CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Estate of Ross L. Baker ENGINEERING Cornell university Library QE 165.S97 Thewater£Owersof^Tennege, Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924004297291 Pi > (5 u o < p^ o u o > w ■ W go WW ^ g fc4 CO S On 2; H o H < STATE OF TENNEi^jEE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY A. H. PURDUE, Stale Geologist BULLKTIN IT THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE By J. A. SWiTZER Including AfREPORT ON DOE RIVER In cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey By A. H. HORTON NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 1914 Tu i>;i \ ... /,/ STATE GEOLOGICAL COMMISSION. GOVERNOR BEN W. HOOPER, Chairman. DR. BROWN AYRES, Secretary. President University of Tennessee. CAPT. T. F. PECK, Commissioner of Agriculture. DR. J. H. KIRKLAND Chancellor Vanderbilt University. DR. WM. B. HALL, Vice- Chancellor University of the South. GEO. E. SYLVESTER, Chief Mine Inspector. PuBLisHEn March, 1914 Baire-Ward Fruiting Co. nashville, tenn. GEOLOGICAL CORPS A. H. Purdue, State Geologist. Wilbur A. Nelson, Assistant Geologist. J. A. SwiTZER, Hydraulic Engineer. Olaf p. Jenkins, Assistant. Paul C. Bowers, Chemist. R. S. Maddox, Forester-elect in charge of the Forestry Division. L. C. Glenn, Temporary Geologist in charge of coal work. C. H. Gordon, Temporary Geologist engaged in marble studies . J. H. Derden, Temporary Assistant on soil survey. Bruce Wade, Temporary Assistant on areal geology. PREFATORY STATEMENT This bulletin is the result of an honest attempt to comply with the spirit, and as far as possible with the letter of Senate Joint Resolution No. 62 of the Fifty-seventh General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. The work of preparing it was intrusted to J. A. Switzer, Professor of Hydraulic Engineering, University of Tennessee, because his training as a hydraulic engineer, and the study he had already made of water power conditions in the State, especially fitted him, for it. As required by the resolution, the report was ready for the Fifty-eighth General Assembly, but pro- vision was not made for its publication in time to be used by that body. It must be understood that in the portions of the report dealing with stream flow, the engineering data given are only of a pre- liminary nature for all of the streams mentioned, with the excep- tion of the Doe River; and the records even in the case of this river, cover a period that is much too brief for complete knowledge of its water power possibilities. The full scope of the bulletin will be understood by reference to the Table of Contents. The very great importance of the water powers of Tennessee will sooner or later result in legislation relating thereto. Indeed, the senate joint resolution referred to, plainly contemplated legis- lation of this character at an early date. With that in view. Pro- fessor Switzer has brought together the water power laws of several states of the Union, and of Canada, Italy, France, and Switzer- land, that those interested in water power legislation may, in fram- ing it, conveniently take advantage of the experience of other states and countries. In the framing of laws relating to the State's water power re- sources, as in all legislation which seeks to control a public utility, two things must be kept in mind; namely, the rights of the public, for which the utility exists, and the rights of capital, without which it can not be developed and thereby rendered available. Unless the public is given needed protection, its interests will suffer; unless capital is promised not only fair protection but also the probability of reasonable returns, it will not invest. No water vi PREFATORY STATEMENT power legislation will be just that on the one hand fails to give the people the advantage of cheap light and power, or on the other, inflicts capital with such stringent regulations as to prohibit, or even unduly delay, the development of the enormous hydro-elec- tric energy that is now only in part utilized. Between these ex- tremes there is some middle policy, which if adopted, will bring results of immense benefit to the State. These considerations have had control in the preparation of those parts of the bulletin which deal with the economic aspect of the subject. The importance of the water power of Tennessee, developed and potential, can not be too strongly impressed upon the public. In the coming years its value will rank with those of agriculture and mining. It will light our houses, churn our butter, launder our clothes, run our shops, drive our autos, move our trains, pump our water, smelt our ores, heat our homes, and probably do other things now thought of only by the far-sighted electrician. A. H. Purdue, Slate Geologist. Nashville, Tenn. March 20, 1914. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction 5 The economic aspects of water power 7 The relation of the State to its water power resources _-_ 12 Arguments for water power legislation ^, 15 The water power question in New York 18 Recommendations for Tennessee 30 The available water power in Tennessee 41 Introduction 41 Reservoir system 41 Cooperation of other states needed 42 Reservoirs tentatively located 42 Reservoir sites in the Tennessee River Basin 43 Tennessee River 44 Hiwassee River 45 Tributaries of Hi wasee River 45 Clinch River 46 Tributaries of Clinch River 47 Little Tennessee River 47 Tributaries of Little Tennessee River 47 Tellico River 48 Citico Creek 48 Abrams Creek . 49 Cheoah Creek - 49 Tuckaseegee River 50 Nantahala River 50 French Broad River 51 Tributaries of the French Broad River 51 Little Pigeon River 51 Nolichucky River 52 Pigeon River 52 Holston River . 53 South Fork, Holston River 53 Tributaries of South Fork 54 Difficulty of separating power within from that without the State 56 2 CONTENTS Minimum horse power for 67 per cent of the time 5^ Minimum horse power during six high water months 60 Possible increase in power by storage 61 Capital cost of water power development and value of water power 62 Annual cost of power 64 The cost of steam power 66 The present development of water power in Tennessee 69 General statement 69 Existing plants 70 The Tennessee Power Company 71 The Hale's Bar Development 73 Watauga Power Company 75 Tennessee Eastern Electric Company 75 Projected developments 77 The Tennessee Hydro- Electric Company 77 The Aluminum Company of America ^ 78 French Broad River Power Company 79 The Doe River Survey 81 Doe River Report 83 Introduction 83 Siirface water-supply of Doe River. Doe river drainage basin 84 General Discussion 84 Doe River at Blevins, Tenn 87 Location 87 Records Available 87 Drainage area < 87 "Gauge 88 Channel 88 Discharge measurements 88 Winter flow 1 88 Accuracy 88 Regulation 88 Doe River at Valley Forge, Tenn 89 Location go Records available 89 Drainage area 89 Gauge 89 Channel 89 Discharge measurements go Winter flow 89 CONTENTS 3 Accuracy 89 Regulation « 89 Doe River at Elizabethton, Tenn 90 Location 90 Records available 90 Drainage area 91 Gauge 91 .Channel 91 Discharge measurements 91 Winter flow 91 Accuracy 91 Regulation 91 Method of Work 95 Water power 96 Appendix A 100 Digest of procedures and laws of other states with reference to water power 100 New York 100 New Jersey 103 California 103 Idaho 104 Maine 104 Pennsylvania 108 Oregon no Wisconsin in United States regulations covering water power develop- ment within forest reserves 114 Appendix B 116 Digest of procedures and laws of other countries with ref- erence to water power 116 Canada 116 Italy 120 Switzerland 122 France 124 LIST OF PLATES PLATE I. — Map of Tennessee, showing a possible system of power transmission for the entire State. Opposite page 38 PLATE II. — Rainfall map of Tennessee, showing the mean annual rainfall in inches. Opposite page 40 PLATE III. — A water power map of Tennessee, showing drain- age basins of the State, and adjacent areas. Opposite page 42 PLATE IV. — View of Ocoee plant at Parksville, September, 1911, during construction. Opposite page 70 PLATE V. — Map and virtual profile showing development of the Tennessee Power Company on Ocoee River. Opposite page 72 PLATE VI. — Hale's Bar dam, under construction. Looking west from the end of the power house, Nov., 1911. Opposite page 74 PLATE VII. — Map and profile of Doe River. Opposite page, 84 PLATE VIII.— Gorge below mouth of Roaring Creek. A fair dam site. Opposite page 90 PLATE IX. — Dam site below Hopson Post Ofiice, 14 J^ miles above the mouth of Doe River. Opposite page. 9 2 PLATE X. — Reservoir site below Hopson Post-office, 15 miles above the mouth of Doe River. Opposite page_ 94 PLATE . XL — Reservoir site at Blevins. Opposite page 96 PLATE XII. — Dam site below the railroad bridge at Blevins. Opposite page 98 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE By J. A. SwiTZER INTRODUCTION. The 5 7 th General Assembly of Tennessee adopted the follow- ing resolution, placing upon the State Geologist an obligation in response to which this bulletin is written:* Be it resolved, by the Senate of the 57th General Assem- bly, the House concurring, that the State Geologist be di- rected to make a full and careful investigation of the water power resources of the State, and report to the next General Assembly what suitable sites are remaining unappropriated by individuals and corporations; what sites have been so appropriated; what is the value of the earning capacity of the latter class; what is the value of those sites remaining, and what would be the probable cost of utilizing them, and what would be their probable earning capacity, which report he shall submit to the next General Assembly, together with a plan for utilizing and enjoying the same. Adopted July 5th, 1911. Signed by N. Baxter, Jr., Speaker of Senate, and A. M. Leach, Speaker of House. Approved July 7th, 191 1, by Gov. B. W. Hooper. In the passage of this resolution the General Assembly saw fit to strike out the clause making an appropriation of $15,000.00 . or the purposes of the resolution. In the absence of any appropriation whatsoever, the Survey decided to spend a sum of about $500.00 wherewith to do its utmost toward com- plying with the requirement laid upon it. A similar act passed some years ago by the State of New York, carried an appropria- tion of $35,000.00. Commenting upon this, the eminent engi- neer, John R. Freeman, whom the State employed to make the investigation, said: "The appropriation was insuflScient and the time too short. The entire appropriation and the entire time •Senate Joint Resolutions No. 62. (Bacon.) 6 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. allowed are smaller than I have sometimes found it necessary to expend on the surveys and studies for a single project of water power ' development." It is of interest to note that a period of seven years has been consumed, and a sum of money considerably in excess of $100,000 has been spent by the State of New York in its effort to secure precisely the information called for by the above mentioned joint resolution, which, as it finally passed, carried no appropriation at all. The water power resources of the State of New York are not larger in the aggregate, nor are they of intrinsically greater econom- ic importance, than are those of Tennessee. ECOXOMIC ASPECT OF WATER POWER. THE ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF WATER POWER One of the marked characteristics of the present decade in the life of America is the newly awakened realization throughout the country of the enormous value of our latent water powers. We stand today at the beginning of the Age of Conservation. In common with her sister states, Tennessee' faces the pressing ne- cessity of determining and declaring what shall be her attitude toward her water power resources. The citizenship at large does not realize how important is the subject, nor how pressing is the need for prompt action. The importance of water power has become really great only within the last twenty years. While it is true that the power of falling water has been utilized since prehistoric days in a small way, the development and utilization of any large water powers is a wholly new thing. It necessarily awaited the inventions and discoveries in electricity, whereby power generated at the site 'of the water-fall might be transmitted to a distance, there to turn the wheels of industry, to move the cars, to light the homes of men. It is the hydro-electric industry which is new, and within twenty years it has grown to colossal proportions. A generation ago there existed perhaps no reason why the riparian owners of the streams should not be the sole owners of the water powers af- forded by such streams. Now, we find that very suddenly- water power has acquired the characteristics of a public utility, and as such the State must deal with it. There are two commanding facts regarding the hydro-electric industry which give to it an importance of grave national extent. Of these. the first is the relation it bears to our coal supply, and the second is the ease with which it yields itself to monopolistic con- trol. These two are so closely interrelated that they can well be considered together. The rapidity with which the world is consuming its coal supply is not realized except by those who have devoted special studyito the subject. It is characteristic of the common thought to, assume that what always has been always will be. Coal has always-been 8 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. available and the supply is still plentiful. Why bother about that time, remote in the future, when it will be gone? That time is not remote in the future. Two hundred years is but a brief period in the life of a nation, and two hundred years hence the depletion of our easily accessible coal deposits will be all but complete. It is a matter of vital concern to us as a nation that we conserve our coal supply by every possible means— that we put off the day when coal may no longer be used as a source of power. Could all the available water po.wer within the borders of the United States be harnessed tomorrow, the ultimate exhaustion of coal would be postponed though not prevented. According to Mr. Herbert Knox Smith, until recently United States Commis- sioner of Corporations, the total stationary power now used in the United States — steam, water, and gas, — is probably over 30,000,000 horse power. The total commercial motive power — railroads and steam boats — probably exceeds 1,000,000 horse power;, while if we take account of the quantity of coal used for heating and domestic purposes, and express it in terms of the equiv- alent horse power which such quantity of coal would produce, we may say that the present day total demand for power in this country alone approximates 33,000,000 horse power. Our total developed water power is about 6,000,000 horse power, and that now capable of development on a present economical basis proba- bly does not exceed 25,000,000 horse power. The United States Geological Survey has estimated the "minimum potential" water power of the country at 32,083,000 horse power, and the "as- sumed maximum" at 61,678,000 horsepower, both figures, exclud- ing storage possibilities. The ultimate possibilities for water power development — that is the total amount that is conceivably susceptible of development by the aid of complete storage of flood waters, is at present impos- sible of computation; and different authorities who have attempted such computations arrive at results very wide apart. Whether the ultimate possible water power development be double or quadruple the above amount, is not material to the present discussion. For enough has been said to make it evident that the world needs to have its water power resources put to work, and that, too, as promptly as considerations of the larger welfare will permit. Enormous as the present demand of society for power has been ECONOMIC ASPECT OF WATER POWER. 9 shown to be, the rate at which that demand grows year by year is so very great that within forty years — it may be within twenty years — the inevitable upward movement in the price of power and the price of coal wiil begin. And when it does begin, it will pro- ceed at an accelerated rate, in spite of all that the states and the United States may do. While the average citizen proceeds with his accustomed round of duties and thoughts, wholly oblivious of all such considerations, there are men who are keenly alive to the situation. They realize that ownership of water power, today quite desirable, will tomorrow be most enviable. When a coal mine has given up its coal it has become worthless. Water power is perpetual. The profit from a ton of coal may be taken by its owner but once. The profit from a falling stream may be taken this year, and then again next year, and the next and the next. And while a coal mine becomes intrinsically less valuable every year, a water power intrinsically becomes more valuable as the depletion of the coal supply pro- gresses. Considerations such as these constitute potent reasons for a desire to own and control the large water powers of the country. Another reason for such a desire resides in the peculiar nature of water power, whereby it lends itself naturally to monopolistic con- trol. Power may now be transmitted electrically over long dis- tances with good economy. The street cars of Nashville are now operated with power generated at Parksville, 160 miles distant. The Southern Power Company has transmission lines in the Caro- linas aggregating over 1380 miles in length. A company which owns a network of transmission lines and a number of water power developments within the territory which it covers, can so use its power as to effect economies not otherwise obtainable, and there- by secure much larger returns upon its investment than would be possible if the various power stations were not inter-connected. Indeed, for the full development and utilization of large water- powers with maximum economy, such inter-connection is essen- tial. For both of these reasons centralization of ownership and control of large water powers in the United States has already pro- ceeded to such a length as to have created grave dangers to the welfare of the nation, and the future menace of a monopoly of the most burdensome character is now recognized as being imminent. The attention of the people of Tennessee is called to the report lo THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. of the late United States Commissioner of Corporations on " Water power Developments in the United States," submitted to the President on March 14th, 1912. The report is the outcome of a thorough investigation of facts, and neither these facts, nor the conclusions to which they inevitably point, can be evaded or explained away. In his report the Commissioner points out that the most de- sirable water power sites in the country have now passed into the hands of private owners or corporations. That the concentra- tion of ownership and management involves not only the water- powers, but a very large number of public utilities as well — street car systems and gas and electric supply companies all over the country. By interlocking directorates, orby majority holdings of stock, the control or influence of a small group of men extends throughout the country. Thus we read, for instance, "the in- fluence of the General Electric Company in municipal public- service corporations is not by any means confined to those com- munities that have water power. It, or its subsidiaries, has ac- quired control of, or an interest in, the public-service corporations of numerous cities where there is no water power connection, and it is affiliated with still others by virtue of common directors. Perhaps the chief significance of the wide General Electric in- fluence in municipal public-service corporations that have no connection with water power lies in the fact that it emphasizes the tendency of large interests not only to acquire the water powers in various sections, but at the same time to acquire the control of those public-service corporations that are naturally the best customers for water power. Broadly speaking, hydro-electric developments, electric railways and electric-lighting plants fall within that group of enterprises commonly known as the electrical industries, and quite naturally an interest in one branch involves an interest in other branches. Some of the largest municipal public-service corporations in the country are subject to General Electric control or influence. The American Gas & Electric Company is one of the most prominent examples. It is controlled by the General Electric Company through the ownership of a majority of its stock by the Electric Bond & Share Company. The American Gas & Electric group of concerns includes 13 light- ing corporations operating in seven states." The General Electric Company, whose legitimate business is ECONOMIC ASPECT OF WATER POWER. ii the manufacture and sale of electrical machinery, through its subsidiary companies, controls public utilities in i8 states. It owns or controls undeveloped water powers aggregating 641,600 horse power, and water powers developed or in process of construc- tion having a total capacity of 939,115 horse power — a total of over a million and a half horse power. This company with nine others "control or have under their influence more than 60 per cent of all the commercial water power developed and under construction in the United States." "The five largest groups of holders of developed water power in the United States control more than 50 per cent of all the commercial power developed and under construction in the country, besides having more than i,- 200,000 horse power undeveloped." "Seventeen corporations and groups of corporations control about 70 per cent of all the commercial water power in the United States."* Although written so recently, the report has little to say con- cerning the condition in Tennessee. Yet it will be shown in de- tail later in this bulletin that since January ist, 191 2, events in Tennessee have moved rapidly, and in anticipation of the full details, it may be said that here too the best water power sites are now passing into the hands of private companies or corpora- tions. •Water Power Development in the United States. Herbert Knox Smith, U. S. Commissioner of Corporations. 12 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. THE RELATIONS OF THE STATE TO ITS WATER POWER RESOURCES The Survey believes that there is urgent need of constructive legislation which shall declare the water powers of the State to be a public utility, and which shall assert the ownership of the State therein. In support of the constitut'onality of such action, we cite the following excerpts from the Report of Hon. Knute Nelson, on behalf of the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce. (Senate report 585, 60th Congress, ist session). "The title to the water of a navigable stream within the borders of a state is not in the Federal Government, but in the State; and the title to the banks and bed of the stream, after the Federal Government has parted with its riparian lands, is either in the state or the riparian owner, or both, according to the laws of the respective states. These principles have been laid down and applied by the Supreme Court of the United States in the following, among other cases, and is the settled law of the land, to- wit: Martin v. Wadell, 16 Pet., 367; Pollard v. Hagen, 3 How., 212; Goodtitle v. Kibbe, 9 How., 471; Barney v. Keokuk, 94- U. S., 324; St. Louis v. Myers, 113 U. S., 566; Packer v. Bird, 137 U. S., 661; Hadrin v. Jordan, 140 U. S., 371; Kaukauna Water Power Company v. Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company, 142 U. S., 254; Shively v. Bowlby, 152 U. S., i; Water Power Company V. Water Commissioners, 168 U. S., 349; Kean v. Calumet Canal Company 190 U. S., 452; United States v. The Chan- dler Dunbar Water Power Company, U. S. Supreme Court, April 20, 1908. "The use of water in such a stream is a matter of state regulation and state control. In many of the states the THE STATE AND WATER POWER. 