shall be initiated. It is proposed to inaugurate 

 the policy of generating electric current by the State, by means 

 of the construction of power plants at Crescent and Vischer 

 Ferry on the Mohawk river operated by the surplus waters of 

 that river, and its distribution to the municipalities in what is 

 known as the Capital district. At these points and for many 

 miles to the west of them, the enlarged Erie Canal will be in 

 the Mohawk river which is to be canalized. It is conceded by all, 

 that during certain portions of the year, there will be no surplus 

 waters which could be used for power plants. It is admitted by 

 those who favor the proposition, that because of the recognized 

 deficiency of water, auxiliary steam plants must be constructed 

 and kept ready for use to generate and transmit the electric cur- 

 rent. How long such auxiliaries must be operated is, of course, 

 uncertain. It all depends on whether there is water in the canal 

 over and above what is necessarv for the navigation of the canals. 

 The future alone can demonstrate whether there will be surplus 

 waters sufficient in quantity and for sufficient length of time to 

 make it worth while for the State to embark upon an expenditure 

 of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the erection of power 

 plants. Time and experience are the best instructors. It is well 

 enough to talk about engineers' estimates, but every intelligent 

 man knows that such estimates are liable to be faulty. Many of 

 the most sincere and earnest advocates of the canal system believe 

 that the installation of such plants on the theory of surplus waters 

 in the canal, would impair the navigation of the canal or at least 

 "would be a mistake, and possibly a very costly one, until the canal 

 is completed and in actual operation, so that its necessities will 

 be known and the extent of the surplus waters be ascertained. It 

 seems to me that their view is worthy of the highest considera- 

 tion. It substitutes fact and experience for " estimates." The 

 people have voted to expend nearly one hundred and thirty mil- 

 linos of dollars for the enlargement of canals and the establish- 



