HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



603 



additional 80 cubic feet per second as available for producing 

 power at Kochester. With, this understanding there will be pro- 

 duced at Rochester somewhat over 31,000 gross horsepower in the 

 year of minimum flow. For ordinary years there will be pro- 

 duced several thousand horsepower more than this. 



Rochester is a manufacturing city of 175,000 inhabitants. The 

 demands for power are large, and notwithstanding full develop- 

 ment of the stream in its present state, the use of the stream is 

 increasing from year to year. 



Chapter 605 of the laws of 1898 incorporated the Genesee River 

 Company and conferred the necessary powers for carrying out the 

 project in detail. 



Plan for acquiring water lights. During the several years of 

 general discussion of this project at Rochester various plans for 

 acquiring the water rights have been formulated. The water 

 rights, as they now stand, are attached to real estate, but it 

 is proposed that the owners deed to the company all interest 

 in water rights, each owner retaining his real estate. The deeds 

 would transfer to the company all power dams and head races 

 which the company on its part would undertake to maintain, 

 delivering water to the several properties at the race-wall, pay- 

 ment for water so delivered to be made to the company at the 

 rate of f 10 per year per gross horsepower. It is also proposed 

 to limit the sale of water to present owners at a price of $10 per 

 year per gross horsepower to present necessities — that is to 

 say, to about 18,000 to 20,000 gross horsepower. This will leave 

 about 10,000 to 12,000 gross horsepower to be developed at 

 power stations. 



Things to ~be done in order to place the project on its feet. The 

 first thing to be done is to make a test case as to condemnation 

 of flowage grounds. The act authorizing the Genesee River Com- 

 pany begins with a preamble, wherein it is stated : 



Whereas, It is necessary for the improvement and preserva- 

 tion of the public health, for the checking of floods, for the 

 furnishing of water for the enlarged Erie canal, and for the sup- 

 plying of pure and wholesome water for municipal purposes, that 

 the land and real property comprised within the flowage limits 

 hereinafter described of the main dam or reservoir to be^erected 

 on the Genesee river near the village of Portageville, as herein- 

 after in this act set forth and provided for, should be taken for 