13 common law rule, as defined in the following language of Chancellor Kent, prevails, to wit: "Every proprietor of lands on the bank of a river has naturally an equal right to the use of the water which flows in the stream adjacent to his lands, as it was wont to run {currere solebat) without diminution or alteration. No proprietor has a right to use the water to the prejudice of other proprietors above or below him, unless he has a prior right to divert it, or a title to some exclusive enjoy- ment. He has no property in the water itself, but a simple usufruct while it passes along. Aqua currit et ut currere jolebat is the language of the law. Though he may use the water while it runs over his land as an incident to the land, he cannot unreasonably detain it or give it another direc- tion, and he must return it to its ordinary channel when it leaves his estate. "The rule of riparian ownership as to grants of land bor- ■dering on a navigable stream is diverse in the various states. Some states hold that the grant extends only to the high- water mark; other states hold that it extends to low- water mark, while another class of states — -and perhaps the mos t numerous — hold that the grant extends to the middle of the istream, subject to the public easement in the water of the stream. But whatever the law may be in this respect as to the effect of the grant, it only relates to the proprietor- -ship in the banks and bed of the stream and not to the owner- ship of the water in the stream. "In those states which hold that the title of the riparian owner only extends to the high or low water mark, the title to the bed of the stream is deemed to be in the state, and -whenever the title to the bed of the stream is in the ripar- •iian owner or in the state, in either case the general title ;to the water of the stream is deemed to be in the state, >but it holds it not absolutely, but in trust for all lawful public uses. The state's interest in such a stream is akin to that of a riparian owner, though more comprehensive ■and general in its nature, and does not exist in hostility ,to or diminution of the rights of the riparian owner. Ross- miller V. State, 114 Wis., 169; People's Ice Co. v. Daven- port, 149 Mass., 322; Brown v. Cunningham, 82 Iowa, 512- 14 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Braston v. Rockport Ice Co., 77 Maine, 100; Martin et aL V. Waddell, 16 Peters, 367. "From the foregoing it will appear that there are three different parties who are interested in the waters of a navi- gable stream: (i) the United States, (2) the state in which the stream is located, (3) the riparian owner. The interest of the United States is derived from and rests upon that paragraph of the constitution which gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, and this power only extends to the extent of conserving the navigability of the stream. Beyond that the Federal Government has no interest or property in the stream. "The interest of the state in the stream is derived from its sovereignty, and it holds, its property in the stream in trust for all public uses, but in subrogation to the rights of the Federal Government as to navigation and of the ri- parian owner. The right to the use of the waters of a stream for any lawful purpose, outside of the rights of navigation, belongs wholly to the state, and the riparian owner, Martin et al. v. Waddell, 16 Peters, 367." ARGUMENTS FOR LEGISLATION. 15 ARGUMENTS FOR WATER POWER LEGISLATION Such legislation as we recommend would be in line with that of the most progressive of the states. The water powers of Tennessee are among her most precious assets, the perpetual ownership of which, if it reside in the State, will do much to insure her future welfare and prosperity. And if, on the other hand, the ownership be allowed to pass by default into the hands of corporations, then the menace to our free institutions which now looms so large in our national life will be incalculably heightened. It being now everywhere recognized that the conservation of water power resources is best accomplished by the prompt develop- ment of those water powers, there are those who argue that there- fore the most enlightened policy for the State to pursue is one of inaction. "Let us do nothing," they say, "that will hinder foreign capital from coming into the State and developing our water powers." Foreign capital, they tell us, is a timid creature, and should the State change its policy of giving away water power privileges absolutely for nothing, foreign capital will be frightened away and will seek investment elsewhere. The argument is not sound. Nor is it always disinterested. The poIicJy of a reasonable State control of water power develop- ment, accompanied by the imposition of a reasonable rental charge for the use of water, does not deter water power development. This fact is well illustrated by the situation at Niagara Falls. Here water power is developed on both sides of the river. On the American side the present development amounts approximate- ly to 262,000 horse power, and on the 'iCanadian side to 238,000. The ultimate development permissible at Niagara under the treaty of 1910 with Great Britain will be, on the American side about 460,000 and on the Canadian side about 840,000 horse power. The companies on the American side of the river pay no rentals whatever^ the privilege of utilizing this great natural resource having been. given away absolutely free. The power companies on the Canadian side pay to the Province of 'Ontario an annual i6 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. rental for the privilege of generating power from ths falls. The charges made by the Ontario Government are $15,000 per annum for a franchise involving as much as 10,000 horse power; $1 per annum for each electrical horse power generated and used over 10,000 horse power and up to 20,000 horse power; $0.75 per horse power for all power generated and used over 20,000 and up to 30,000 horse power; and $0.50 for each electrical horse power gen- erated and used over 30,000 horse power. From these rentals the receipts in 1910 were slightly less than $133,000. And when the ultimate development is realized, the Province of Ontario will enjoy an annual revenue from this single water power of about $430,000. In spite of this charge the Canadian power companies are reasonbly prosperous. Commenting on this situation, the New York Water Supply Commission says: "We have only to look across our northern border to the Dominion of Canada to see how our mistakes in allowing private interests to acquire natural resources have been avoided by the statesmanship of the Domin- ion government." New York, it may be remarked, having recog- nized its mistake, has tardily changed all this and has now ceased to be a happy hunting ground of "the few intent upon amassing fortunes and creating monopolies," at least in so far as the further acquisition of valuable water powers is concerned, without making some sort of adequate return to the people therefor. Even if it were true that the adoption of a wise policy of con- servation by the State would for the time being check the flow of foreign capital into our territory, every dictate of broad states- manship would nevertheless incite us to take such action. When capital invests in a foreign territory what disposition does it make of the profit upon such investment? Does the profit enrich the foreign territory, or does it return to the home of the investor? It is argued that if foreign capital comes in and develops our latent water powers, it must find a market for such power locally, or create one, and hence it creates employment which did not exist before and so adds to our prosperity. There are two reasons why this argument is specious. First, the market for the power need not necessarily be found locally. Power developed on the Clinch River in Tennessee might very well find a market in Cincinnati, Ohio. Of what profit would it be to the people of Tennessee if capital from Pennsylvania build power houses within our borders costing $2b, 000,000, pay to the treasury ARGUMENTS FOR LEGISLATION. 17 of Tennessee the trivial incorporation tax on a relatively small capitalization, and transmit and sell the power outside of our borders? Second, what comfort is it to a man who, being met on the highway by a polite bandit, is assured that if he give up his wallet without protest, he will be returned ten cents for carfare home and fifty cents to buy his supper? The State is entitled to more than the tax on the improvements; it is entitled to the fran- chise value of the water power itself. Suppose that a given water power can be developed at such an outlay that, allowing duly for interest on investment, depreciation,, attendance and upkeep, the power actually costs $10.00 per horse power per year to generate. Who can point to the private cor- poration which, owning the plant, would be content to add to thi.s. cost a reasonable profit, and offer the power for sale at, we will say, $12.00? Or even $13.00? No such reasonable prices would be made. The market price of power, in the absence of State regulation, is fixed by the cost of competing steam power, and the power of our hypothetical hydro-electric plant would be sold at the maximum price which " the traffic would bear." And the mar- gin of profit would benefit Tennessee not one whit. What course shall the State pursue with reference to its water powers? In this matter the State of Tennessee is not the pioneer, and she may well benefit by the experiences of many of the other states. Notably the states of New York, Maine, Oregon, Minne- sota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and California have preceded Tennessee in grappling with the problem of State control of water and water power resources. Further on we shall give a resume of the course which has been pursued by several of these States as well as by certain foreign countries, and in the Appendix are re- produced in full the laws of some of them. THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. THE WATER POWER QUESTION IN NEW YORK Apparently the State of New York stands first in respect to the thoroughness and sanity with which it has proceeded in dealing with the question, and a review somewhat in detail of the ex- perience of that state will prove of value in the present discussion. Quoting from the reports of the New York Water Supply Com- mission and the New York State Conservation Commission', we find as follows: "The policy of the State with regard to the conservation and development of its water powers has been of gradual growth, although each step has led in the same general direction. "Following an agitation of more than ten years, during which the increasing importance of the water powers of the State constantly obtained greater recognition, the Legis- lature in 1902 created the Water Storage Commission, consisting of five citizens appointed by the Governor to act with the Attorney-General, the State Engineer and Surveyor, the Superintendent of Public Works, and the Forest, Fish and Game Commissioner, to investgate the causes of floods and to make recommendations for their prevention. This Commission found that the loss from floods in the State during 1902 had exceeded $3,000,000. Its studies of the various streams led it to call attention forcibly to the extremely valuable possibilities of water power development, and in the report which it made to the Legislature in 1903 it said: We believe that State supervision and control is the only safe method of intelligently initiating, constructing and maintaining an adequate system of river improvement in this State. Such State supervision and control, by a commission of recognized competence and character, would not only secure the scientific treatment of such stream as a whole, but the safe and economical execution of the various component parts of a comprehensive system of river improvement in the order of their relative urgency and importance. Legislation providing for such a system of river regulation is in our opinion a great and urgent public necessity." THE POWER QUESTION IN NEW YORK. 19 The Commission further recommended that the work of river improvement should be entrusted to a permanent commission and that its cost should be borne entirely by the property bene- fited. This recommendation was adopted by the Legislature, which act committed the State to the policy of State control. In 1907 the Legislature took a further step by establishing the principle that new grants of water power rights should be made only upon thebasisof an annual payment to the State for the privilege gran- ted, the amount of such payments to be readjusted at specified terms. Still another and more important step was taken by the Legis- lature of 1907 by the passage of the law commonly known as the "Fuller Act" (Chapter 569 of the Laws of 1907). This act directed the State Water Supply Commission to collect information relating to the water powers of the State, devise a general plan for their progressive development and report a draft of a 'referen- dum bill for a general law to carry its recommendations into effect. In the preparation of the bill which the Commission was directed to draft in order to carry out its recommendations, it was required to include a financial plan providing for the issue of State bonds to pay the cost of water power development, and for an annual tax sufl&cient to pay the interest and sinking fund charges thereon. The bill also provided that "the rate of charge for the use of the water horse power under contract for sale shall be based upon the aggregate cost of the development * * * and such rate of charge shall be so adjusted that it will produce a net revenue sufiicient to pay, in addition to all costs of superintendence, maintenance and depreciation, the interest upon the bonds as the same shall become due and the principal of said bonds at their maturity." Thus at the beginning of 1908 the Legislature had outlined a State policy with regard to water powers, the principal points of which included State control, the payment of compensation for new grants, the storage of water by the State at public expense and the sale or lea'sie of the right to use the water so stored upon terms which would reimburse the State for its outlay, and the progres- sive development by this method of all streams capable of yield- ing additional water power. In piitsuancebf the policy oirtiiried iii the: Fuller Act, the State has expended up Ward 'of $ioo,c)boin a:sc'ertaining the e.tteh't'ahd 20 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. value of its undeveloped water power resources and in making the detailed surveys and estimates required by the act. In recommending the subject to the Legislature of 1909, Gov- ernor Hughes in h's annual message expressed the opinion that the following principles should be accepted: "(1) That the flow of water in our rivers should be regulated and our water powers developed to the fullest extent that may be practicable. This is essential to prevent unnecessary damage from floods and to ensure- our industrial progress and the future prosperity of our people. "(2) That with respect to itieams having their headwaters within the boundaries of the foreat parks, all plans of regulation or power de- velopment should be executed only by the State, and all reservoirs and their appurtenances and the inrpounded waters should be the property of the State and under exclusive State control, and not be permitted to pass into private hands. .Any such plan should embrace all necessary safe- guards to ensure the proper protection of the forests. "(3) That with respect to any other streams flowing through any other public park or reservation of the State, such plans should likewise be- executed by the State, and it should retain exclusive ownership and con- trol in order adequately to safeguard the State's interests. "(4) That further, as it is of great public importance that the water- powers ot the State should be developed in a comprehensive manner, and" that these natural sources of industrial energy should not become the subject of an injurious private control, such developmiCnt should be under- taken by the State whenever such action appears to be feasible and for the general mterest. "(5) That in any case of State development of water power, provision should be made for the granting of such rights as may be proper to use the power so developed upon equitable terms and conditions. "(6) That the State should not undertake any plan of regulation or water-power development save upon a basis which would make its invest- ment a fair and reasonable one from the public standpoint by virtue of practicable measures for ensuring such a return upon the State's outlaj^ as would be equitable in the particular circumstances. "(7) That any amendment of the Conscitution at this time foi the purpose of permitting any portion of the forest preserve to be used for any such purpose should, bv its terms, or by appropriate reference, suit- ably define the property within the preserve which is to be used and the manner of its use. No amendment and no plan of development should meet with any favor which, after the most rigid scrutiny, does not afford absolute assurance that in no way will the public interest in the forests be parted with or jeopardized." In accordance with the requirement of the Fuller Act and the recommendations of the Governor, the Commission with its last THE POWER QUESTION IN NEW YORK. 21 annual report submitted a draft of a bill for a general law. This •draft was considered by the Legislature, hearings were given upon it, its provisions were thoroughly discussed and changes were made in certain particulars. In its final perfected form it pro- vided a scheme of general conservation and development of water powers by the State, which in brief outline was as follows: "Any person may petition the State, through the State Water Supply Commission, to construct a storage reservoir. The petition must show that the reservoir will produce an annual net revenue to the State by the lease of the water stored or of the power generated thereby or by assessment for benefits resulting therefrom. The petitioner must guarantee to the State a gross revenue sufficient to pay operating expenses and interest and sinking fund charges upon the cost of the reservoir. "If the Commission has not already prepared plans ■covering the project, it must proceed to prepare them, and if conflicting petitions are filed, it may co-ordinate them. Within thirty days after the filing of a petition or the com- pletion of plans it must accept or reject the petition and give its reasons therefor. "If the Commission approves a petition, it must lay it before the Governor, with the plans and estimates relating to it, and if the Governor approves it, he must within thirty ■days direct the Commission to proceed to build the reser- voir. "The Commission without petition may present to the ■Governor a reservoir project which will yield a net revenue to the state. "Real estate required for the e.xecution of' the work may be appropriated upon notice when needed, and if compensa- tion cannot be agreed upon with the owner by the Com- mission, the Court of Claims is authorized to make an award which the Comptroller is directed to pay. "The work of construction must be done under contract approved by the Governor. "The Commission is authorized to make and enforce rules for the maintenance and operationof storage reservoirs. "The Comrnission may lease for terms of not more than fifty years the right to use water from any State storage 22 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. reservoir, or the power developed therefrom, for a sum which shall not be less than the interest, sinking fund and operat- ing charges, and the rental shall be a tax upon the property benefited. "In consideration of benefits to be conferred, the Com- mission may enter into a contract for a reasonable consid- eration with any person or corporation, municipal or other- wise, and the sum so agreed upon shall be a tax upon the property benefited. "When no contract exists, the Commission is directed upon the Completion of the reservoir, and at five year in- tervals thereafter, to assess the value of the yearly benefit upon the property and the municipalities benefited, and the assessment shall be a tax upon the property or the mu- nicipality. Hearings must be given by the Commission upon assessments, and its decisions may be reviewed in the manner provided by the Tax Law. "All moneys received must be paid into the treasury to the credit of a fund to be known as the State Water Stor- age Fund, from which appropriations may be made for pay- ing the cost of maintaining and operating reservoirs, for additions to the sinking fund to retire water storage bonds, for building other storage reservoirs and for deposit to the general credit of the State. "Bonds limited in amount to $20,000,000, in interest to 4 per cent., and in term to fifty years, shall be issued by the State to provide funds for building storage reservoirs as money may be required for payments under contracts. Not more than $2,000,000 may be issued in the year after the act takes effect, and thereafter the bonds shall be sold in lots of not more than $1,000,000. For each $1,000,000 of bonds outstanding a State tax of twelve one-thousandths of a mill is imposed for the payment of the interest and s'nking fund charges until the sinking fund shall equal the principal of the bonds, after which time the tax shall be reduced to an amount equal to the interest alone. "It is expressly declared that nothing in the act shall be deemed to confirm any right or privilege claimed, or to impair any right or power now belonging to the State. The Commission, for the State, is empowered to revoke THE POWER QUESTION IN NEW YORK. 23 any use of real estate for private purposes under the au- thority of or by sufferance of the State in cases where the State can revoke. "The bill, when approved by the Legislature and the Governor, must be submitted to the people for their approv- al in the general election of 1911, and will take effect only when approved by a majoriy of the voters who vote upon it." In 1909 the Legislature still further increased the powers of the Commission to cover cases of water power development where the expense should be borne by local or private parties interested. In its report for 1910, the Water Supply Commission summarizes as fol ows the reasons why State control of water power develop- ment is essential: "Development by the State ensures the fullest possible utilization of the power possibilities of each stream, whereas development by uncontrolled private enterprise often in- volves waste of resources. Private capital, seeking the greatest possible immediate return on the investment, naturally confines its attention to the most concentrated portion of a given fall. The less precipitous portions of the fall above and below, involving a large unit outlay in development, are consequently apt to be neglected, and in too many cases permanently wasted, because no other enterprise is likely to undertake their development after- ward, even if the right of the company already on the spot would permit this to be done. On the other hand, the State, with its greater power and scope, and with financial resources enabling it to defer the return on its investment, could undertake the construction of the more extensive « works necessary to develop the full extent of the fall in the supposed case. Without amplifying the point, it should be clear that the State is the only authority with sufficient power to insure the complete development of each and every stream so that every foot-pound of energy represented by its falling waters may be given up when necessary to the service of man. "The financial strength of the State enables it to under- take the large outlay involved in reservoir construction ^4 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. at much lower rates of interest than any private corpora- tion, individual or association could hope to command. While credit is not money in the real sense, it is an impor- tant factor in financial enterprises, and in proportion as the credit of the State is better than the credit of private en- terprises, the State is better equipped to develop its own resources. It would be practically impossible for a person or corporation to raise, without the use of bonds based on its credit, a sum sufficient to build the great reservoirs needed for stream control. An individual or corporation would be obliged to issue a s per cent, or possibly a 6 per cent, bond, and if a s per cent., to put it on the market at SS or 90 per cent, of its par value. On the other hand the State can float its 3 or ^}4 per cent, bonds at par. The 6 per cent, which a private enterprise would have to pay as the fixed interest charge upon its original investment would pay the 3'/ per cent, interest on