Conservation- Commission 19 



The great volume of water which periodically overflows our 

 streams is a menace to property, both public and private. The 

 disastrous floods of last year destroyed property of immense 

 value. ~No State suffers more in this respect than New York 

 because of the great number of inland streams, and because a 

 very large proportion of our population resides along and ad- 

 jacent to the course of our numerous rivers. The destructive 

 agency of spring freshets is almost annually felt in the valleys 

 of the Hudson, Mohawk, Genesee, Oswego, Black and Raquette 

 and elsewhere. Therefore, the menace to private and public 

 property from flood conditions can be regarded as State-wide in 

 extent. 



It will, likewise, be conceded, we believe, that the regulation of 

 stream flow by the construction of impounding reservoirs will 

 also greatly benefit the public health. The control of the flow 

 of the water in our rivers so that the volume thereof will be more 

 evenly distributed throughout the year will certainly furnish 

 purer and more wholesome water for the use of our municipali- 

 ties; moreover, the disease and pestilence which often follow 

 great floods will be largely avoided. 



It is apparent, therefore, that public safety, public health and 

 public welfare will be greatly conserved by impounding the flood 

 of waters of our streams, and this is sufficient to justify the State 

 in undertaking this work. In addition to these benefits, the con- 

 struction of reservoirs and the regulation of stream flow will 

 result in the creation of a vast amount of hydraulic power. In 

 some instances this power will be created at the point of dis- 

 charge ; and in all cases, if the reservoirs are properly constructed 

 and operated, the power capacity of our rivers will be greatly 

 increased. 



On these rivers where water powers have been developed this 

 increase of power will necessarily benefit the water power owners. 

 This increase of power available to the owners of water powers 

 is not a public but a private benefit. It will be used for private 

 business and enterprise. It appears, therefore, that the benefit 

 derived from the regulation of our streams is in part public and 

 in part private. 



