HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



605 



that not only should the railway negotiation be closed and the 

 new line placed under construction, but all rights in the flow- 

 age ground should be secured before beginning construction of 

 the dam. This is because the plan of construction proposed in- 

 volves the possible flooding of work while the dam is in process. 

 It is obvious that should such flooding occur before the company 

 had secured the area to be flooded, very heavy damages might 

 accrue. The valley to be flooded is broad and deep, and there 

 might even be loss of life. There is no other way, therefore, 

 than to fully -acquire the flowage ground and construct a new 

 line of railway before beginning work on the dam. 



With the foregoing several steps taken, the next thing will 

 be to finance the project. Possibly this can be accomplished 

 before acquiring flowage ground of reservoir and right to remove 

 railway, although it is considered that with these several things 

 fully accomplished the financing of the project will take care 

 of itself. 



Assuming that the necessary rights have been acquired and 

 the finances arranged, the next step will be to construct the 

 dam and the power stations at Rochester, together with any 

 other special constructions that may be decided on. 



Provided the matter be taken up actively and driven along 

 in a businesslike manner, the work can be completed and the 

 company ready to deliver power in from four to six years. 



The foregoing statement of things necessary to be done before 

 the Genesee River Company can be placed on its feet indicates 

 that a considerable amount of money must be invested without 

 being absolutely certain that the project will finally be carried 

 out, and on presenting this phase of the matter to capitalists 

 no one has thus far been willing to invest perhaps |300,000 to 

 1400,000 on the chance, although the project is safe enough 

 if one has a full realization of all the benefits to be derived. 



Description of the Rochester Water Power 



The following gives a brief description of the Rochester water 

 power as it existed in 1900. 



The power is developed at four dams. The first, or upper, 

 one of these is known as the Johnson and Seymour dam. It 

 is located in the heart of the city, just above Court street bridge. 