the State investment and in addition provide a sinking fund that would retire the bond issue in less than twenty-five years. Such an advantage in favor of State construction and ownership cannot be overlooked. "Some of this very saving probably would and certainly should be used, in case the State does the work, to insure that degree of care in the planning and construction of dams, reservoirs and appurtenant works which is necessary to render these structures worthy of the State from an esthetic point of view. At any rate this object must be attained. Only under State control can the people of the State be absolutely safeguarded in their right to have the natural beauty of their streams and lakes maintained at the highest degree consistent with the necessary and proper measures for regulation of flow and utilization of fall. "Even if private enterprise were in as strong a financial position as is the State, it has not the necessary authority to undertake river regulation on a large scale. Aside from the fact that under the laws of the State the power of emi- nent domain cannot be granted for this purpose, the proper construction of a great controlling reservoir is beyond the scope of any one individual, company or even association. , Moreover, as all the developments on the stream receive the THE POWER QUESTION IN NEW YORK. 25 benefit of control, mutual action is a necessity. But mutual action and the distribution of costs and benefits in such a work has been shown by experience to be peculiarly diffi- cult to arrange. Since individual development must of neces- sity be selfish in its purpose and limited in its extent, con- stant friction is likely to prevail not only between the dif- ferent developments on a given stream but between their collective interests and that of the public. Under such conditions the incidental value of stream regulation for other public purposes, such as the prevention of floods, the dilution of sewage, the improvement of navigation and the protection of municipal water supplies, would inevitably fail to receive just and proper consideration. "State control means the careful utilization of each stream under a pre-established plan by which growing needs may be progressively met without impairing the eventual completeness of the development. With such a predeter- mined plan the State will be able to take into consideration many other factors in its public economy. With the pos- sible future storage needs of a water shed in mind, the State can easily prevent the location of railroads, buildings and other structures at points where in the future they would have to be removed at great expense and trouble to make way for storage reservoirs. "In addition to the reasons for State control above enum- erated, there is the need of supervision over the construc- tion of dams to ensure their safety. No one will doubt that under State construction every precaution to secure the stability and safety of these structures. will be taken. There are too many cases where private enterprise, with its eye on the immediate outlay, is tempted to save expense by the use of methods and materials which a proper consideration for public safety would not countenance. Frequent re- ports of disaster from the giving way of particular dams have aroused such wide-spread apprehension regarding all dams as will with difficulty be allayed even by insistence upon State' control. Yet the construction of thoroughly safe dams, of which there are many notable examples, is only a matter of adequate expenditure and the proper su- pervision of designs and construction. In the State, if 26 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. anywhere, must be found the authority which will insist on the use of methods and materials which shall provide the required factor of safety. "The prime inclusive reason for the exercise of State authority over the control of stream flow for power develop- ment is that under modern social and economic conditions this step is necessary to ensure the equal participation of all citizens in this form of natural wealth, which is peculiarly the heritage of the whole people. Some of the more par- ticular supplemental reasons for State control have been mentioned in the foregoing. It appears that from all points of view the State is the proper authority to Undertake and carry out the conservation of its own water resources. The advantages to be gained by the State in dealing with this natural resource have been forced upon the public mind none too soon. Even though the profits over and above interest, sinking fund and maintenance charges may not appear generous in the near future, our own experience and the experience and observation of our neighbors show that in the not distant future ample returns will result from all reasonable outlay. The next generation will either com- mend our efforts for prompt action or condemn us for inex- cusable delay. Our ancestors found unlimited resources, immense forests which held the deep snows and heavy rain- falls in the strong grasp of their shadows, roots and tangled undergrowth, and permitted them to escape in slow and easy stages all through the dry summer months. The neces- sity for storage and stream regulation was unknown to them. They did not dream of the possibility of convert- ing their water power into electricity and transmitting it long distances, nor did early industrial and social conditions supply a general market for power at large centers of pop- ulation. To clear the land was their first effort; to remove the timber and make room for their homes was the ambition : „ of the hardy pioneers. It seemed to them that the streams issuing from the deep, dark forest would run on through the future as they had been running in the past. We of modern times are met with new conditions and must solve new problems. The forests, to a large extent, have been felled or the fires have destroyed them. The flow of our streams THE POWER QUESTION IN NEW YORK. 27 is now more than ever irregular and unreliable, and unless regulated by storage, their value for power purposes is in a large measure lost, while at the same time there is a grow- ing demand for power. The times demand early action, and the State is the au thority to which the people must look for relief. "It does not seem to this Commission that it should be necessary further to urge upon the State the importance of conserving its natural resources. It should be sufficient simply to point the way, so that the Legislature with the prevision of statesmen may adopt the necessary measures. We have no hesitation in saying that the regulation of stream flow and the general conservation of the State's water resources is a State function, and that this State should continue to lead all others in so important a matter by enacting the required legislation, and, if necessary, by amending the fundamental law." In July, ic)ii, what is known as the Conservation law was passed. This law created a department of conservation, and con- centrated in the hands of three commissioners the duties which had previously been discharged by a number of other boards and commissioners. The salaries of the commissioners were fixed at $10,000 per year. The commission was directed to appoint a chief engineer and a council each at a salary of $7,000, and a num- ber of deputy commissioners, etc. The duties and authority of the commission are very broad, and include, among other things, the power to initiate and conduct the construction and develop- ment of water power projects, storage reservoirs, works for the improvement of navigation, etc.; to continue investigations of the water resources of the state "so as to complete a compre- hensive system for the entire state, for the conservation, develop- ment, regulation and use of the waters of the State with reference to the accomplishment of the following public uses and purposes: (i) The prevention of floods and the protection of the public health and safety. (2) The supply of pure and wholesome water to municipalities and the inhabitants thereof, and the disposal of sewage. (3) Drainage and irrigation. (4) The protection of the public right of navigation." 28 THE ^^■ATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. With respect to hydraulic development, the law reads as fol- lows: "General powers of commission as to hydraulic development; surplus of canal waters. "The commission shall have power to make plans, specifications and estimates and to enter into contracts for improvements thereunder and to acquire any necessary lands for the development of hydraulic power of streams with or without stream regulation, subject to such limitations and pursuant to such procedure as may be hereafter provided by law. On certification by the superintendent of public works that at points to be specified by him surplus waters of the canals and canahzed streams of the State, including diversion rights held by the State, are available for hydraulic uses, the commission may grant privileges to use the same to municipal or private users. Such grants shall be subject to the needs of navigation and to the jurisdiction of the superintendent of public works over the, canals, and the gates through which such surplus waters are drawn shall be located on the canal lands of the State and shall be con- structed by the department of public works according to plans prepared by the State engineer and surveyor and operated by the department of public works. No such privilege shall be granted for any term exceed- ing fifty years from the date of the grant, but any grant may be renewed or a new grant made in the manner herein provided not more than five years prior to the expiration of an outstanding grant, and to take effect on the expiration of the outstanding grant and every such grant ^hall require payment annually by the grantee to the commission of a rental to be paid into the State treasury for general State purpose sand to be not less than the value of the privileges as appraised by the commission, which appraisal shall be made not more than two years nor less than three months prior to the making of any grant, and the grant shal provided for a readjustment of such rental at the end of every ten ylear period, computed from the date of the grant, at the instance of th e commission or of the grantee, by agreement or by arbitration. No such grant shall ibe made imtil after notice given by the commission by publication in two newspapers printed in the county in which the surplus water is located and once a week for four successive weeks, stating the amDuit of the appraisal and the time and place where bi'ds for the privilege will be ce- <:eived, and no bid shall be accepted which is for a sum less than the value ■of the privilege as appraised by the corrunission and except as aforesaid tht privilege shall be granted to the highest bidder, but any bid may in the discretion of the commission be rejected for cause, to be stated by it. No transfer of any such privilege shall be made except with the approval of the commission. The commission shall have power to revoke such grants for non-use or when combinations to restrain such use have been enterered into by the grantee, and to provide in such grants or otherwise for securing the pajinent of the rentals aforesaid and the commission may enforce such payment by suit or other proceedings in the name of the people of this state. "Codification of laws relating to hydraulic development. The com- THE POWER QUESTION IX NEW YORK. 29 mission shall prepare and report on or before January fifteenth, nineteen hundred and twelve to the legislature a bill to revise and to consolidate into the conservation law all laws affecting hydraulic development and water storage for power purposes." Pursuant to this last requirement, the Commission prepared a bill which represents the result of years of study on the part of men specially qualified therefor, and a frank utilization of the best practice and results attained in foreign countries. It is conceded by the commission that in its dealings with the problem of water power development, the Dominion of Canada is at least the peer of any of the nations; and their bill is modeled largely upon the experience of Canada. The bill was introduced into the legislature of 19 12. It met with the hearty approval of the Gov- ernor, and was passed by the Senate, but failed of adoption by the Assembly. It will be introduced in the next session. In Appendix B details of the bill are given in outline. 30 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TENNESSEE The 57th General Assembly, in passing the resolution calling upon the Tennessee State Geological Survey to "report to the next General Assembly a plan for utilizing and enjoying the water power resources of the State," gave expression to the well-nigh universal demand for somemeasureof state regulation of the hydro- electric industry. The Survey, through its hydraulic engineer, appeared before the 58th General Assembly, and advocated the passage of a law to this effect. A very suitable bill was introduced into the lower house, but owing to the political conditions existing then, it, like many others, did not receive final consideration. Very recently the attention of the whole country has been forc- ibly drawn to the question by the prominence accordsd to it in the sessions of the National Conservatian Congress, held in Wash- ington in November, 1913. The recommendalisns of the Committee on Water Power appointed by that body were adopted by a unanimous vote of the Congress; and ;hey have done much to crystallize public sen- timent in favor of re^ulatiDn, both State aid National, of the industry. We quote the following from the committee's report : "A grant of the right to use a water power, while differ- ing in some details, is essentially similar to a grant of any other privilege or franchise from the Government, state or national, and its terms, regulations and control should be guided by essentially the same principles necessary to safe- guard the rights of the public and of posterity as have been found essential in the case of other classes of franchises from the Government. Particularly is this true in view of the fact that a water power being perpetual will surely tend to increase in value as other sources of power, such as coal and oil, become exhausted. At the same time, for the very purpose of preserving our other power resources which are capable of exhaustion, the development of water power un- der proper safeguards of the public interest should be earnestly encouraged and hastened. We recommend that RECOMMEXDATIOXS FOR TENNESSEE. 31 the following principles should govern the granting 'of a privilege to use a water power. (a) For a definite period, sufficient to be financially attractive to investors, the privilege should be irrevocable except for cause, reviewable by the courts. (b) Thereafter the privilege should continue subject to revocation in the absolute discretion of the Government exercised through its administrative board or officer upon giving reasonable notice and upon payment of the value of the physical property and improvements of the grantee as below provided under (h). (c) After the expiration of the period provided for ia (a) above, at recurring intervals of not more than ten years, the amount of compensation to be paid to the Government for the privilege and all the terms and conditions of the grant during the next succeeding period of not more than ten years shall automatically come up for determination by the granting officer of the Government. (d) The privilege shall be unassignable except with the approval of the Government, in order to safeguard the interests of the Government against speculation in water powers and against appropriation without prompt develop- ment. (e) The privilege shall be granted only on condition of development of the whole capacity of the power site as rapid- ly as the granting officer may from time to time require, giv- ing due consideration to reasonable market demands and conditions and also on condition of continuous operation, subject to such. demands and conditions. (f) The right to receive compensation for the value of the privilege varying according to the proper conditions of each case shall be reserved to the Government, state or federal, from whom the privilege comes. We believe that the reservation of such a right to compensation is a vital essential towards the end of proper regulation. It is not sufficient to trust that the public will always receive its proper share by means of regulation of rates alone. Local authorities may neglect or may be unable, under conflict of jurisdiction, or for other reasons, to exact in the interest of the public the full value of the public's right. Tii? valu:; 32 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. of a water power may in the course of time increase far be- yond the power of local regulation to adequately distribute its benefits. At the same time, the method of exacting compensation must be carefully safeguarded so that in case full compensation by rate regulation is exacted by local authorities, an additional burden shall not be imposed. We believe that in normal cases the best method is for the Government to share increasingly in the net profits of the enterprise, provided,these profits exceed a certain reasonable percentage, the right of the Government being recognized otherwise merely by the imposition of a small annual fee or its equivalent. (g) The Government shall have the right to prescribe uniform methods of accounting for the grantee, and to inspect its books and records. (h) Upon a revocation of a privilege by the Government, the grantee shall be paid a compensation equivalent to the fair valuation of its property, exclusive of franchise and consequential damages; this compensation shall in- clude such appurtenances as are necessary for the opera- tion of the water power and the transmission of electricity therefrom, but shall not include such properties as rail- roads, lighting systems, factories, etc., which are of them- selves separate industries. In such transfer all contracts for the sale or delivery of power made in good faith previous to such notice of trans- fer should be assumed by the transferee, so that the said grantee may operate and maintain the power business dur- ing his occupancy of the property under such stable guar- antees as may beget confidence therein by prospective long term contractors, provided that the Government or said transferee shall not assume any contracts made at a price or under conditions which shall be determined by the proper administrative ofEcer of the Government to be un- reasonable or confiscatory." These recommendations are by no means radical and the Survey believes that they should be made the basis of a law to be enacted by the next General Assembly. With such a law upon the Statute books, the interests of the people would be amply safe-guarded; RECO.AIAIENDATIONS FOR TENNESSEE. 23 and then if public sentiment grows toward a belief in the more advanced policy, now advocated by the Conservation Commis- sion of New York, of the welding of all the water power develop- ments within the state into one single extensive system of power development and power distribution which shall embrace the entire state, and benefit every community within its borders, such a policy could be made effective by later successive enactments. The advocacy of any policy too far in advance of a general pub- lic recognition of the wisdom of or the necessity for such a policy does little practical good. However some excellent purpose may be served if we point out at this time the inherent potentialities that lie unutilized, and as yet generally unrecognized in this field. It may be asserted then that although the water powers of Ten- nessee are located for the most part in the eastern division of the State, there is no reason either of an economic or an engineering nature why these powers might not be developed by the State, and by means of a comprehensive system of power transmission be made to benefit every community within our borders. Not only might the State sell power at a slight advance above the actual cost of production and transmission to all its municipalities to be sold in turn by them to all citizens without discrimination at a rate only sufficiently above cost to amortize the investment; but it would also lie within the power of the State to use its water power resources to benefit enormously the farming interests not of the eastetn division alone, but of the entire State. There is no reason why the water powers of the Great Smoky Mountains should not operate centrifugal pumps to drain the swamps of western Tennessee. The use of electricity on the farms of Ten- nessee might be, and should be, almost universal. Were it so, no argument is needed to prove that the agricultural interests of the State would be advanced by leaps and bounds. Uses for power on the farms, now beyond the dreams of the ordinary farmer, are urgently pressing for realization; and it is no exaggeration to say that it is within the reach of the State,by means of its water powers, to double or treble the value of its agricultural resources. Lest the writer be accused of indulging in impractical fancies, attention may be called to the experiences along this line in in some of our sister states. Quoting from a paper on "Electricity on the Farm" recently read by Mr. Putnam A. Bates, E. ,E., before the American In- stitute of Electrical Engineers, we have the following: 34 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. "Never in the history of this country has there been such a great arousing of public opinion, such an arousing of interest of the people generally, in the agriculture of the country. We are commencing to appreciate that while in the early years of the past century, two-thirds of our people were engaged in the producing business, producing food and clothing for the people, now but one-third are so engaged. And it also seems to be pretty clearly demon- strated that the average earning of the average farmer has netted too small a return for his labor. In many parts of the country, what he did earn was earned at too great a personal sacrifice — labor for long hours and no recreation. Plainly speaking, we have wakened up to the situation that though the yearly crop figures seem to indicate an abundance, we are actually approaching the condition where demand will soon exceed supply, and in most instances, the farming business is badly out of gear and needs reor- ganizing. It has fallen to the lot of the electrical engineer to take a hand in many matters of reorganization, and I believe agriculture now requires his attention. "Betterment of the farmers' condit'ons and improved efficiency in all the operations involved in his work is the cry of the day. Bankers and business men's associa- tions, federal departments, agricultural colleges and im- portant engineering organizations are giving this feature of the country's welfare careful study, and yet there is perhaps no one improvement that may be counted upon to so radically benefit the farmer as the introduction of elec- tricity on the farm. "The electric farm, however, is not a new idea, for several farms well worthy of this name have been in successful operation for some ten or twelve years, and perhaps longer than this. But there has been very little organized effort in disseminating existing knowledge on the practical use of electricity in agriculture, with the result that farms so equipped are generally regarded with suspicion and pos- sibly in the light of a hobby. "I shall endeavor to show that such a point of view may at once be dismissed and we may look for a general use of electricity on the better class of farms in this country before RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TENNESSEE. 