20 Third Axa t ual Report of the 



The provisions of the Constitution contemplate that these im- 

 provements in the forest preserve counties shall be made by the 

 State itself, constructed by the State and controlled by it. This, 

 of course, means that the State must bear the expense of the con- 

 struction of these reservoirs. 



It is necessary that the State adopt some definite policy in rela- 

 tion to this proposed work. This involves the use which the State 

 intends to make of the hydraulic power created by such con- 

 struction. 



We believe that the wisest policy for the State to pursue is to 

 utilize this power for the benefit of all the people, and not permit 

 it to be used for private gain. 



With respect to the increased power available along the streams, 

 the owners should be required to pay to the State an amount de- 

 termined upon as the value of the benefits which each owner 

 receives. In this way the State would in time be reimbursed for 

 its expenditures, by persons benefited thereby. 



Niagara River Power 



In the second annual report of the Commission is given the 

 history and present status of power development from the waters 

 of Niagara river. As a result of its investigations, the Commis- 

 sion believes that the charters of the corporations to which privi- 

 leges have been granted by the State can be and should be amended 

 so as to require: Full economic use of water granted; diligent 

 prosecution of full development ; and complete definition of privi- 

 leges granted. To this end, the Commission recommends that laws 

 be passed amending the charter of the Niagara Falls power com- 

 panies by limiting their diversion rights to their present uses, 

 and amending the charters of all companies that have not 

 already expired by limitation, by completely defining granite 

 where necessary and by fixing a reasonable time limit at the 

 end of which the charters shall expire, unless the proposed works 

 shall have been prosecuted diligently to completion. 



The State of New York must resolutely maintain all its 

 rights in the waters of the Niagara river, as to power distribu- 

 tion. 



