HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



587 



the period from June. 1894; to November, 1896, inclusive, would 

 there be any water wasted from the reservoir, the total for this 

 period being 2.11 inches. In June, 1894, 521 cubic feet per second ; 

 in April, 1895, 1058 cubic feet per second, and in April, 1896, 350 

 cubic feet per second. In no case would there be at Rochester less 

 than 1000 cubic feet per second. 



In the case of a reservoir of 7,500,000,000 cubic feet capacity, 

 there would have been wasted a total of 9.36 inches on the catch- 

 ment during the same period. In June, 1894, 645 cubic feet per 

 second; in November, 1894, 287 cubic feet per second; in 

 December, 1894, 216 cubic feet per second; in January, 1895, 260 

 cubic feet per second; in March, 1895, 1266 cubic feet per second; 

 in April, 1895, 1440 £ubic feet per second ; in March, 1896, 1145 

 cubic feet per second ; in April, 1896, 2716 cubic feet per second, 

 and in November, 1896, 269 cubic feet per second. The amount 

 flowing at Rochester would not have been less than 600 cubic feet 

 per second. 



Moreover had the enlarged canal been in operation in July, 

 1894, and taking the estimated quantity of 80 cubic feet of water 

 per second from Genesee river, the amount of water going to the 

 canal would have been 27.4 per cent of the total flow of the river 

 for that month; in August, 18.1 per cent; in May, 1895, 46 per 

 cent; in June, 28.3 per cent; in July, 34.5 per cent; in August, 

 31.5 per cent; in September, 36.2 per cent, and in October, 

 34.8 per cent. In May. 1896, the canal would have taken 51.3 

 per cent of the total flow of the river for that month; in June, 

 12.2 per cent; in July, 15.9 per cent; in August, 19.2 per cent, 

 and in September, 24.5 per cent. It appears, therefore, that the 

 taking of 80 cubic feet per second from the Genesee river for canal 

 purposes is a very serious matter to the waterpower of the stream 

 and is unjustifiable, unless it be clearly shown that the addition 

 to the wealth of the State is greater than if the water were used 

 for supplying power. The actual damage resulting from taking 

 at times 50 per cent of the unregulated flow of the stream is about 

 as follows: As shown on a previous page, the minimum flow of 

 the river is capable of producing 6727 gross horsepower, or, what 

 is the same thing, assuming 75 per cent efficiency, 5046 net horse- 

 power. One half of the low-water power may therefore be taken 

 at 2523 net horsepower. 