35 many more years have elapsed. As a matter of fact, elec- tricity is now being utilized for ligh ing and power purposes on a much larger number of American farms than perhaps many of us have heretofore realized. "Let us consider for a moment the farms of our great Southwest. In some sections of that wonderfully fertile country, well protected by the high mountain ranges, prac- tically every farm is an electric farm. That is to say, the buildings are lighted by electricity and many of the labor- ious operations are accomplished by the use of electric power. These really were our first electric farms, the period of their establishment corresponding with the develop- ment of the water powers o^ the nearby mountains. "On the majority of these farms, irrigation is practiced and quite naturally electricity was first made use of for pumping purposes. Then unde- the influence of progres- sive local central station operators, it was almost univer- .sally adopted for light. "I can recall seeing e ectric lights and the electric flat iron in use in the farm homes on the Pacific Coast, eleven years ago. The people were content to enjoy the advan- tages which these improvements nlade possible to them, but did not seem to regard their conditions as unusual. Their farms were in fact electric arms and their industries de- pendent upon the produce of the land were, as they are now, practically all operated by electricity. I refer to the can- neries, fruit packing houses, etc. u* * * jjj some instances practically the entire supply of the central station current was at once engaged for lighting, heating and power uses on the farms. This was the case ten years ago in the instances I speak of, and according to reports I have just receved, the situation has not materially changed, except that both supply of and demand for the current have increased. "Such electric service plants may be regarded as' far- mers' central stations and I shall commence my illustra- tions with a description of the Mount Whitney Power and Electric Company's service in the vicinity of Visalia, Cal. This will serve as an illustration of a plant of this class. "Some of the farms in this district are large farms of 36 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. several hundred acres, but the majority are small truck and fruit farms, ranging from lo to 40 acres, an average of about 20 acres to each person, the total number of acres irrigated by electric power from the Mt. Whitney plant approximat- ing 25,000, and representing about 6,000 horse power in electric motors. "In the Exeter district, where an 800-acre farm is lo- cated there are 32 plunger pumps aggregating 96 h. p. and 16 centrifugal pumps aggregating 125^ h. p. And in the Lindsay district, comprising about 25 square miles, there are in operation 2 1 7 pumping plants with a total connected horse power of 1794, of which 113 were plunger pumps (iioo h. p.) and 104 centrifugal pumps (694 h. p.). The total pumping load connected to the company's system is 374 plunger pumps, (2385 h.p.) and 256 centrifugal pumps, (2471 h. p.) or a total of 630 pumping plants with 4856 h. p., being on the average, 7.7 h. p. for each pumping plant. "The farms served by the Mt. Whitney system may be termed electrically irrigated farms, as in all cases the farmer operated his irrigation pumps by electricity. The details of this class of business it will be seen are well es- tablished. Electric companies in other sections have also built up business of this kind and in doing so have followed the same lines or a modification of them. "Another hydro-.electric development and distribution system where irrigation pumping forms an important por- tion of the total load is that of the Pacific Power & Light Company. "The lines of this company traverse a fertile farming district lying in the southeastern corner of the state of Washington, just east of the Cascade Mountains. Several power developments are connected together making a complete distribution system, serving a total population of 101,900, including 39 towns, having an average popula- tion of 2,500. In addition to the towns, the popiilation of the rural communities is 5,000. "There are 300 miles of primary lines at 66,000 volts, with 500 miles of 6600 volt secondary . "All of the plants making up this company's system are illustrations of a generating station designed to meet the .RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TENNESSEE. 37 lighting and power demands of a growing farming commun- ity. " The San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation of Fresno, California, supplies electric service to seven coun- ties in one of the most fertile farming sections of the country. The actual area being more than 200 miles long and 75 or 80 miles wide. "Pump irrigation results in intensive farming. And this is the direction in which our agriculture is moving. It may also be added that the power required for pumping has proven to be the opening wedge in introducing the use of electricity in the majority of those farming districts where dependence upon this form of energy has become established. The most scientific farming can be done only by pump irrigation where the work can be arranged and the farm run just as systematically as some of the big manu- facturing and commercial undertakings. "Regarding irrigation in. humid districts, Mr. Milo B. Williams, Irrigation Engineer of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, states that it is the distribution of rainfall with respect to need of different crops which determines the necessity for irrigation in a locality. Drought records for several years past have led the National Department of Agriculture to encourage supplemental irrigation in the humid regions as a vital factor in crop insurance. "The most humid portion of the agricultural east is subject to the greatest irregularity of rainfalll. This refers to the southern states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Here the normal annual precipitation ranges from 45 to 55 inches and yet these states are subject to droughts lasting from 20 to 60 days or more during the growing season. Irrigation in various parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida, has resulted in producing very profit- able crops on land which has heretofore failed to yield suf- ficient returns to pay for cultivation. Irrigation will do for the South what it has done for the West. It will insure results to the small farmer. The coming of the small farmer to the South will cause the passing away of ruined plantations, as his going to the West has caused the passing away of great deserts and wasteful wheat ranches. 38 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. "The South today represents one of the largest areas of dormant latent agricultural possibilities in this nation and when drainage of the low lands is coupled with the general practice of irrigation throughout our South and our East, much in the same way that water distribution has been conquered in our West, we will have added many millions of acres to the productive area of this great country. "These are great problems and promise an immense work for years to come, but the beneficial results will outweigh many times the cost and labor that will be necessary to bring them about. At present, an abnormal condition exists just as it did in the arid sections before irrigation was practiced, and it is the writer's opinion that the reclamation of the worn out farms and the barren lands of the Southern States presents agricultural opportunities unsurpassed at this time by any section. "In the drainage of water-soaked lands, as in irrigation, electric power may be used for short lift pumping. And as an indication of the magnitude of the work ahead of us in this field alone, it is sufficient to quote from the sta- tistical records of the United States of 1910, issued by the Department of Commerce and Labor, which place the total swamp area and overflowed lands at a total of approxi- mately 75,000,000 acres." What an inspiring vista this opens to the imagination here in Tennessee! In comparison with our dormant potentialities how small a fraction have we yet brought to realization! If we have the will to make it so, our latent water powers may become the key to unlock a measure of wealth beyond the dream of the av- ■erage man. Who can picture the beneficence of a million horse. power? But the heritage of Tennessee is more than two million horse power to come from her tumbling waters when she concludes to utilize them. We include in this bulletin a map of Tennessee, with a possible trunk line transmission system indicated thereon. It must be understood, of course, that no actual location could be made with- out a considerable amount of field study, and the map is intended only as a suggestion of a possibility not yet generally recognized. The policy here suggested would be new to Tennessee. This is granted. If the objection were raised that such a policy would RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TENNESSEE. 39 be paternalistic and hence dangerous, the reply is that it does not suggest action beyond the limit of the legitimate functions of the state. The citizenship of the state differs from that of a munici- pality only in point of size. If it be legitimate for a city to supply its citizens with water, with light and with power, how may it be argued that for a state to do so is essentially different? Is it illegitimate for the state to save its citizens needless expense? So to use its natural resources as to distribute their value among all the citizenship? A Tennessee Conservation Commission could be placed in po- sition to do for the municipalities of Tennessee what the Canadian Hydro-electric Power Commission has done, for e.xample, for the city of Ottawa. Prior to 1906 that city was supplied with elec- tricity by a private corporation. The rates then in force were: 15 cents net per kilowatt-hour for light; $40.00 and up per horse power for power; $65.00 per arc lamp for lighting the streets. At that time the Commission began furnishing electricity to the city and the rates were reduced to: 7 i-s cents net per kilowatt-hour for light; $25.00 per horse power for power; $45.00 per arc lamp for street lighting. In 191 1 the rate for lighting was further reduced to 5.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. In three years the number of users of electricity increased from 1200 to 3,000; and the power consumption from 800 horse power to 2,300. The city pays the Commission only $15.00 per horse power for the power, and the difference between this price and the selling prices given above, returns to the city a net profit of above $10,000.00 a year. The total saving either to the city or to its citizens is in excess of $150,000 00 a year. 98 per cent of the population of Ottawa are now using electric light. As will be shown later, the latent water power resources of Tennessee are in excess of one million horse power. By the inau- guration of a broad policy of water storage which, with the cooper- ative assistance of the neighboring states of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, could be put into effect so as to cover the entire drainage basin of the Tennessee and the Cumberland Rivers, the fair division of the benefits to accrue would allot to Tennessee a much larger total horse power; probably between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000. But taking the figure, 1,000,000, it 40 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. may be safely stated that the yearly rental value of this power would be not less than $10,000,000. Alloting $3,000,000 as an ample allowance for interest on cost of construction, maintenance, and operation, a net balance of $7,000,000 as an annual income to the State is the pleasing possibility presented. "The State and its citizens would be in this way directly benefited. The indirect benefits to the State will be much greater. Counting the families of those to whom employ- ment will be afforded and the storekeepers, farmers, me- chanics, and business and professional men indirectly sup- ported, it may be safely said that at least one person is supported by every horse power developed. The same point is illustrated in another way by the towns that spring up and flourish at every water power site. Thus the 1,000,000 of horsepower added to our water powers will mean a living for 1,000,000 more people. It is, therefore, evident that the property necessary to house these people, the mills, factories and railways, etc., in which the power will be used, all mean a wealth from which the .usual contribution in taxes will indirectly furnish an enormous income to the State. To be definite, these 1,000,000 people will pay in State, city, town, county, school and special taxes at usual rates, $16,000,000 yearly. Here is the question then: Shall the State remain passive and ultimately allow this priceless possession of water power to remain unused or shall it in the march of civilization keep step with new de- mands and new conditions? The passage of a law that permits the use of a natural resource for new purposes is well within the general definition of public use as established in various decisions of the courts. Building a storage reser- voir will stimulate industrial energy and promote the pro- ductive power of a very large population in the portion of the State affected, besides leading to the growth of towns and the creation of new channels for the employment of capital and labor in those other centers, as well as in places to which electrical energy can be carried. So all over the State industrial opportunities are waiting for a strong and skillful hand to apply the electric spark that will set in motion many hands and wheels. A general policy for the systematic development of the State's water resources would quickly become an important factor in the general welfare of all our people and, therefore, has a real "public purpose." Such a general policy is in harmony with the true spirit of democratic government." tn en (U a a ■ (U w ~ g nS 5 S p< 3 m hJ »-4 < V & JS ^ K OJ <^ !zi H s t:> Ui -4-> H c* o z ^f=H O w 13 w ^ w to" H D. in ip. in A. M l-i iz; o. 2; > H , Ph flH o l-A ^A ^: Hi c4 << ^ la T) < Xl _5i Oi a o U AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 41 THE AVAILABLE WATER POWER IN TENNESSEE Introduction. — The investigations of the U. S. Geological Sur- vey give a basis for estimating with a fair degree of precision the available water power in the State. Yet to place a definite figure on the horse power which may be developed even at a single water power site is not easy. The flow of a stream fluctuates from season to season over a very wide range, and even from hour to hour there is frequently a measurable variation. The amount of power which may be taken from a stream by building a dam of a given height is therefore subject to very great variations. If the dam be built at a point such that it will create a pool of moderate dimensions, then the waters of the night flow may be stored in part for use the succeeding day, and by this device nearly double the amount of power may be made economically available that would otherwise be possible. Again, if the dam creates a pool of very large dimen- sions, the flood waters of the wet season may be stored and carried over to augment the low flow of the dry season. These and other considerations of an engineering character require that special study be devoted to each and every water power project before even its magnitude may be certainly known. It is considered good engineering practice at the present time to build a water power plant of such capacity that for 60 per cent of the year the river will furnish water enough to develop the full power of the plant, and to depend upon auxiliary steam power to supply the deficit when water is lacking. Reservoir System. — The full development of the water power resources of the State cannot be realized until a complete system of storage reservoirs is designed and built so that all the flood wa- ters of all the principal streams may be impounded, to be released at such times and in such volumes as to result in a practically uniform flow of water throughout the year. Colossal as such an undertaking undoubtedly will be, it is an impossibility neither from an engineering nor an economic standpoint. A work of this na- ture cannot be undertaken by individual initiative; only the sov- 42 THE WATER POAVERS OF TENNESSEE. ereign power of the State is sufficient to cope with such a task. Were the State to begin this work tomorrow, decades would pass before the complete scheme of conservation could be realized. Whether it be generally recognized or not, whether a beginning be made in the present decade or not for years to come, it is the destiny of the State to accomplish this task. It is not believed that the full realization of this scheme, even if it could be carried out at once, would immediately be economical- ly justified. But a beginning could not be made too soon. The economic value of the water power, of the lessening of flood damage, of the improvement of navigation, would justify the expenditure ■of many millions of dollars at as early a date as the necessary pre- liminary studies could permit of a beginning being made. Cooperation of Other States Needed. — The river system of Ten- nessee is not bounded by the political boundaries of the State. No complete system of water conservation could be worked out -wholly within the State. For this reason the State should seek to effect some form of cooperative arrangement with the States of North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky, whereby an equitable division could be made both of the expense of such an undertaking and of the benefits to be derived therefrom. For example, could the States of Tennessee and Virginia secure .complete control of the beds and the watersheds of the Clinch and Powell Rivers by concerted and cooperative action, a complete system of water conservation covering these particular streams would immediately be a feasible undertaking; and the benefits which the two States would derive, now and for all future time, would be enormously greater than could possibly flow from the ■development of power on the streams by any private corporation. Reservoirs Tentatively Located. — The U. S. Geological Survey has very courteously given us access to the original data which has been accumulated in its study of the relation of the Appalachian Mountains to the development of water power and to the develop- ment of inland navigation, some of which have not yet been pub- lished. In the course of this study, a number of storage reser- voirs have been tentatively located, some of them more with a view to improving navigation than to developing water power. A more intensive study of the problem than the U. S. Geological Survey has had either the time or the means to make, whether pursued by that body or by the Tennessee Geological Survey or by a conservation commission, would undoubtedly result in mak- rLATIi III. K E_.T "Hi — on'joverto'ni yj n^d/ n s ta. M Co "1 ^ vK.y \fiA C 10 c '■'Jl X A/L \ 1j^ ■'" v/-^ I Wafer power pleMa, complttad. % Definite water power prtfjecfa ; conefrvcfion pot ymt begun ■ •^^^^^^ Transrn/st/on hnas. ^--1 CumbeHana Plareau and Appolachlan Mountain iond Foreited areas mitabln •/'' fvr Forest neserre. i DRAINAGE BASINS OF REAS ■w;»j Areas purchased for «Js>^">'3 Appalachian Foretf ^^•Kn fteservt. neserooir sites of the United Sfatas Qeclojica/ Si/rvii/. So ale ao 30 *0 MILES OGICAL SURVEY. ULIC ENGINEER. o Boundaries of the prin- cipal drainage haeina. AVAILABLE POWER L\ TEXNESSE. 43 ing a number of changes both in the location and the extent of these reservoirs. This fact does not detract from the value of 'the work already done, nor does its statement imply any criticism of the work. Reservoir Sites in the Tennessee River Basin. — No study of this nature has yet been made of the Cumberland River basin; but table I contains the data for twenty selected reservoi* sites in the Tennessee River basin. The exact location and the extent of these proposed reservoirs is shown in green color upon the water power map of Tennessee which has been prepared for this bulletin. Table i. Selected reservoir sites in the Tennesse: River Basin. Stream and Location Cliiii'li River ir^cott County, Va Nnlichucky River, Greeneville, Teiin ■Clinch River Sneedville, Tenn Powell River Jonesville Va Holston River North East of KnoxvIIle, Tenn, French Broad River East of Knoxville, Tenn Little River South of Knoxville, Tenn Little Tennessee River Loudon County, Tenn Little Tennessee River Swain County, Tenn Clinch River Roane County, Tenn ' Cheoah River Graham County, N. C Hiawassee River Cherokee County, N. C Nottely River Union County, Ga Tnccoa River Fannin County, Ga.,. Hiawassee River Hiawassee, Ga.. Little Tennessee River, Rabun County, Ga Hiawassee River . Near mouth, Tennessee West Clucamauga Creek Walker County, Ga South Chickamauga Creek Catoosa County, Ga Sequatchie River Sequatchie County, Tenn 1 e i: is 1 1.; li 1 S .2 'p 1 Capacity of reservoir in catchment area. St), miles Cu. feet Cu. ft. 1,000,000 S(|. mi. per sec. per aer. cu. ft. 780 1.38 1,080 30,400 690 940 1.69 1,590 14,700 270 500 1.38 770 18,500 390 570 1.38 790 17,100 380 3,400 1,56 5,300 163,500 3,300 4,050 1.56 6,300 199,000 4,000 290 1..56 450 17,400 290 2,520 2.78 7.000 78,000 860 380 2.78 1,050 7,340 80 2,110 1.38 2,900 26,500 600 180 2.78 500 6,700 75 550 2.63 l,4f)0 32,400 380 240 1.70 410 1,000 20 240 2.14 510 4,130 60 lOO 2,63 260 2,240 40 50 4.35 220 2,720 20 2,040 2.12 4,300 77,.500 1,130 SO 2.00 160 5,260 SO 110 2.00 220 6,330 100 330 2.00 660 4,000 60 ISO 100 ino 100 160 200 94 100 100 60 150 200 40 100 100 50 70 60 60 50 Acres 10,000 10,200 8,500 12,000 49,000 70,000 12,100 54,400 5,120 30,000 2,840 11,080 1,680 2,880 1,600 3,800 70,000 6,300 7,400 5,500 44 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Below Riverton the slope of the Tennessee River is too gradual to admit of any water power developments. Above Riverton the river has a total drainage area of 30,800 square miles, and a min- imum discharge of 12,000 cubic feet per second. The storage represented by the twenty reservoir sites in the table above would be sufficient to conserve the flood discharge from 12,800 square miles, or about forty per cent, of the total in the drainage basin. The storage facilities in the basin are enormous, the above table representing but a part of the possible storage. Neither in the above table nor in those to follow is regard given to political boundaries. In reproducing the data we have added to each table a column naming the State or States in which the power development listed in located. We shall follow these tables then with one summarizing the power developments pos- sible without storage and with storage wholly within the State of Tennessee. The following tables on the water power of rivers in East Ten- nessee, are taken from Circular 144, U. S. Department of Agricul- ture, Forest Service, by Leighton, Hall and Bolster: Tennessee River Considering the main stream from Riverton to the mouth of Holston River, there are two sections along which a great horse power is indicated. The first section from Riverton to the head of Elk Shoals is 60 miles long and has a total fall of 165 feet. The minimum indicated horse power thereby produced is 162,000, and the minimum for the 6 highest months would be 275,000. The increase from storage, considering full reservoirs, would be as follows: Distributed over 1 year _ ._. ..Horse Power 396,000 Distributed over 6 months _. _. 792,000 Distributed over 3 months ,. _ 1,584,000 The next section extends from The Pan to Chattanooga, a dis- tance of 20 miles, with a total fall of 28 feet. The minimum dis- charge along this section is 10,000 cub'c feet per second, giving a minimum indicated horsepower of 22,900, or a minimum for the 6 highest months of 38,900. This would be increased by storage, considering full reservoirs, as follows: Distributed over 1 year., Horse Power 67.000 Distributed over 6 months __ 134,000 Distributed over 3 months _ 268 000 AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 45 A short distance above Knoxville, Tenn., the Holston and French Broad rivers join to form the Tennessee. HIWASSEE RIVER. From the mouth of the Hiwassee to Ocoee River, a distance of 35 miles, the fall is only 33 feet; therefore, this stretch is not avail- able for the practical development of power. The indicated horse- power for the remainder of the stream is set forth in Table 2. Table 2. — Indicated horse power developed by Hlwa^ses River. II si Horse power available T3 a te ■2| from storage during a S i &B & % B period of— 1 3 II 3 D. 1 Si Section of river. _g a S3 3 X 2 •K J i a 1 i 1 ■s s a-s s QtO a s CO g ^ 1 ■a i |.i 6? g ■a l.a W qs a Hiwassee River: From Ocoee River to S a - Mi. Sq.Mi. Sec.ft. Sec.ft. Feet. vannah Ferry, _. Tenn. 9 1,310 972 1,560 20 1,750 2,790 Submerged. From Savannah Ferry to R e - liance Tenn. 6 1,220 915 1,460 36 3,000 4,800 3.500 7,000 14,000 F r om Reliance to Coco Creek- Tenn. 9 1,150 874 1,400 153 12,200 19,400 17,000 34,000 68,000 From Coco Creek to Turtletown Creek Tenn. 3 From Turtle- town Creek to Apatachia , ,Tenn. 3 ^1,060 806 1,290 •231 15,200 24,300 23,100 46,200 92,400 From Apalachia, £.' Tenn., to Apa- lachia, N.C... T.