HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



545 



188 of the laws of 1894, authorized the Governor to appoint three 

 citizens of Jefferson county and one of Lewis county, interested 

 in the use of and owners of water power on Black river, Beaver 

 river or Moose river in such counties, to be Commissioners of 

 Water Power for Black river. These commissioners are authorized 

 to appoint a gatekeeper for the State dam at Stillwater on the 

 Beaver river, and also for the dams constructed by the State on 

 the Fulton chain and on Moose river. The act also authorizes 

 the commissioners to make rules and regulations for the man- 

 agement of the gates in said dams, subject to the approval of the 

 Superintendent of Public Works, and the gatekeepers are directed 

 to observe and obey all rules and regulations so made and ap- 

 proved, under penalty of removal, at any time, either by the 

 commissioners or by the Superintendent of Public Works. 



The commissioners are further authorized to regulate the dis- 

 charge of water through such gates, at such times and in such 

 quantities as they may deem proper, but not in such manner 

 as to injuriously interfere with canal navigation or the navigation 

 of that portion of the river used for canal purposes. This act 

 was reenacted by chapter 795 of the laws of 1896, with the addition 

 thereto of an increase of salary of the gatekeepers, the act of 

 1894 only permitting an expenditure of f 500 a year for this pur- 

 pose, while that of 1896 permits an expenditure of fljlOO. 1 



The case of Skaneateles lake. Chapter 728 of the laws of 1889 

 provided that under certain conditions the city of Syracuse might 

 draw a water supply to the extent of 15,000,000 gallons daily 

 from Skaneateles lake, which had been permanently appropriated 

 as a State reservoir for the supply of the Jordan level of the 

 Erie canal in 1844. Since this case presents many interesting- 

 points in illustration of the peculiar relations between the State 

 and the riparian owners in New York, it will be briefly discussed, 

 beginning with the early history. 



About 1824 the owner of land at the foot of Skaneateles lake 

 constructed a dam across the outlet, whereby the waters of the 

 lake were raised from 4 to 6 feet above their natural level, thus 

 creating a reservoir and waterpower sufficient to propel mills 



1 Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the year ended September 

 30, 1888. 