-N. C 2 From Apalachia, N. C, to Beav- erdam Creek.. N.'C. 14 1,000 780 1,250 131 9,270 14,800 Submerged. From Beaverdam 1 Creek to Not- 1 tely River From Nottely riv- er toValleyRiv. N.C. 15 910 710 1,140 136 8,780 14,000 Submerged. N.C. 5 560 437 699 46 1,830 2,920 Submerged. From Valley Riv- er to Brass town Creek N.C. 7 390 320 512 63 1,840 2,930 445 890 1,780 From Brasstown Creek to Shoot- ing Creek N.C. 18 240 240 384 205 4,470 7,160 1.450 2,900 5,800 From Shooting to Hightower Creek N.C.-Ga. 10 110 121 194 117 1,290 2,060 670 1,340 2,680 Total 59,630 95,160 46,165 92.330 184,660 *Mean head. Tributaries of Hiwassee River. — The principal tributary of the Hiwassee is the Ocoee, which has a total drainage area of 635 square miles. Along the upper 57 miles of its course the name Toccoa is given to the river. The indicated horse power along the entire section is set forth in Table 3. 46 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table t,.— Indicated horse power developed by Ocoee-Taccoa River. ki i. S 3" Horse power available ^t ^ ■^o from storage during a t § as o u period of — 1 ■g-s ■ -3^ 5 o. tf Section of river. 1 e s s e .2 -a 1 a DO ra 5 ■^ i s IS i 'S S i E'3 o e CO g s Ocoee River: From mouth to Mi. Sq.mi. Sec.ft. Sec.ft. Feet. 1 Sylco Creek Tenn. 16 600 600 960 70 3,830 6,140 567 1,134, 2,268. From Sylco Creek to Big Creek Tenn, 3 550 578 925 57 2,980 4,770 745 1,490 2,980' From Big Creek to Bueh Creek, Tenn. 13 500 550 880 522 26,100 41,800 6,8,50 13,700 27,400 From Bush Creek to Fighting- town Creek... Tenn. 5 440 506 810 34 1,.580 2,520 1 Limited amount. Toccoa River: From above Fightingtown Creek to Blue Ridge Station. Morgan ton Bridge Ga. 1,5 300 390 624 92 3,260 5,210 1,210 2,420 4,840' From Blue Ridge to Dial Station Oa. 21 180 252 403 280 6,440 10,300 1 Fall reduced one-third by Toccoa reservoir. From Dial Sta- tion to Coopers j Creek. Ga. 7 100 145 232 153 2,020 3,220 None. None. None. 37 48» Total 46,210 73,960 9 372 18,744 Explanatory Note. — Mouth of Ocoee to Sylco Creek — fall reduced 30 feet by proposed Hiwassee reservoir The remaining tributaries of Hiwassee River afford good power sites for limited development, but the drainage areas are, in the main, so small that they will not be considered in this report ex- cept in the case of Nottely River, which enters the Hiwassee near Murphy, Tenn. The Nottely develops an indicated horse-power as follows: From the mouth to Ranger, a distance of 9 miles, there is a total fall of 85 feet and a minimum discharge of 224 cubic feet per second, which will provide for a minimum indicated horse power of 1,560. The minimum for the 6 highest months is 2,490. From Ranger to Young Cane Creek, a distance of 20 miles, of which 5 miles is in Tennessee, there is a fall of 155 feet and a min- imum flow of 187 cubic feet per second, which will provide for a minimum indicated horse power of 2,380. The minimum for the 6 highest months is 3,800. This power would be obliterated by the Nottely reservoir. CLINCH RIVER. The tributary of the Tennessee river of next importance is- AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 47 Clinch River, which has a drainage area of 4,390 square miles. The indicated horse-power along this stream is set forth in Table 4. Table 4. — Indicated horse powet developed by Clinch Rive r. ki ia Horse power available i ■°g i 0. Ti a from storage during a 1 g> "« II period of — S* .3 .1* E gs Section of river. .3 fi •cji "3 ^ J.i CO ^ "m ^ a s s ■s 1^ 1 •0 § B 3 'a i IB g E CO 1 s Clinch Kiver: Mi. Sq. mi. Sec. Sec. ft Feet Fr. Emory Creek to Clinton Tenn. 55 3,200 960 1,440 68 5,805 8,840 Submerged From Clinton to ■" Powell River Tenn. 31 2,840 862 1,280 50 3,834 6,740 10,300 20,600 41,200 From Powell Riv- er to near Syc- amore Creeic, Southern Rail- way bridge Tenn. 48 1,740 522 783 133 6,318 9,45C 20,600 41,200 82,400 From near Syca- more Creek, Southern Rail- way bridge, to N. Clinch River Tenn. i5 1,450 435 652 171 6,750 10,100 19.500 39,000 78,000' From North Clinch River to Clinchport sta- tion T.-Va. 20 1,070 321 482 54 1,575 2,360 Submersed. •From Clinchport station to In- dian Creek Va. 110 550 165 248 680 10,125 15,210 8,600 17,200 34,400 ■ 1, 34,497 61,700 59,000 118,000 236,000- Explanatory Notes.. — Fall between Southern Railway bridge and North Clinch River reduced to 140 feet by ,Sneedville reservoir. Fall between Clinchport and Indian Creek reduced to 100 feet by Clinch River reservoir. Tributaries of Clinch River. — The most important tributary is Powell River, which has a total drainage area of 940 square miles. The amount of indicated horse-power along various sections of this river and designated tributaries is set forth in Table 5. LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER. Above the Hiwassee and Clinch, on the Tennessee River, is the Little Tennessee, a stream having a total drainage area of 2,650 square miles. The indicated horse power developed along various sections of this stream is set forth in Table 6. TRIBUTARIES OF LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER Some of the tributaries of Little Tennessee River are quite as important, from the standpoint of power development, as the main stream itself. 48 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table s-— Indicated horse power developed by Powell River and Tributaries. 1 si i" Horse power available •§1 _' ^ I'i from storage during a i a Si a l| neriod of^ S) -C ■§1 1 ra ro <^ Section of river .1 .1 -a .2 1 'J "3 J II m s B a.sp to a a-f ^ ^ ^ =JJ5 3-fi C ■ts S bD i 1 s«> S e a® « a a h s "3 tr a g '5 ii '.a^ s- o CO Powell Eiver; Mi. Sq. mi. Secft. Sec. ft. Feet. From mouth to North Powell . T.-Va. 100 610 183 274 387 6,440 9,630 9,640 19,280 38,560 From North Powell to South Powell- Va. 17 170 51 76 198 918 1,380 None. None. None. From South Powell to Calli- han Creek Va. 4 101 30 45 54 144 216 None. None. None. North Fork, Powell river, from mouth to head Va. 17 •91 27 40 +330 810 1,220 None. None. None. South Fork, Powell river, from mouth to head Va. 12 *37 11 16 t730 730 1,100 None. None. None. Copper Creek, from mouth tfl bead _. Va. 41 •136 41 62 t336 1,250 1,880 None. None None. Guest River, from month to head .. Va. 19 •96 29 44 t480 1,270 1,900 None. None. None. Maiden Spring Creek , from mouth to head . . Va. 35 •119 36 54 t430 1,400 2,100 None. None. None. 12,962 19,426 9,640 19,280 38,560 •Total area. IMean head. Explanatory Note. — Water fall between moutli and North Powell reduced to 200 feet by Jonesville reser - Tellico River, in Tennessee, is a stream having a total drainage area of 284 square miles. From the mouth to Tellico Plains, a distance of 22 miles, there is a fall of 120 feet, which, with a min- imum discharge of 125 cubic feet per second, will furnish a mini- mum indicated horse power of 1,224. The minimum for the 6 highest months will be 1,960. This part of the river would be submerged by the proposed Loudon reservoir. From Tellico Plains to the head of the river is a distance of 18 miles, with a total fall of 1,600 feet. Considering 700 feet of this as a mean working head, with a discharge of 102 cubic feet per second, the total min- imum indicated horse power is 6,490, and the minimum for the 6 highest months will be 10,400. Citico Creek, in Tennessee, a tributary 17 miles long, has a total mean head of 470 feet. The minimum discharge is 58 cubic feet per second, which will provide for a minimum indicated horse power of 2,480. The available fall would be reduced 40 per cent by the proposed Loudon reservoir. AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 49 Table 6. — Indicated horse power developed by Little Tennessee River. hi ks Horse power available -W-g 5 ea tl from storage during a i i e3 u "rt % a. period of— Section of river. 1 M 13 If J3 ;§ it 1 i 1 s 33 1 a 'MS S'~ a o a i to CO Little Tennessee River: From mouth to below Tellico River, MeGhee Mi. Sn.Mi. Sec.ft. Secft. Feet. Station Tenn. 20 2,560 2,050 3,280 27 5,030 8,050 6.370 12,740 25,480 From above Tel- lico, McGhee, toAbraam's Creek Tenn. 19 2,100 1,780 2,S50 63 10,200 16,300 Submerged. From A b r a m s Creek to Tuck- aseegee River . T.-N.C. 38 1,670 1,500 2,400 567 77,300 123,000 21,000 42,000 84,000 From Tuckasee- nee River to N a n t a ha la River.. N.C. 7 657 650 1,040 90 5,-320 8,510 2,820 5,640 11,280 River to below Cullasaja Riv- er, Franklin.. N.C. 28 .380 418 669 387 14,700 112,550 23,500 7,050 14,100 28,200 Total 179,360 37,240 74,480 148,960 Explanatory Noter. — Fall between mouth and McGhee reduced to 24 feet by Loudon reservoir. Fat between Nantahala and Cullasaja reduced to 250 feet by Swain reservoir. Abrams Creek, in Tennessee, 15 miles long with a drainage area of 94 square, miles, has a total fall of 1,110 feet. Considering 580 feet of this as a reasonable mean head, with a minimum discharge of 75 cubic feet per second, there will be developed a total mini- mum indicated horse power of 3,950. The minimum for the 6 highest months will be 6,320 horse power. Cheoah Creek, in North Carolina. — This is another important tributary of Little Tennessee River, with a total drainage area of 212 square miles. From the mouth to Snow Bird Creek, a dis- tance of 13 miles, there is a total fall of 800 feet, with a minimum run-off of 130 cubic feet per second, which will produce a mini- mum indicated horse-power of 8,500. The minimum for the 6 highest months will be 13,600. On the same river from Snow Bird Creek to Tallula Creek, a distance of 4 miles, there is a total fall of no feet, which will produce a minimum horse power of 396 with a discharge of 44 cubic feet per second. This power would be reduced approximately 50 per cent by the Cheoah reservoir. There are several tributaries of Cheoah Creek, such as Santeetla, 50 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Snow Bird and Tallula creeks, which furnish fairly good sites for limited installation. Tuckaseegee River.— The most important tributary of Little Tennessee River is the Tuckaseegee, in North Carolina, which has a drainage area of 752 square miles. The indicated horse power along certain sections of this river is shown in Table 7. Table 7.- —Indicated horse p ower developed by Tuckaseegee River. CO c 3 i .9 i s 1 s 6 'S S H II ■5 M 1 i s s p. 01 i c 1 B 3 e ■a S 5.S as 11 IS ■n Horse power available from storage during a period of — I^rctloii or river. g a Tuckaseegee River From Brygon City to Ocona- lufty River — From Oeonalufty ■River to Scott Creek N. C. N. C. N. C. N.C. Mi. 6 16 10 6 Sq.Mi. 636 .375 245 174 Sec.ft. 540 319 208 157 Sec.ft. 864 510 332 251 Feet 63 144 108 63 3,100 4,180 2,040 900 4 950 fi.BSO 3,270 1,440 From Scott Creek to East Laport Station. From East La- port Station to West Fork Total-- 10,220 16,340 The Tuckaseegee itself has important tributaries, the most noticeable of which is the Oeonalufty, which has a drainage area of 201 square miles. In the lower 5 miles of this stream there is an approximate fall of 150 feet, with a minimum discharge of 156 cubic feet per second, which will produce a minimum indicated horse power of 1,920. The minimum for the 6 highest months will be 3,060 horse power. Xantahala River, in North Carolina. — This river is 43 miles long and has a total drainage area of 180 square miles. Along the first 12 miles there is a total fall of 500 feet and a minimum run-off of 176 cubic feet per second, indicating a minimum horsepower of 7,200. The minimum for the 6 highest months would be 11,500. In the next 18 miles of the river there is a fall of 1,100 feet, about 80 per cent of which could be utilized. The minimum flow is 120 cublic feet per second, which would produce a minimum in- dicated-horsepower of 10,800, and the minimum for the 6 highest months would be 17,300 horse power. There are many other AA'AILABLE POWER IX TEXXESSE. 51 tributaries of the Little Tennessee providing good power sites for limited installation, but they will not be discussed in this paper. FRENCH BROAD RIVER. The main stem of the Tennessee is formed a short distance above Knoxville by the junction of the French Broad and Holston Rivers. The former has a total drainage area of 4,810 square miles. The indicated horsepower along chosen sections of the French Broad River is set forth in Table 8. Table 8. — Indicated horse power developed by French Broad River. li 3 J= Horse power available -cj-g 5 C -I from storage during a i a bO S Is period of — Section of river. 1 .2 "c3 3 ■31 II i c a II » ' S .£3 a a g 1 Sis 1 : 1 ' e i S % s ■.s s 1-5 g 'E i S e a Freucli Broad Riv. From mouth to N 1 i c h u c ky Mi. Sq.Mi. Sec.ft. Sec.ft. Feet. River Tenn. 64 4,430 2,440 3,900 135 30,000 48,000 Submerge*! From N I i - chiicky R i vef to Pigeon Riv. Tenn. 4 2,260 1,360 2,180 4.5 555 888 None. None. None. From Pigeon River to S«an- nanoa River... T.-N.C. 64 1,7.50 1,220 1,950 828 91,800 147,000 None. None None. From Swanna- noa River to East Fork.... N. C. 33 440 440 704 180 7,200 11.500 None. None. None. From Ea3t Fork to West Fork . N. C. 2 60 99 158 9 8! 130 None. None. None. From West Fork to liead N. C. 12 •36 .54 86 t710 3,480 5,570 None. None. None. Total 133,116 213,088 1 *TotaI area. tMean Head. TRIBUTARIES OF THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER. Liltle Pigeon River, in Tennessee. — This river is 30 miles long and has a total drainage area of 373 square miles. In the first 5 miles of the river, there is a fall of 50 feet, which, with the min- imum discharge of 213 cubic feet per second, will give an indi- cated minimum horse power of 871. This part of the course would ,be submerged by the proposed French Broad reservoir. In the 25 miles above this first section, there is a total fall of 1,900 feet. 'Considering 480 feet of this as a reasonable working head, and a minimum discharge of 136 cubic feet per second, there is an in- .dicated horse power of 5,930. West Fork of Little Pigeon River has a drainage area of 142 square miles and a total fall of 1,500 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. feet in 21 miles. Considering 380 feet as the available working head, and 99 cubic feet per second as the minimum discharge, there is a minimum indicated horse power of 3,420. Nolichucky River in Tennessee is an important tributary of French Broad River, having a drainage area of 1,760 square miles.. The indicated horse power along this river and tributaries is given in Table 9. Table 9. — Indicated horse power developed by Xolichucky River and tributaries. S S 1 i 1 a 'g -a g S '■5 S 1 a s 3 3 s 1 g- i .a S i ■a H as 11 11 ■n Horse power available from storage during a period of — Section of river • § a f i Nolichucky River: From mouth to Greenville Station From Greeneville Station to Toe Riv., Cane Cr. Toe River, from mo. to North Toe River and Sou. Tenn. T.-NC N. C. N. C. Tenn. N.C. N. C. Tenn. Mi. 48 48 19 41 30 15 20 14 Sq.Mi. 1,450 880 360 0I88 0262 124 o64 o70 Sec. ft. 768 484 216 113 157 87 45 42 Sec.ft. 1,230 774 346 181 251 139 72 67 Feet 180 •684 277 t510 t70 387 t550 t36C 12,600 30,100 5,440 5,240 ^.000 3,060 2,250 1,375 20,200 48,100 8,710 8,380 1,600 4,900 3,600 2,200 8,360 6,280 16,720 12,560 33,440 25,120 North Toe River, Lick Creek, from Cane River, from mouth to Hinton Creek * Cane River, from Hinton Creek to head... North Indian Creek, from mouth to head Total 61,065 97,690 14,640 29,280 58,560 *Fall reduced to 150 feet by proposed reservoir. oTotai area. tMean head. Pigeon River is another important tributary of the French Broad, having a total drainage area of 667 square miles. The indicated horse power along chosen sections of this stream and tributaries is set forth in Table 10. AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 53 Table io. — Indicated horse power developed by Pigeon River and tributaries. S m i 3 1 i 1 a 1 •Sg" 1 3 s. g o a a i s s gi II So Horse power available from storage during a period of — ■Section of river. S. 1 a 1 i 1 a CO Pigeon River: From mouth to Cataluchee Creek _... Tenn. N. C. N. C. N.C. N. C. N.C. Mi. 35 15 7 10 16 14 Sq.Mi. 560 312 155 •62 •65 •62 Secft. 308 187 124 43 46 50 Secft. 493 299 198 69 74 80 Feet. 504 720 207 o700 o700 o400 14.100 12,200 2,330 2,740 2,930 1,820 22,600 19,600 3,730 4,380 4,690 2,910 From Catalu- chee Creek to Richland Creek From Rich land Creek to West Fork -Cataluchee Creek, from mouth to head Jonathan Creek, from mouth to head West Fork, Pigeon River, from Total 36,120 57,910 •Total area. oMean head. The minimum indicated horse power on other important tribu- taries of the French Broad is given in Table ii. HOLSTON RIVER Holston River, all in Tennessee, has a drainage area of 3,750 square miles, and is 142 miles long from its mouth up to the junc- tion of North and South forks. In the lower 102 miles of the stream the fall is only 254 feet, or a little more than 2 feet per mile. In ■case the proposed Holston reservoir were constructed the fall would be reduced to 75 feet. The minimum indicated horse power pro- duced is 27,400. In the remaining 40 miles, from Rogersville Station to the mouth of North and South forks, there is a fall of 106 feet, and the minimum indicated horse power here is 9,720, or 14,600 for the 6 hrghest months. SOUTH FORK, HOLSTON RIVER. South Fork is far more important a tributary than the North Fork, and has a total drainage area of 2,040 square miles. The indicated horse power along several sections of this stream is set forth in Table 12. 54 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table ii.—Iitdicated horse power developed on other importan. tributaries of French Broad River. ^ Section of river. SpriiiE Creek, from mouth to head - . Laurel Creek, from mouth to head . . Ivy River, from mo to Bull Creek.... Ivy River, from Bull Cr. to West Fork Turkey Creek, from mouth to head . . Swannanoa River, from mouth t o North Fork Hominy Creek, from mouth t o head Mills River, from mouth to N o r th Fork, South Fork..., North Fork, Mills River, from mouth to head . . South Fork, Mills River, from mouth to head .. Little River, from mouth to head Davidsons River from mouth t o head. West Fork, from mouth to head Total N. C. N.C. N. C. N.C. N.C. N.C. N.C, N.C N.C, N.C N.C, N.C, N.C, Mi, 16 Sq.mi, 72 134 Ol60 olio 79 o90 19l 100 5 o71 24 Sec.ft. 43 112 77 55 70 is So ■q M 2-- Sec.ft. 6! 128 17 123 100 112 141 46 96 115 94 67 Feet •730 90 180 •350 207 •210 •570 •400 •550 •350 2,8.50 5,530 918 1,260 1,750 1,190 1,.340 720 712 3,110 2,620 2,950 1,340 "■3 feg f s S I" = 1 .9 a Horse-power available from storage during a period of — 26,290 4,560 8,850 1,470 2,020 2,800 1,900 2,140' 1,150 1,140 4,980 4,190 4,720 2,140 . J 42,060 . •Mean head. oMean drainage area. Tributaries of South Fork. — Watauga River has a drainage area of 841 square miles. The indicated horse power along this river is set forth in Table 13. Middle Fork is a tributary of the South Fork, having a drainage area of 231 square miles. Along the lower 19 miles of its course the fall is 150 feet and the minimum discharge 95 cubic feet per second, producing a minimum indicated horse-power of 1,170, and a minimum for the 6 highest months of 1,760. White Top Creek, a tributary of South Fork, has a drainage area of 178 square miles. The fall in the lower 5 miles is 300 feet and the minimum discharge 72 cubic feet per second. There is produced a minimum indicated horse power of 1,760, and for the 6 highest months 2,650. AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 5S Tabie 12. — Indicated horse power developed by South Fork of Solston River. S S ^ S S i a 1 o s i 3 M 13 s 1 a if Bo 1 o S g '3 is S B II Horsepower available- from storage during a period of — Section of river. § a 1 § s • a o S to South Fork, Hols- ton River: From mouth to Watauga JRiver Tenn. T.-Va. Va. Va. Mi. 18 44 4 32 Sq. mi. 1,940 780 350 •165 Secft. 770 273 122 58 Secft. 1,160 ^ 410 183 87 Feef. 90 6,340 450 1 1 -2nn 9,540 16,700 1,490 2,780 i From Watauga River to Mid- dle Fork- From Middle Fork t White Top Creek 90 o350 999 1,850 From White Top Total — 20,389 30,510 1 ' *Total area. oMean head. Table 13. — Indicated horse and tributaries. power developed by Watauga River .£3 i .1 1 d s s a 1 a a .9 s if il i s 1 1 i B J i| as II i! :aS s- Horse power available from storage during a period of — .Section of river. 1 1 1 CO a Watauga River: From m u t h to Doe River . . Tenn. Tehn. T.-N.C. Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. T.-N.C. Mi. 20 18 18 6 14 12 14 5 19 24 Sq. Mi 760 484 135 127 *65 •28 •54 160 <1C9 •80 Secft. ';418 / 2fi6 74 64 32 14 32 96 66 48 Seo.ft. 627 399 111 96 48 21 48 144 98 72 Feet. 180 284 702 225 o67C o850 o430 90 6,840 6,860 4,720 1,300 1,950 1,080 1,250 7S3 10,300 10,300 7,090 1,960 2,920 1,620 1,880 1,170 3,375 5,040 From Doe Rivei- 1 From Elk Creek to Cove Creek Doe River: From mouth t o From Tiger Laurel Creek, from Stony Creek, from Roan River, from mouth to D e Creek Roan River, from Doe Creek to head o38oi 2,250 o770 336fl_ ' Elk Creek, from Total 30,393 45,655 •Total area oMean head. 56 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table i/^.— Indicated horse power developed by other and lesser tributaries of the Tennessee River. il. m ^i -S-g fe "2 = s, i •g Ms 1 il ■y -a ■^A ^Ji B n-?. S i ^J3 S So fe S geo s a s S g a Mi. Sq.mi. Sec. ft. Rp.n.ft. Feet Duck River from Culumbia to head Tenn. 100 600 90 240 360 3,110 8,290 Elk River from Fayetteville to head Tenn. 60 400 100 240 270 2,590 6,220 Sequatchie River from mouth to Dunlap, . Tenn. 32 410 102 246 90 882 Sequatchie River from Dunlap to head Tenn. 30 150 38 90 180 656 Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. Tenn. 20 12 15 16 15 60 35 60 65 75 18 11 18 36 22 36 810 900 900 900 900 , 1,330 900 1,470 1,640 1,800 2,650 Soddy Creek- 1,800 2,940 20 40 22, 44 3,270 White Creek.. 3,600 Total ._.... 32,340 Table 15. — Indicated horse power developed by tributaries of the Cumberland River. ■!. ra ■I « SJ3 -°t c ■5 = ca M ff I P Stream OS s, .2 -0 II : i B a.s s S s-l' ■s S "m S a= fe 6 go S § g a d« C. .S '3 ** ^ s s s-° a S is'" Caney Fork from Cumb. River to Col- Mi. Sq.mi. Sec. ft. Sec. ft. Feet Tenn. 80 2 000 800 1,600 234 17,000 34,000 Caney Fork from Collins Riv. to head,. Tenn. ,10 375 150 300 450 6,140 12,300 Tenn. 45 350 140 280 270 3,440 6,880 S. Cumb. Riv. from mouth to Clear Fk.. Tenn-Ky 70 1,000 300 600 360 9,810 19,600 New River Tenn. 50 195 78 156 450 3,190 6,380 4,580 ClearFork Tenn. 30 140 56 112 450 2,290 Total 41,870 83,740 Difficulty of separating power within from that without the State. — A scrutiny of these tables will show how diflS^cult it is to separate the quantity of power susceptible of development strictly within the State from that shown for the various sections of the diverse streams which cross State boundaries. Thus, for example, table 8 shows the minimum horse power which may be developed during the six high water months on the French Broad River from the confluence of the Big Pigeon to that of the Swannanoa River to be 147,000 horse power. By storage this could probably be increased to 180,000 horse power. The length of river considered is 64. miles. Of this approximately 26 miles lies within Tennessee and 38 miles within North Carolina. The power capable of develop- AVAILABLE POWER IN TENNESSE. 57 Table i6. — Indicated horse power developed by minor streams of the State, not included in previous tables. 3 Section • •a d 3 £ -5 1 1 Is 3 s •o o. Stream Tributary to C Q •=.= Ji M p JZ a S 3 %1 I B a E i" 1*3- ^ ^ hj a l.i a. g S Mini durir moal Mi. Sq. Mi. Sec. ft. Sec. ft. Ft. Sylco Creek Ocoee River moiitb head 7 V/, in 21 360 173 277 Greaay Creek. _. _ Ocoee River mouth head 7 26 28 45 270 438 701 Big Creek Ocoee River Ocoee River _ Ocoee River mouth mouth mouth head head head B 7 ■7 14 18 15 15 20 16 24 32 26 630 360 450 364 378 349 ' 582 Brush Creek 60S Pototo Creek S5S Spring Creek .- head in S7 28 45 900 975 1,580 Lost Creek Hiwasee River Hiwasee River Hiwasee River. ... mouth mouth mouth head head head 7 11 9 21 21 35 16 16 26 26 26 42 450 720 630 335 655 1,300 53« 1,050 Turtletown Creek .._ 2,080 Bent Creek Nolichucky River. . mouth head 1» »H ■/;>, ;w 180 160 256 Little Chucky .- Nolichucky River... mouth head 16 46 28 45 180 204 323 Big Limestone Creek . Nolichucky River ,. mouth head 15 m 48 77 180 350 560 South Indian Creek- Nolichucky River . . mouth head 14 85 51 67 630 1,160 1,860 Turkey Creek _ French River mouth head 15 79 55 8i: 720 1,750 2,800 head 14 .54 14 'n 1,350 1,080 1,620 Total 15,370 ment within Tennessee cannot be estimated on the basis of these distances. Again, the total fall within the reach of the river un- der consideration is 920 feet; that within Tennessee is approximate- ly 270 feet, and the balance, or about 650 feet, lies within North Carolina. But the division of the available power cannot be approximated on the basis of these figures, since between the point where the river crosses the State line and the confluence of the Big Pigeon River there are a great many small tributaries, the discharge of which serves to swell that of the main stream; so the flow in Tennessee is larger than it is in North Carolina. A very approximate figure for the relative volumes of flow within the two states can be arrived at by a comparison of the relative drain- age areas. The drainage area at the mouth of the Pigeon River is approximately 1,750 square miles; that at the crossing of the State line, 1,550 square miles, and that at the mouth of the Swan- nanoa 860 square miles. Therefore the mean drainage area in Tennessee is 1,650 square miles and in North Carolina 1,205 square miles. If therefore we assume that the conditions as to rainfall, forested area, geological formations, etc., which affect the run-off of a stream are essentially the same on both sides of the State line we arrive at the conclusion that on the Tennessee side the minimum discharge during the six high-water months is in the 58 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. neighborhood of Hfs^XiQSo cubic feet per second, or 2680 cubic feet per second, and hence that Tennessee's proportion of the 147,- 000 horse power is 60,000 horse power. It must be evident that this method of calculation admits of no very high degree of accuracy. Moreover the assumption that the minimum horse power which may be developed without storage during the six high- water months is the economic horse power of the stream is probably ultra-conservative. Thus, for example, the United States Geological Survey ascribes to the section of the Tennessee River from the "Pan" to Chattanooga a minimum horse power during the six high-water months of 38,900; yet the water power development at Hales Bar now completed will render 58,800 horse power available for all but two or three weeks of the year. Minimum horse power for 6j per cent 0} the time. — The amount of power that can be developed for two-thirds of the days of the year on all of the rivers here considered, with one exception, is greater than the minimum for the six high-water months. In the case of some of the rivers it is 33 per cent greater. On the average for the streams of Tennessee it is 23 per cent, greater. Good engineering practice indicates that it is commercially feas- ible to develop a water power up to the point where for 60 per cent, of the time the river will yield water enough to run all of the in- stalled wheels at their full capacity. If therefore we take as our final basis for summarizing the available water power resources of the State the quantities which can be developed for 67 per cent, of the time, we cannot be open to a charge of overstating the case. The data of the United States Geological Survey do not afford this information directly for all the streams. The information which they do afford is given in Table 17. In table 18 we have brought together a summary from all the preceding tables of the minimum horse power available entirely withinTennessee {with- out storage) during the six high-water months. Then adding to the total of this quantity, 23 per cent., we arrive at our final estimate, of the water power resources of Tennessee, namely, 1, 050,0^0 horse power. AVAILABLE POWER L\ TENNESSE. 59 Table 17. — Minimum horse power for 67 per cent, oi the time. — Tennessee River drainage. Length Miles Minimum horse pow. six high wat. mos. 90% Minimum horse pow. two-thirds of the time 90% Hiwassee River above Ocoee River Ocoee (and Toccoa) River Tributaries of Ocoee (and Toccoa) River. __ Tributaries of Hiwassee River bel. Nottely_ Clinch River . Powell River and tributaries Tributaries of Clinch River above Powell. . Little Tennessee River French Broad River... ._ Little Pigeon River and tributaries Nolidhucliy River and tributaries Pigeon River and tributaries Holston Riv. and S. I'"orli of Holston Riv.__ Watauga River and tributaries 82 94 134 179 240 97,300 75,800 14,100 7,340 52,500 15,000 8,900 181,000 212,000' 14,900 108,000 59,900 86,000 50,400 103,000 75,800 14,100 7,340 70,000 20,000 11,800 204,000 265,000 18,500 135,000 74,800 115,000 67,200 Tolal- 983,140 1,181,540 Note: — ^Minimum horse power for six high water months is lowest period in six highest months, that is, the minimum for the seventh lowest month. Minimum horse power for two-thirds of the time is the lowest amount for two-thirds of the total number of days in the year. Both of these are for the average year 1900 to 1906 inclusive. 6o THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table i8. — Summary of the water power available for develop- ment, without storage, wholly within Tennessee. Minimum horse power during the six high-water months. Stream Location Horse power Shellmoundto Chattanooga. _ _ Chattanooga to Knoxville__ _ From Ocoee Riv. to State line From mouth to State Line From Emory Cr. to State Line From mouth to State Line From mouth to source From mouth to source From mouth to State Line From mouth to State Line From mouth to source From mouth to source From mouth to source From mouth to State Line From mouth to State Line From mouth to South Fork-.. From mouth to State Line From mouth to State Line 58,800 Tennessee River Hiwassee River. . Ocoee River 50,000* 69,490 55,230 Clinch River 35,080 8,400 Little River Tellico River .._ _ _ _ _ _^ 4,190 12,360 87,550 60,000 Citico Creek 4,000 Abrams Creek 6,320 Little Pigeon River Nolichucky River and tributaries. _ Pigeon River 16,360 67,500 22,600 56,000 South Fork Holston River Watauga River and tributaries 13,500 39,800 32,340 Tributaries of Cumberland River 74,000 Minor additional Streams 15,370 Small water powers not considered by U. S. G. S. t 40,000 Total 828,890 1,020,000 *The United States Geological Survey ascribes 175,000 horse power to the Ten- nessee River from Chattanooga to Knoxville; but inasmuch as the interests of navigation would not permit of the development of all of this power, this figure has been reduced to 50,000. According to the report of the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army, 20,000 horse power could economically be developed at a point about six miles from Knoxville. fThe writer has estimated the small water powers of the State capable of being developed by individual farmers in units of 25 horse power and less to total 75,000 horse power. (See "Resources of Tennessee," Vol. 1, No. 1.) For the purpose of this summary this figure has been reduced to 40,000 horse power. CAPITAL COST OF WATER POWER. 6i POSSIBLE INCREASE IN POWER BY STORAGE In Table i is presented the data of twenty suggested reservoir sites, located by the U. S. Geological Survey, and in tables 2 to 13 inclusive is shown the increase in power which these reservoirs would yield. Their locations are shown on the water power map. A little thought will make it evident that no real estimate can be made, on the basis of these reservoir sites, of the ultimate figure to which the water power resources of Tennessee will mount. Many of the sites are outside of the State. Were the reservoirs built, they would nevertheless increase the power which might be developed at all power sites lower down upon the respective streams, and hence would affect the Tennessee power resources. Even should the State fortunately adopt the most advanced and enlightened policy for dealing henceforth with its water powers, it would not be within its province to build these outside reservoirs. But many favorable reservoir sites within the State, not here indicated, are to be had. The writer will not venture to place a figure on the ultimate water power resources of Tennessee. Probably, could this be done, the figure would lie between two million and three million horse power. Whether two million or three million, the quantity is sufficiently large to warrant the statement that among her posses- sions Tennessee has few more valuable than her water power. It is in order to inquire how great would be the cost of develop- ing two million horse power, and what would be the annual value of it, assuming it to be developed. 62 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. CAPITAL COST OF WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT AND VALUE OF WATER POWER It is not possible for the Survey to state what will be the cost of developing any one of the water powers of the State; It has had no opportunity to make the requisite investigation and study to enable it. to do so. Nevertheless, a valuable service might be rendered by bringing together, from various sources of informa- tion, data as to the cost of developing water powers elsewhere. The cost of water power development varies over a wide range. In general it is less per horse power for large than for small plants; less for high-head than for low-head developments. Yet the varia- tion in conditions is so great that deductions of only the most general character can be drawn. To illustrate : The 15,500 horse power plant of the Chicago Sanitary District was built at a cost of about $225.00 per horse power. On the other hand, the writer has recently built a strictly first-class plant of only no horse power capacity at a cost of $50.00 per horse power, this cost in- cluding 1,100 feet of timber flume, power-house, twin turbines, governor, generator and switch board. Some excellent cost data are supplied by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of the Province of Ontario, Canada. In the first report of the Commission were given estimates of three pos- sible power developments at Niagara Falls; the first to be of 50,000 horse power, capacity, the second 75,000, and the third 100,000. The capital cost of these plants would be respectively $114.00, $94.00 and $86.00 per horse power. The second annual report gives the costs of 25 Canadian plants, ranging in size from 500 horse pow- er to 16,350 horse power; and the unit costs of these range from $203.00 to $50.00 per horse power. The total power to be devel- oped by the 25 plants is 116,330, at a total cost of $10,236,000.00 or at an average cost of $88.00 per horse power. Professor Daniel W. Mead in his work on "Water Power En- gineering" gives two tables showing capital costs of water power developments, the one in Europe and the other in America. The COST AND VALUE OF POWER. 63 first comprises 17 plants in which a total of 180,000 horse power is developed at a total cost of $27,606,000, or an average unit cost of $153.00. The second comprises 11 American plants develop- ing a total of 129,550 horse power at a total cost of $13,213,000.00; or a unit cost of $102.00 per horse power. This table includes the plant at Spiers Falls, N. Y.-, where 50,000 horse power is de- veloped at a unit capital cost of but $42.00 per horse power. The writer knows of a large Southern water powec plant which was built for a unit cost of $97.00 per horse power. Taking all of these figures into consideration, it seems certain that $100.00 per horse power is a liberal estimate of the average capital cost for which the water powers of Tennessee could be developed. 64 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. ANNUAL COST OF POWER A matter of more general interest than capital cost is the consid- eration of the annual cost of power; by this is meant the total of interest on investment, taxes, insurance, depreciation and actual administration, maintenance and operating expenses. Upon the basis of the annual cost of producing water power, and upon this alone, can an appraisal of the value of the water power resources of the State rest. From the reports of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, data covering 29 plants have been brought together. The combined capacity of the plants is 338,929 horse power measured either at the power house transformer terminals or at the terminals of the transmission lines, and the combined annual cost of the power as given is $3,142,388.00. The average cost per horse power per year is therefore $9.27. This figure includes the cost of long distance transmission in 5 of the 29 cases, and water rental amounting to $195,000.00 a year in three others. Deducting this last reduces the average cost to $8.70, and if the power transmitted in the five cases were measured at the power house switch board instead of being measured at the transformer terminals, the cost would be somewhat less than $8.50 per 24 hour horse power per year. As a check upon the reliability of the average figures deduced in the preceding paragraph, it is of interest to note that the Hydro- Electric Power Commission of Ontario buys power of the Ontario Power Company of Niagara Falls in accordance with the follow- ing terms: For power at 12,000 volts the price for the first 25,000 horse power is $9.40 per horse power per year; beyond 25,000 horse power, $9.00 per horse power per year; for power at 60,000 volts, $10.40 per horse power per year up to a consumption of 25,000 horse power, and $10.00 for power in excess of this quan- tity. These prices return to the Company a fair profit, notwith- standing the rental which the Company pays to the Government for the use of the water. Coming much nearer home, it may be stated with certainty that water power developed in our own section of the country is trans- ANNUAL COST OF WATER POWER. 65 mitted for a distance of nearly one hundred miles, and sold (to large consumers) at a satisfactory profit for about <,}4 mills per horse power hour. This price, figured on a basis of 10 hours a day for 310 working days a year is equivalent to $17.05 per horse power per year. The writer is not advised how large a profit this figure includes; but it is probable that the actual cost of generating this power, measured at the switch board of the generating station, does not exceed $9.00 per horse power per year. By way of conclusion, the writer estimates that a comprehensive scheme for the progressive development of the entire water power resources of the State could be consummated at an average cost not to exceed $11.00 per horse-power per year, measured at the switch board. The cost of building transmission lines, including the cost of right of way, is very closely $3,000.00 a mile. Let us assume then that the complete system of power development and transmission covering the entire State is to be considered. It is probable that the average distance to which power would be transmitted would not exceed 50 miles; for altho a part of the power might require to be transmitted for a distance of 400 miles, by far the larger bulk of the power would be consumed in the immediate neighborhood of the power plants; and 50 miles would seem to be a fair average length of transmission. If we assume that the power capacity of each transmission line is 25,000 horse power, and assume a loss in transformation and transmission of 8 per .cent, thus charging against the power this loss together with interest on, and depre- ciation and maintenance of transmission lines (figured at 15 per cent.), we should add to the cost of producing the power, $1.00 per horse power per year for transmission, making the total cost of power, delivered to the step-down transformers $12.00 per horse power per year. Finally, a proper basis for valuing the water power resources of the State is to be secured by comparison with the cost of generat- ing steam power from coal. 66 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. THE COST OF STEAM POWER There are few cities in the United States in which power may be generated from coal as cheaply as in Knoxville. Here coal may be bought on large contracts for $1.30 per ton delivered on the side track of the consumer. Moreover, labor in Knoxville is cheap. The writer has knowledge of a large industrial plant in which the cost of power delivered to the countershaft is only $24.00 per horse power per year, this price including interest at 6 per cent, depreciation 8 per cent, insurance and taxes 4 per cent, besides coal oil and labor. The plant is unusually fortunate in hav ing access to condensing water, without cost. He is familiar with another plant in which the management makes the claim that steam power costs but $13.00 per horse power per year. But this figure is unreliable, because it neglects the overhead charges, and more- over is based upon indicated and not delivered horsepower. The actual cost at this plant cannot be less than $25.00 per horse power per year. A third and smaller plant may be cited, having a capac- ity of 300 horse power, in which the cost 's $45.00. These are all plants in which the load upon the engine is remarkably constant, which fact in part accounts for the low costs cited. In the Report on the "Survey of the Tennessee River" by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., Major Wm. H. Harts, in discussing the possible value of a water power development on the Tennessee River near Knoxville, states: ' "The cost of steam power generated from coal in the vicinity of Knoxville is believed, from the best information available to be about $35.00 per horse power-year in econ- nomical plants of large size. In cotton mills in Northern Alabama the cost is said to be as low as $15.00, but ordinar- ily it runs from $40.00 to $200.00 in installations of moderate size. It is doubtful, however, if electricity could be sold for more than $45.00 in competition with steam. In the Engineering News of January 8, 1903, (p. 30), $20.00 and $40.00 are taken as the limits for the charges per electrical *House Document Xo. 360, 62nd Congress, 2nd Session. COST OF STEAM POWER. 67 horse power per year delivered to the customer; and charges on several contracts in Chattanooga are understood to be on a $40.00 basis for ordinary use." Comparing the cost of electric power produced from water power and from steam, Major Harts writes further: "From these data it would seem that in the general case there would be a difference of about $16.00 per horse power year between the cost of producing electric power from water under favorable conditions and that of producing it from steam." While the costs of steam power given above represent current American practice, in which real economy is not attained, there are two relatively new types of power plant now available, by means of which the cost of steam power can be greatly reduced below the figures above cited. The steam turbine is one of these. Steam turbines are now built in very large sizes, and these large machines attain quite high economy. It is probable that the steam turbine equipment, say for 20,000 horse power, could be installed in a plant located at the mouth of some one of the coal mines in East Tennessee and generate electricity for transmission to the larger cities at a cost considerably below that at which power is now being sold. Power thus developed could be delivered to a substation in Knoxville for about $9.00 per horse power per year. The second new type referred to is the poppet valve engine utilizing high pressure and high degrees of superheat in the steam. This type of engine was perfected in Germany, and for the past five or six years has been rapidly replacing the older types of engines throughout Europe. It is now beginning to receive the attention in this country which it deserves. The engines are made in sizes up to 2,000 horse power; but a striking fact concerning them is that the small engines develop as high efficiency as the large. Whereas in our common practice from three to five pounds of coal are consumed per horse power per hour, these new units generate a horse power hour with the consumption of but 1.5 pounds of coal if run non-condensing, and if condensing with a consumption of about one pound. Several thousand of these plants are in successful operation in Europe. Their introduction into America has begun; and it is certain that within another 68 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. decade they will have revolutionized American steam power plant practice. Could the new type of steam plant come immediately into universal use, the cost of steam power would be reduced to less than half its present figure. But no such radical step will be taken; and in the meantime the demand for power grows at so prodigious a rate that on the whole the cost of steam power may be expected to advance rather than recede. "From 1870 to 1910 the population of this country in- creased from 38,000,000 to 92,000,000, or more than 142 per cent, and the coal consumption increased per capita from 0.85 tons to 5.50 tons, or almost 550 per cent; hence in forty years the coal consumption has increased about forty times as fast as the population. During this interval the average value of cbal property hasincreasedfrom Sioo.oo to $2,000.00 per acre, or 1,900 per cent., which is nearly four times the rate of consumption increase. When it is remembered that this phenomenal change in volume and value has been accompanied by a corresponding wage in- crease and more diiBcult engineering work in connection with the greater depth of the mines, it is a tribute to our application of scientific management in both mine working and transportation that we are not paying several hundred per cent, more for coal at this date than we are; but, coming events cast their shadows before' and the abnormal rise in mine values, together with the continual labor agitation-, makes it almost certain that within a short period the cost of coal at the mines will be increased from 25 to 50 per cent., and that a greater proportionate increment of cost will be added as the coal passes the several go-betweens in its transit from the mine to the ultimate consumer."* If in view of the possible reduction in the cost of steam power which better economy could effect, we abandon the basis of com- parison deduced by Major Harts and quoted above, and claim for water power a difference not of $16.00 but of $10.00 per horse power per year, we shall conclude that the present potential value of the water power of Tennessee is $10,000,000.00 per year. The fu- ture potential value is great beyond our present ability to surmise. *Second Annual Report of Main State Water Storage Commission, page 232. POWER DEVELOPMENT IN TENNESSEE. 69 THE PRESENT DEVELOPMENT OF WATER POWER IN TENNESSEE General Statement. — The writer has made an effort to take a census of the developed water powers of the State, but without avail. To this end a letter was addressed to the Register of each county, enclosing a blank to be filled out, giving the number and locations of water wheels in operation within the county. Replies were received from fewer than half of the gentlemen addressed, and of the replies received,' only a few contained any reliable in- formation. According to a special water power census taken in 1908 by the United States Census Bureau, there were at that time 2,160 water wheels in operation in the State, the distribution and horse power developed being as follows: Table 19. — Developed water powers in Tennessee for all pur- poses. 1Q08. Wheels Horse power 1,691 397 10 62 85,548 Cumberland River _ . 8,576 Green River Mississippi River 140 796 Total 2,160 95,060 An average of 54 H. P. per wheel. The above figures must include such water power developments as were used in generating electricity for electric light and public service corporations, since the census of 1910, Department of Manufactures, gives the following data on water power developed for strictly manufacturing purposes: Table 20. — Developed water power in Tennessee for manufac- turing purposes. Year 1899 1904 1909 No. of Wheels .-. 401 11,078 8.5% 299 9,762 5.6% 341 Total H.P Per rent of DOwer used in mis. 9,670 4.0% 70 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. This table would seem to indicate that the use of water power in manufacturing is declining, for while 8.5 psr C2nt. of all the power thus used in the year 1899 came from water wheels, only 4 per cent, came from this source ten years later. Undoubtedly the explanation is found in the rapid expansion of commercial power business by the public service corporations. These can generate power in large quantities and sell electricity for the operation of manufactures more cheaply than the relatively small isolated power plants of the factories themselves can produce it. The figures of this census emphasize in a startling manner the fact that the year 191 2 marks the beginning of a new era in the history of water power development in Tennessee, — the era of hydro-electric development and of long-distance power transmis- sion. During this year, seven water wheels, capable of developing 29,200 horse power were put into operation. To this number there were added during 19 13 fourteen more wheels with a capacity of 63,600 horse power. Therefore the total present installed capacity of all the water power plants within the State is very close to 190,000 horse power. Four additional wheels with a capacity of 16,000 horse power remain yet to be installed in the power house at Hale's Bar; and during the year 1914 construction will begin on a plant of 80,000 horse power capacity on the Little Tennessee River. Existing Plants. — Following are brief descriptions of a number of these developments. It is believed that no important develop- ment, either in progress or in prospect, is omitted from the list; yet this cannot be said with certainty, since the projectors of an enterprise of the nature and magnitude of hydro-electric develop- ments are naturally reticent during the formative stages of their 'designs. Rumors of many projects abound, and the writer has spared no effort to sift these in order to ascertain which have any basis for credence. Thus, it is rumored that the American Zinc Co., which is now operating zinc mines at Mascot, has under con- templation the development of power on the Holston River. Writing of this, the company says: "This matter of power has been discussed tentatively, but it cannot in any way be considered a definite project at this time." Other rumors might be listed, but they are too tenuous to merit attention. Mention should be made in passing of a project located on the Hiwassee River just across the State line, in Clayborne Co., North Carolina; the project of the Carolina Tennessee Power Co. The H <; POWER DEVELOPMENT IN TENNESSEE. 71 plans of this company are to build two plants, about 15 miles apart, which will have a combined rating of 50,000 horse power. Each dam will be 150 ft. high and 1,200 ft. long, and each will create a lake about 15 miles in length. The location is approxi- mately 60 miles south of Knoxville, 55 miles east of Chattanooga and 100, miles north of Atlanta. Owing to this location, it is more than probable that the power will seek a market within Tennessee. The Tennessee Power Company. — First in the order of importance at this time comes certainly the developments of the Tennessee Power Co. The following description of the organization and plans of the company is quoted from the "Electrical World," of April 13, 1912: "Negotiations between H. M. Byllesby & Company, Chicago; E. W. Clark & Company, Philadelphia; William P. Bonbright & Company; and Hodenpyl, Hardy & Company, New York, have resulted in the formation of a plan for developing water power resources in the State of Tennessee and the transmission of energy throughout this State and Kentucky and parts of Georgia. The plan calls for the formation of the Tennessee Railway, Light and Power Company under Maine laws and the Tennessee Power Company under Tennessee laws. The authorized capitaliza- tion of the first company will consist of $50,000,000 preferred stock, .of which $10,250,000 will be outstanding, and $20,000,000 common stock, all of which will be outstanding. "The capitalization of the Tennessee Power Company will consist of $50,000,000 first-mortgage, fifty-year 5 per cent gold bonds, dated May i, 1912, of which $7,500,000 will be outstanding, and of $20,000,000 common stock, all of which will be issued. The Tennessee Railway, Light and Power Company will own the following: All of the capital stock of the Tennessee Power Com- pany (excepting the qualifying shares of the directors); a large majority and probably all of the common stock of the Nashville Railway & Light Company; all the bonds and capital stock (ex- cept directors' qualifying shares) of the Cleveland Electric Light Company, of Cleveland, Tenn.; a large majority and probably all of the preferred and common stock of the Chattanooga, Railway & Light Company. The company will have approxi- mately $882,000 in its treasury as working capital. The Tennes- see Power Company will own, free from all encumbrances (other than its first- mortgage bonds mentioned above), the following 72 THE WATER PO\VERS OF TENNESSEE. properties: The 25,000 horse power hydro-electric plant on the Ocoee River at Parksville, Tenn., now in operation; the transmis- sion lines now in use from this plant, by way of Cleveland, to Chat- tanooga; the transmission line from Cleveland to Knoxville, Tenn., which is nearly completed; the transmission line from Cleveland southward to the Georgia State line; the Great Falls power site and reservoir at the junction of the Caney Fork and Collins Rivers, near Rock Island, Tenn., capable of development of 80,000 horse power, and said to be the most desirable water power site in Tennessee; two sites on the Ocoee River, in addition to the first named above, one capable of development of 16,000 horse power and the other of 30,000 horse power. The company will have in its treasury $2,478,000, which it is proposed to use for new con- struction and other corporate purposes. A large part of the proper- ties named above will be acquired by purchase from the Eastern Tennessee Power Company, with the approval of the stockholders of that company. The following construction work will be un- dertaken immediately by the company: An addition of 15,000 horse power to the first development on the Ocoee River, now in operation as above; construction of a 16,000 hydro-electric plant on the second site on the Ocoee River, to operate under a 250-ft. head; construction of additional transmission lines fromParksville, by way of Great Falls, to Nashville, Tenn., and from Nashville through the surrounding country, to reach the various power users." The second development on the Ocoee River referred to is now completed and work on the third is about to begin. In addition to this, an engineering party is now in the field to locate a suitable site for a storage reservoir on the headwaters of the Ocoee. A detailed description of the first project by the writer appears in No. 2 of Vol. 2 of "The Resources of Tennessee," also another in an article entitled "Water Power Development in the South" in Cassier's Magazine for June and July, 191 2. The accompanying map and profile (Plate III) show the nature of the three developments on the Ocoee River, and their relative loca- tions. The dam of development No. i creates a lake about 8 miles long; at the head of this lake is located the power house of develop- ment No. 2. Water for this development is diverted from the river by a timber crib dam, 30 feet high, situated some miles higher on the river; the water is then conveyed in a timber flume about 4^ miles long laid on a very light grade to the site of the power house. POWER DEVELOPMENT IN TENNESSEE. -jt, where it discharges into the steel penstocks. The end of the flume is at an elevation of approximately 270 feet above the bed of the stream, and this head will be utilized by the turbines. The third development is similar in character to the second, but the flume will be 5^ miles long. Since April, 191 2, the Tennessee Power Company has been fur- nishing all the electric power for the city of Chattanooga, and since October, 191 2, that for Knoxville. The transmission line to Knoxville extends on to Mascot to supply the American Zinc Company with power for its mining operations. The line to Nash- ville was completed in June, 1913. The Aluminum Company of America has contracted to take a block of 20,000 horse power, beginning on June ist, 1913, for a minimum period of five years. At the present writing, the people of both Knoxville and Chatta- nooga are most curious to know which of the transmission lines is destined to carry this load. The Tennessee Power Company is the first great power company to become domiciled in the State. In view of the history of cen- tralization of power development in other states, and particularly in view of the connections of the men who have formed the Ten- nessee Power Company, it is difficult to avoid the supposition that this wealthy corporation purposes to dominate the power sit- uation in this section of the South. The report of the U. S. Com- missioner of Corporations, referred to elsewhere in this bulletin, shows that the owners of this company are the owners also of a large number of water power developments and of numerous pub- lic service corporations (to the number of not less than 43) in various parts of the country. Not only this, but through their common memberships in the directorates of certain other corpora- tions, the Tennessee Power Company is allied to the General Electric Company itself. And if it be true, as many believe, that a power trust is already in existence or is in process of formation then, unless it be checked very soon, Tennessee is not likely to escape its dominance. The Hale's Bar Development. — Next in immediate importance to the development of the Tennessee Power Company, comes the plant of the Chattanooga and Tennessee River Power Com- pany, recently completed at Hale's Bar, on the Tennessee River. As an engineering accomplishment, this plant will take rank among the foremost projects of the day. Located 21 miles be- 74 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. low Chattanooga by road — 1^3, miles as the river winds, and but thirteen as the crow flies — at the lower end of what is termed the "mountain section" of the Tennessee River, the forty foot dam ■will back the river up for a distance of 38 miles, and will convert this section of the river from one of hazardous navigability into a lake of serene tranquility, wonderful beauty and entire safety to navigation. The power equipment will comprise fourteen units, each consist- ing of three turbines and the generator mounted upon a vertical shaft, and developing 4200 horse power each. Thus the capacity of the plant will be 58,800 horse power. Ten of these units are now installed. The total length of the dam, including the lock, is 2500 feet. Beginning at the western embankment, we have iirst the lock, in which the lock chamber measures 60 feet wide by 312 feet long; next, the concrete spillway measuring 1200 feet in length; then the power house 350 feet long, and to the east of this an 800-foot earth dam built over a concrete core-wall. At times of extreme flood, there will be a larger volume of water flowing over this dam than over any other dam now existing in the world. Some interest attaches to the lock also, because it is the highest single lift lock in the world. The great lock gates measure 58 feet in height, and they will be operated by electric motors. Construction was begun in October, 1905, with the expectation that three or four years would sufiice for the completion of the project. However, unforseen diflSculty was experienced in ob- taining suitable foundation, and this greatly retarded the prog- ress of the work. On Nov. 13, 1913, the completion of the plant was oflncially announced, and in the presence of a distinguished party, the turbines were placed in operation. A transmission line to Chattanooga and a sub-station in that city were built some three years ago, and there is some talk of building a transmission line to Birmingham. For further details regarding the Hale's Bar development, the reader is referred to a paper by the writer in Vol. 2, No. 3, of "The Resources of Tennessee," published by the Survey, or to the ar- ticle by him on "Water Power Development in the South," in Cassier's Magazine, previously referred to. The dam is building under a grant from Congress which gives the Company the use of the power for a term of 99 years. The Chat- tanooga and Tennessee River Power Company was the property o M g ^ (A 3 w o w o s I-! w > o 2; Iz; o M H w O f/1 t) tj 0! Q H s cfi Z Pi O w U ^ o o w 2; K P H O Q o 2 ai W < PQ Cfi "w ^-l < w POWER DEVELOPMENT IN TENNESSEE. 75 ■of the late Mr. Anthony N. Brady, of New York. Hence, it be- longs in the group of properties known as the "Brady interests," and according to the United States Commissioner of Corporations, is, like the Tennessee Power Company, indirectly allied to the General Electric Company. Watauga Power Company. The first development of the Wa- tauga Power Company was completed in September, 191 1, and it was the first large hydro -electric plant to go into operation in Tennessee. The plant is situated on the Watauga River, about six miles above Elizabethton. The dam is of Cyclopean concrete, 50 feet high above low water. The spillway is 240 feet long, and -during the probable heaviest flood discharge of the river the water will stand twelve feet deep on the crest of the dam. The installation is designed to consist of three units, developing 1600 horse power each, but up to the present time only two of these have been placed. Electricity, generated at 2300 volts, is transmitted at 44,000 volts to Elizabethton and to Bristol. The power requirements of Elizabethton being moderate, the bulk of the power is taken to Bristol and is sold to the Bristol Gas & Elec- tric Company. In addition to this power site, the Company owns two others, -one located higher up on the Watauga River, and one on the Doe River. Very recently the Company has sold its entire plant to the Utili- ties Improvement Co., one of the subsidiary companies of Henry L. Doherty & Co., of New York. The Utilities Improvement Company, and the Cities Service Co., another of the Doherty holding companies, own a very large number of public service corporations in many parts of the country and are rapidly increas- ing these holdings. Probably next to the General Electric Co., they are the largest of the huge power corporations. They own the Bristol Gas & Electric Co. Tennessee Eastern Electric Company. — This project is the latest of the developments now actually completed. It consists of a dam and power house on the Nolichucky River, nine miles south of Greeneville. The dam is built with foundation adequate for an ultimate height of 70 feet, but for the present the dam will be carried to a height of only 39 feet. The ultimate height will create a pool about nine miles long, and will develop approximately 16,000 horse power, four units being used. For the present, 3,600 horse power represents the total plant capacity. 76 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. The Company, of which W. U. N. Powellson, of New York City, is President; R. L. Warner, of Boston, Treasurer; and Amzi Smith, of Johnson City, Manager, has purchased the electric plants of Johnson City, Greeneville, and Jonesboro. These plants will give the company steam auxiliary power to the extent of 1800 horse power. The company proposes to furnish power to these three cities, and later to extend its field as power demands warrant. The water power plant went into operation in September, 19 13. In addition to these, there are a number of smaller plants in operation, but none having capacities beyond a few hundred horse power. Nearly all are private plants furnishing power for manu- facturing purposes. PROJECTED DEVELOPMENTS. i7 PROJECTED DEVELOPMENTS The Tennessee Hydro-Electric Company. — We have called at- tention to the projected developments of some of the leading com- panies in the preceding section. The most notable of the pro- jected developments are those of the Aluminum Company of America and of the Tennessee Hydro-Electric Company. This last named Company, chartered on April i6, 191 2, proposes to develop all of the power afforded by the Clinch and the Powell Rivers, both in Tennessee and in Virginia. The plan contemplates the erection of five dams, as follows: Dam No. i, 40 feet high, across the Clinch River just above the mouth of the Emory River in Roan County; Dam No. 2, 60 feet high, on the Clinch River just above the Louisville and Nashville Railroad crossing in Ander- son County; Dam No. 3, 150 feet high, on the Clinch River just above Island Ford and a short distance below the mouth of the Powell River between Anderson and Campbell Counties; Dam No. 4, 260 feet high, on the Powell River, 500 feet above the South- ern Railway bridge, in Claiborne County; Dam No. 5, 260 feet high, on the Clinch River about two miles above the Southern Railway bridge, between Claiborne and Grainger County. The elevation of the crests of dams Nos. 4 and 5 will be the same, and the dams will constitute a single development. That is to say, one of the dams, that on the Powell River, will be a diversion dam, and the water of the Powell River, will be diverted through a tunnel which will discharge just above dam No. 5 into the Clinch River. The power house located at No. 5 will then utilize the flow of both rivers, under the head of 260 feet thus rendered avail- able. The writer is not advised as to the horse power to be in- stalled at each of these four power houses, but the company claims that their total development will aggregate 400,000, horsepower. For the realization of any such total as this, it will be essential for the company to build storage reservoirs to impound the flood waters of the streams, and by this means equalize the flow. The oflacers of the Tennessee Hydro-Electric Company are: President, J. R. PauU, of Pittsburg, Pa.; Vice-President and Gen- eral Council, James B. Cox, of Knoxville; Treasurer and Chief 78 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Engineer, F. M. Butler, of New Castle, Pa.;- Secretary, J. R. Cox,. of Knoxville. The Company is capitalized for $10,000.00; and the same men have incorporated the Virginia Hydro-Electric Company, with the same capitalization, in order that the right of eminent domain may be exercised in both States. The plans contemplate an expenditure of $20,000,000.00. Condemnation proceedings for securing riparian holdings have been instituted; but although plans and specifications are said to have been com- pleted, actual work of construction is held in abeyance pending a decision on the right of the company to dam the Clinch River. A federal bill granting this right was introduced into the last session of Congress, but when it became known that President Taft would veto the water power bills that came to him for his action, this- bill was withdrawn. It is the purpose to re-introduce the bill at the next session of Congress, but in the light of the decision of the Secretary of War with reference to the French Broad River, cited in the description below of the French Broad River Power Company, page 77, it would scarcely seem probable that the authority of Congress extends to the Clinch River. It is commonly rumored that the Tennessee Hydro-Electric Company expects to market its power in Cincinnati or some other northern city. The writer is not advised as to the truth of this rumor, but it would certainly be more fortunate for Tennessee if a market for the power were to be found, or if not found, created, within our own boundaries. The Aluminum Company of America. — For some months past the Aluminum Company has been busy acquiring title to all the power rights and riparian privileges on the Little Tennessee River, from Franklin, N. C, a distance of 65 miles, to a point 20 miles south of Maryville, Tenn., where the river finally emerges from the Unaka Mountains, and exchanges the vigor of a mountain stream for the more quiet flow of a mature river. In addition to this the company has acquired the tributary streams — the Cheoah, the Tuckaseegee and the Nanahala rivers. Complete surveys of this great water power holding have been made, and the sites of power houses and storage reservoirs have been practically determined- The ultimate plan contemplates the construction of dams, one beyond another, so placed that each will back water nearly or quite up to the toe of the dam next above it. Some of these dams, owing to the steep and narrow character of parts of the river bed,, will impound but small quantities of water; while others, more PROJECTED DEVELOPMENTS. 79 favorably situated for storage purposes, will form lakes of large extent. For instance, at one point on the Cheoah River a dam 135 feet high will impound about three and a half|billion cubic feet of water. There are a number of fortunate reservoir sites, and the ultimate development now projected will not only utilize practically all of the fall of the streams (about 1,200 feet on the Little Tennessee River alone), but will to a very large extent con- serve the flood waters of spring to spread them over the dry months of summer, and thus develop in an ideal manner the total power of all the annual stream run-off. This power will exceed 400,000 horse power. The Aluminum Company of America, by purchasing the stock of the Knoxville Water and Electric Power Company, has acquired a franchise for furnishing light and power in Knoxville. How- ever, furnishing light and power in Knoxville will be of secondary importance to this company, for its chief purpose is to erect re- duction works for the production of aluminum from the mineral bauxite. Construction on some of the dams would probably have been started some months ago except for a difficulty that arose over the interference of the water power development with the proposed Murphy extension of the Southern Railway. For months parties of engineers representing the aluminum company and the railway have been at work in an effort to make a satisfactory relocation of the railroad line. This matter has now been settled presumably to the satisfaction of both parties, and hence the way has been cleared for construction of the hydro-electric plants to proceed. The first of these plants to be built will be No. 2 (the numeral signifying that the plant will be the second, in point of location, as one proceeds upstream). It will be located near the mouth of the Cheoah River, in North Carolina. The dam will be approxi- mately 200 feet high, and the plant will develop about 80,000 horse power. Dam No. i, to be located about 5 miles lower down the river, will be the only one of the series situated within Ten- nessee. In dimensions it will resemble No. 2. French Broad River Power Company. — This Company, incor- porated in 1908, proposes to develop 30,000 horse power at a site on the French Broad River, just above its confluence with the Holston, distant from Knoxville but 5 miles. There are two sites under contemplation, about two miles apart, and some test drill- ing has been done to determine which of the two affords the more 8o THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. favorable foundation. The company's plan contemplates the building of a dam 70 feet high. This will cause slack water up as far as Boyd's Creek, a distance of 22 miles. An interesting ruling by the United 'States War Department has been obtained by the Company. The ruling, dated May 5, 1909, is signed by Robert Shaw Oliver, Acting Secretary of War, and is as follows : " I have today decided that the French Broad River is a navigable water of the United States, the navigable portion of which lies wholly within the limits of the State of Tennessee. Therefore, the charter granted by the Legislature of the State to this Com- pany is sufficient authority to construct the dam in question, pro- vided the location and plans thereof are submitted to and approved by the Chief of Engineers and by the Secretary of War before construction is commenced." The company claims to have expended about $30,000.00 in preliminary examinations, the preparation of its plans and speci- fications, and the purchase of options riparian rights. At the present writing this project cannot be considered as more than a speculative holding, with no immediate prospect of active de- velopment. THE DOE RIVER SURVEY. 8i THE DOE RIVER SURVEY Before his resignation as State Geologist, Dr. George H. Ash- ley had effected a cooperative agreement with the Water Re- sources Branch of the United States Geological Survey, whereby it was arranged that a water power survey should be made of the Doe River. The arrangement was such that the actual work was to be prosecuted by the engineers of the U. S. Geological Survey, and the expense was to be borne equally by the State and the United States Geological Surveys. Dr. Ashley's purpose in doing this was to obtain the data of a single survey which should serve as an exhibit, so to speak, of what might have been done on a much larger scale, if the appropriation of $15,000.00 cotem- plated in the bill cited in the opening paragraph of this Bulletin had been made. The share of the expense which has been borne by the State Geological Survey is $717.97. The work was begun in December, 1911, under direction of Mr. A. H. Horton, District Engineer, U. S. Geological Survey, and is fully described in Mr. Horton's report which follows. The qual- ity of the work is up to the high standard of excellence which those acquainted with the United States Geological Survey are accus- tomed to expect. Nevertheless, as Mr. Horton points out in his report, the time allotted for the work was much too short for the collection of all the data requisite to a complete and ade- quate knowledge of the water-power possibilities of the stream in question. Daily observat'ons of the run-off at two different stations have now been made for more than a year. But to render them of real value, they should be continued over a period of four or five years at least. Further than this, the study of possible power sites was of necessity far from being exhaustive. Enough was done to establish the fact that Doe River has good water power potentialities, and to show that there are many excel- lent power sites and a number of storage sites of moderate capacity. It was not learned what is the economic limit to the possible stor- age of water within the basin, nor what is the economic total amount of possible power development on the River. To accom - .82 • THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. plish these ends, a more elaborate survey than Dr. Ashley had in view would be required, or than could be expected for the expendi- ture which has been made. The results obtained amply justify the effort and the outlay they have occasioned. The writer has thought best in reproducing Mr. Horton's report to omit the tabulations of daily gauge readings, but has not omitted his calculations of the daily run-off based on these gauge readings . He has combined the three sheets on which were plotted the map and profile of the river into a single continuous map and profile, to a much smaller scale, preferring to publish the same in this way. Since the original tracings are kept on file, persons interested in seeing the large scale drawings may do so by apply- ing to the State Geologist. The report of Mr. Horton follows, on page 83. THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 83 DOE RIVER REPORT DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. United States Geological Survey — ^Water Resources Branch Newport, Kentucky, Nov. 1.3, 1912. Dr. a. H. Purdue, State Geologift of Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee. Dear Sir: — There is transmitted herewith my report covermg the results of ■cooperative work between the U. S. Geological Survey and the State Geological Survey of Tennessee. The work has been done in accordance with the regulations of the U. S. Geological Survey under the general supervfision of Mr. M. O. Leighton, Chief Hydrographer. The data collected previous to 1911 were obtained under the direction of M. R. Hall. The 1911 and 1912 data were obtained under my directions assisted by T. C. McEwen and C. T. Bailey. The gauging stations on the Doe River at Blevins and Valley Forge will be con- tinued until January 1, 1913, at least, so as to have a complete year's record of the run-off of the Doe River at these two places. As I have pointed out in my report, accurate estimates of water power can not be made without long time records of run-off. Tennessee has a great future as a water power State. In order that its Tvater power possibilities may become known and be developed economically the surface run-off should be determined for as long a period as is practicable. I trust that you will be able to continue and increase the stream flow work in the State during 1913. Mr. Switzer stated to me under date of November 7, 1912, that he intended to make use of this report in his bulletin on the Water Powers of Tennessee. In making any estimates of the amount of water power available on the Doe River it should be noted that the stream flow data in the accompanying report have been ■obtained from records less than a. year in length, and should, therefore, only be used with that tact in view. Acknowledgments are due to Mr. McEwen and Jlr. Bailey for their interest and energy in the work assigned to them, and to the U. S. Weather Bureau for ramfall records. Special acknowledgments are due to Mr. G. W. Hardin, Vice President and Superintendent of the Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina Rail- road Company, for his courtes> in allowing trains to stop to permit the riversurvey party to get on and off convenient to work. I wish to thank Dr. G. H. .\shley, the former State Geologist, for his cooperation and interest, and also to thank you Soi your cooperation and courtesy. Yours \ery truly, A. H. IIORTON, Dislricl Engineer. INTRODUCTION. In November, 191 1, a cooperative arrangement was made be- tween the U. S. Geological Survey and the State Geologist of Ten- nessee whereby a survey and study of the Doe River in Tennessee was to be made in order to determine its value for water power 84 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. purposes. It was decided to make a profile survey of the river from Roan Mountain to Elizabethton and to make a study of the run-off of the river. The results of the survey and investigation of the run-off were to be embodied in a report t6 the State Geolo - gist of Tennessee about November 15, 191 2. The U. S. Geologi- cal Survey and the State of Tennessee were each to expend an equal amount upon the work. A river survey party was hastily organized the first part of December, 191 1, and started at Roan Mountain with instructions to finish the survey of the river to Elizabethton before the end of the month. Gauging stations were established at which the river stage was read daily and measurements of the flow were made. The river survey was completed about the 29th of December, 1911. The gauging stations have been maintained to date. The accom- panying report contains the results of the study of the run-off of Doe River and the results of the profile survey. The report comprises all the available run-off data of the Doe River collected by the U. S. Geological Survey and the data collected under the cooperative arrangement, and a map of the Doe River from Roan Mountain to the mouth at Elizabethton showing -the general plan of the river and the river profile at low water. Part I includes the stream flow data arranged as usually present- ed in the U. S. Geological Survey water-supply papers. The stream-flow data presented are distinctly preliminary, as there are available but few measurements with very little range in stage from which to draw rating curves. It is thought, however, that the low water flow has been determined fairly accurately. At- tention is invited to the foot-note following the tables of monthly estimates of discharge for each station. Part II includes the plan and profile of the river from Roan Mountain to Elizabethton in three sheets, a brief discussion of the methods used in making the survey, and a general discussion of the water power possibilities with photographs of dam sites and reservoir sites. SURFACE WATER-SUPPLY OF DOE RIVER. DOE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. PART I. GENERAL DISCUSSION The drainage basin of Doe River is located in the central and southern part of Carter County, Tennessee. Carter County is A WATER POWfeR MAP OF TENNESSEE, SHOWING DRAINAGE BASINS OF THE STATE, AND ADJACENT AREAS PREPARED FOR BULLETIN No. 17, THE TENNESSEE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. A. H. PURDUE, STATE GEOLOGIST; J. A. SWITZER, HYDRAULIC ENGINEER. 19 14 platp: VII. MAP AMD PROFILE DOE RIVER SUHVEY BY THE UKITBD STATES GBOLOqiCAL 5UBVEY IN COOPEBATION WITH THE TENNESSE STATE QEOLOqiCAL SVHVEY UNDER DIHECTlON OFAH.HOBTON DISTRICT ENCINEEH T7.3.a. S. Utalaneea in ftetfrnm mouiK af Dob Siver PLATE VII. — Map and Profile of Doe River. THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 85 one of the border counties near the northeast corner of Tennessee. All of the basin, except about two square miles which are in North Carolina, lies in Carter County. The total area of Carter County is 345 square miles. The area of the Doe River basin is 142 square miles, or about 40 per cent, of the total area of the county. Doe River rises in the high and mountainous area to the north and west of Roan High Knob. The main stem of the river has its source not far from Hughes Gap on the Tennessee-North Car- olina boundary line. From there it flows northeasterly to Roan Mountain where it is joined by Wilson Creek, locally known as Shell Creek. From Roan Mountain it flows northwesterly and joins the Watauga at Elizabethton. The Watauga is a tributary of the South Fork of the Holston River. The total length of the river is about 29 miles. There are only two tributaries of any importance, both of which join the river near Hampton, about 7 miles above the mouth. Tiger Creek, as it is named on the topo- graphic sheets, or Little Doe River as it is known locally, drains the western corner of the basin and joins the Doe, on the left bank, immediately above Hampton. Laurel Fork Creek flows parallel to the Doe and drains the northeastern side of the basin and joins the Doe on the right bank immediately below Hampton. Wilson Creek, which joins the Doe at Roan, Mountain, is much smaller than either of the above tributaries. The drainage area is roughly rectangular in shape with a nar- row portion extending from Hampton to Elizabethton. The rectangular portion is about 15 miles long and 10 miles wide. The narrow portion from Hampton to Elizabethton is about 5 miles long and 2 miles wide. The following table gives the drain- age area at different points in the basin. Table 21. Drainage areas of Doe River at different points. Locality (above) Area square miles Mouth 141 U. S. G. S. Staff gauge 139 E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. Bridge at Valley Forge gauging station 132 Below mouth of Laurel Fork Creek 129 Below mouth of Little Doe (Tiger Creek) 101 E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. Bridge at Blevins gauging station. 62.2 Below mouth of Roaring Creek 55.1 Below mouth of Wilson Creek 40.7 Tributaries Laurel Fork Creek, area above mouth 27.0 Little Doe River (Tiger Creek) area above mouth 33.0 86 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE Tl,e sources of the river are at an elevation of about 5,000- 6,cco feet. Roan Mountain Knob has an elevation of 6,313 feet. At Roan Mountain the elevation is 2,560 feet; at Blevins, at the head of the upper canyon, the elevation is 2,270, at the lower end of the canyon the elevation is 1,850, a fall of 420 feet through the canyon in a distance of a little over 4 miles. At Hampton the elevation is 1,770 feet and at the mouth of the river at Elizabethton the elevation is 1,503 feet. The following table gives the eleva- tions and distances along the river as determined by a profile survey made in December, 1911. Table 22. Distances and elevations along Doe River from mouth to Wilson Creek. Locality Miles above mouth Eleva- tion Fall bet'n points in feet. i.'outh (Watauga River) Covered Bridge, Elizabethton, U.S.G.S. Ref- erence gauge on bridge U. S. G. S. Gauge on right bank Foot of dam Top of dam Laurel Fork R. R. Co.'s bridge E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. bridge, Valley Forge, U. S. G. S. gauging station E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. bridge. Laurel Fork Creek Highway bridge at Hampton Little Doe River or Tiger Creek.. Pardee Point. E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. bridge. E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. bridge. E. T. and W. N. C. R. R. Bridge, Blevins, U. S. G. S. gauging station.. Blevins R. R. station -,--. Hopson Post-office White Rock R. R. station Roaring Creek- George's Creek. ■ Roan Mountain. ----- Wilson Creek, or Shell Creek. 0.6 1.2 1.7 1.7 2.5 3.6 3.9 5.0 5.8 6.9 7.3 7.9 8.7 10.0 10.4 11.0 11.8 12.0 13.0 13.4 13.7 15.2 15.7 16.6 17.3 18.0 18.5 19.0 20.0 20.9 21.2 1,503 1,522 1,535 1,548 1,553 1,568 1,599 1,612 1,644 1,686 1,745 1,767 1,793 1,836 1,933 1,996 2,062 2,154 2,178 2,249 2,268 2,280 2,327 2,350 2,408 2,447 2,468 2,501 2.508 2;536 2,559 2,572 19 13 13 5 15 31 13 32 42 59 22 26 43 97 63 66 92 24 71 19 12 47 23 58 39 21 33 7 28 23 13 Probably three-quarters or more of the area that may be con- sidered as being located at the sources of the main stream and more THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 87 in^ortant tributaries is forested. The land along the river bot- toms is, in general, cleared. Lumbering is being carried on ex- tensively and will soon result in the removal of all the best timber and will reduce the forested area materially. The rainfall varies from 45 inches at Elizabethton to 60 inches or more at the highest parts of the basin. The reader is referred to the tables of rainfall, following the stream flow data, for Eliza- bethton and for other points about the same elevation of the source of the river. These records show that the rainfall is mucji greater at the elevated sources of Doe River than it is at the mouth of the river at Elizabethton. Like most of the streams in eastern Tennessee the basin of Doe River abounds in springs, some of which are of considerable size, The flow of Fish Spring near Elizabethton was found to be about 75^ cu. ft. per second. Willow Spring, about t,}4 miles above the mouth of the river, has a discharge of about 1.7 cu. ft. per second. The spring at Hampton is said to have a discharge of about 11 cu. ft. per second. According to those who live near, the flow never varies summer or winter and remains at a constant tempera- ture. Fish Spring gets slightly discolored after heavy rains but the other two remain clear and sparkling the year round. Eliza-, bethton obtains its water supply from the spring at Hampton. The owners of the Hampton spring state that the water is soft and practically absolutely pure. The numerous springs in the drainage basin tend to keep t he flow of the river constant during long continued droughts. In general, winter conditions are mild and ice forms only during severe winters. The Eastern Tennessee and Western North Car- olina Railroad parallels the river from Valley Forge to Roan Moun- tain. Its grade line is from 10 to 100 feet above the river. The following gauging stations have been maintainedin this basin : Doe River at Blevins, Tenn., 1911-1912; Doe River at Valley Forge, Tenn., 1911-1912; Doe River at Elizabethton, Tenn., 1907-1908, 191 2. The results of the gaugings are as follows: Doe River at Blevins, Tenn. Location:. At Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad bridge, one-fourth mile north of Blevins, Tenn. Records available: Dec. 16, 1911 to Oct. 31, 1912. Drainage area: 62.2 square miles. 88 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Gauge: Standard chain gauge attached to upstream guardrail of covered wooden through bridge. Channel: Bottom sandy; may shift. Point of control probably permanent. Discharge measurements: Made from upstream side of bridge, or by wading at section }4 mile above bridge. Winter flow: The relation of gauge height to discharge may be occasionally affected by ice, but only for short periods dur- ing unusually severe winters. Accuracy: The gauge readings are reliable and accurate. See foot-note following tables of monthly estimates in regard to accuracy of the estimates of run-off. Regulation: None. Table 23. Discharge measurements of Doe River at Blevins Tenn., igii-igi2. Date Hydrographer Width feet Area of Section sq. feet Mean ve- locity ft. per sec. Gauge height in ft. Dischirge cu. ft. per sec. Dec 9, 1911 __ Dec. 23, 1911 Sept. 11, 1912 Horton & Bailey A. H. Hort-on A. H. Horton..., 1 2 3 28 60 24.8 a. 23.7 115 b. 22.5 1.35 1.27 1.10 1.74 2.19 1.69 31.9 146.0 24.8 a. Not at regular section. b- At wading section. Table 24. Discharge in second feet of Doe River at Blevins, Tennessee, for igii-igi2. Dec. Jan. Day 1911 1912 Feb. Mch. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. 1 118 101 96 85 52 118 150 131 121 107 101 95 90 56 66 76 134 98 107 112 90 118 118 112 80 85 107 110 128 70 77 70 140 130 110 104 101 107 107 121 194 157 131 194 206 194 924 440 252 481 311 226 175 154 157 128 110 110 101 93 93 82 85 80 252 186 198 164 164 157 168 157 124 118 107 101 82 85 210 110 72 68 121 82 78 88 82 63 56 58 50 50 45 68 150 101 61 52 58 164 164 107 70 172 137 101 154 116 90 101 63 58 63 58 68 68 52 52 47 43 45 .56 47 33 38 40 40 40 29 29 31 28 28 17 31 47 31 29 26 26 61 .33 33 33 33 2 39 3 29 4 28 5 26 6 26 7 26 8 26 9 26 10 25 11 26 12 24 13 26 14 45 15 43 16 85 26 17 47 96 70 222 90 128 68 52 40 29 26 18 40 126 75 182 93 98 118 63 36 43 2S 19 40 157 75 161 96 93 73 445 61 45 38 20 38 137 77 154 85 e8 61 222 56 28 29 21 65 112 226 140 75 82 47 175 70 26 23 22 121 107 206 121 202 78 50 164 80 26 26 23 144 104 157 110 150 72 61 137 61 154 33 24 144 56 179 206 124 68 54 110 40 75 23 25 147 56 144 168 107 107 50 248 40 54 26 26 144 157 61 61 330 326 140 134 98 194 68 65 S2 50 121 110 40 40 54 63 26 27 25 88 118 52 157 161 172 78 50 85 33 47 24 29 112 179 150 630 321 179 50 82 29 43 26 30 90 194 359 652 104 56 82 40 40 24 31 150 150 230 86 65 36 26 Note. — See footnote following tables of monthly estimatea. NoTi. — Gauge heights Jan. 11-12 top ice. Diflcharge Jan. 11-12, 15-18 estimated. Discharge Mar. 1-3, interpolated. THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 89 Table 25. Monthly discharge of Doe River at Blevins, Tenn., or igii-igi2. Drainage Area, 62.2 square miles. DJBcharge in cu. t. per second Run-off. Max Min. Mean Persq. mile Depth in inches on drainage area Total in acre-ft. Dec. 16-31, 1911 157 194 330 924 652 2.52 150 445 80 1.54 45 38 52 70 101 75 65 45 52 29 17 22 103 102 131 209 170 122 69.3 123 48.1 41.3 27.9 1.66 1.64 2.11 3.36 2.73 1.96 1.11 1.98 .774 .664 .449 0.99 1.89 2.28 3.87 '3.05 2.26 1.24 2.28 .89 .74 .52 3,270 JaDuary, 1912... 6,270 February March April 7,540 12,900 10,100 May 7,500 4,120 July . .- 7,560 2,960 2,460 October 1,720 November The period Jan. 1. to Oct. 31 924 17 104 1.67 19.02 63,130 Note. — Monthly estimates for 1911 and 1912 are based upon daily discharges obtained from a rat- ing table baaed upon 3 discharge measurements made during 1911-1912 and a field determination of the point of zero flow. The rating table is fairly well defined below gauge height 2.5 feet (discharge 270); above this point the table b only an approximation and may be considerably in error. Doe River at Valley Forge, Tenn. Location: At Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad bridge at Valley Forge, about 4 miles above mouth of river. Records available: Dec. 11, 1911, to Oct. 31, 1912. Drainage area: 132 square miles. Gauge: Standard chain gauge attached to bridge. Channel: Bottom sandy, may shift. The current is at a pro- nounced angle to the bridge. Point of control probably permanent. Discharge measurements: Made from up-stream side of bridge or by wading at section 50 feet above bridge. Winter flow: Ice may affect the relation of gauge height to discharge for short periods, but only during unusually severe winters. Accuracy: The gauge readings are considered reliable and accu- rate. See footnote following tables of monthly estimates in regard to accuracy of the estimates of run-off. Regulation: None. Table 26. Forge, Tenn. Discharge ipiI-IQI2 measurements of Doe River at Valley Date Hydrograpber Width ft. Area of Section sq. ft. Mean ve- locity ft. per sec. Gauge in ft. Discharge cu. ft. per flee. Dec. 9, 1911 Horton & Bailey A. H. Horton A. H. Horton 1 2 3 87 105 85 a. 115 201 b. 128 0.62 1.38 0.65 1.17 1.81 1.24 71.6 Dec. 23 Sept. 7, 1912... 278 81.7 a. Not at regular section. b. Wading section. 90 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table 27. Discharge in second jeet oj Doe River at Valley Forge, Tenn., for igii-igis. Day 1911 Dec. 1912 Jan. Feb. Mch. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. 1 219 177 177 158 71 81 134 140 161 120 123 112 107 95 107 47 88 110 197 107 112 97 105 102 107 112 112 107 216 419 267 227 197 120 158 123 140 107 129 115 123 115 115 115 107 134 134 143 158 140 158 358 409 129 246 275 368 435 349 890 242 204 194 190 230 242 263 298 513 430 363 363 404 404 1,770 1,230 793 430 344 325 284 254 242 388 368 320 298 284 1,440 785 478 461 1,280 753 519 394 325 373 267 250 234 216 204 197 190 184 184 223 187 180 167 167 445 440 320 275 238 445 419 679 924 576 445 496 419 383 368 368 344 306 263 246 242 208 190 212 368 284 246 216 208 190 174 171 146 212 152 161 316 340 363 2.59 208 201 293 208 174 201 187 158 143 137 120 115 115 149 490 344 223 246 208 171 161 137 149 174 165 140 161 123 112 164 171 164 164 197 339 242 164 155 219 212 223 234 190 197 155 140 134 134 664 440 330 363 306 242 349 267 227 194 174 164 161 134 126 149 152 126 115 107 105 105 123 107 97 85 77 85 85 88 93 112 112 197 216 131 88 88 95 88 81 79 102 95 79 73 73 73 107 81 107 107 93 71 65 63 81 79 75 65 71 73 118 75 63 65 197 149 107 102 149 107 107 95 88 2 83 3 75 4... 75 5 71 6 71 7 57 8. 63 9 63 10 . 63 IJ- 75 73 73 73 79 129 129 102 79 79 107 129 258 234 212 258 344 258 180 190 238 6a 12. 60 13 63 14.. 93 15-.: 102 16 73 17 67 18... 65 19.. 83 20 78 21 65 22 67 23. 83 24 25 78 63 26.... . 63 27 28 61 63 29 63 30 63 31 63 Note. — See footnote following tables of monthly estimate. Table 28. Monthly discharge of Doe River at Valley Forge, Tenn., for igii-igi2. Drainage Area, 132 square miles. Discharge in cu. ft. per second Ma.TS. Min. Mean Per sq. mile Run-off Depth in inches on drainage Total in acre-ft. December 11-31, 1911 . January February March ; April -May - June ■Jiily... August September October 344 419 890 1,770 1,280 576 490 664 216 197 102 73 47 107 190 167 146 112 134 77 157 138 214 464 371 286 186 234 111 92.3 70.9 1.19 1.05 1.62 3.52 2.81 2.17 1.41 1.77 .840 .699 .537 0.93 1.21 1.75 4.06 3.14 2.50 1.57 2.04 .97 .78 .62 6,540 8,480 12,300 28,500 22,100 17,600 11,100 14,400 6,820 5,490 4,360 The period Jan. 1 to Oct. 31. 1,770 47 217 i.e 18.64 131,150 j^OTE. — Monthly estimates for 1911 and 1912 are based upon daily discharges obtained from a rating table based upon 3 discharge measurements made during 1911-1912 and a field determination of the point of zero flow. The rating table is farily well defined below 2.5 feet (discharge 664) ; above this point the table is only an approximation and may be considerably in error. Doe River at Elizabethton, Tenn. Location: About one mile above mouth of river. Records available: June 15, 1907, to June 30, 1908. Sept. 8 to Oct. 31, 1912. " ' H H < 1-1 Oh w w « U o g s <: o o M H P O O W m w o o O THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 91 Drainage area: 139 square miles. Gauge: Staff gauge attached to tree on right bank. Channel: Gravel, probably permanent. Discharge measurements: Made from covered highway bridge about one-half mile below gauge. Winter flow: Ice may affect relation of gauge height to discharge for short periods, but only during unusually severe winters. Accuracy: Gauge readings are considered reliable and accurate. See footnote following tables of monthly estimates in regard to the accuracy of the estimates of run-off. Regulation : The operation of a small power plant above the gauge may affect the normal flow of the stream to some extent. Table 29. Discharge measurements of Doe River, Elizabeth- ton, Tenn., 1904 and igo'j. Date Hydrographer Area of Mean ve- Gauge Width section locity ft. lieight feet Bq. feet per sec. feet 128 253 1.21 al.55 129 166 0.60 0.79 134 131 0.37 0.64 129 285 1.41 bl.50 127 283 1.78 1.60 126 243 1.42 1.48 125 242 1.38 1.43 Disctiarge cu. ft. per sec. May 22, 1904.. July 11... Oct. 20 June 17, 1907.. Aug. 9 Sept. 5..: Sept. 5... B. S. Drane.... J.M.Giles.... B. S. Drane... - W.E.Hall.... W.E.Hall.... B.M.Hall, Jr.. B. M. Hall, Jr.. 48 40S 504 357 334 a. Reference gauge at bridge. b. Staff gauge 2,600 ft. above bridge. Table 30. Discharge in second feet of Doe River at Elizabeth- ton, Tenn., for the year igoj-igoB. Day Julyl Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mch. Apf. May June 1 134 200 1.56 134 134 1.34 134 115 115 115 115 732 505 257 183 156 675 200 183 145 134 115 115 115 134 115 134 115 562 216 145 134 134 115 115 115 134 134 156 359 156 156 156 134 115 98 106 170 134 134 98 106 1,300 1,360 903 200 156 156 156 156 146 134 124 115 115 675 562 183 166 960 315 170 156 156 145 134 134 116 115 106 98 98 156 257 2,800 846 403 200 183 156 156 134 166 156 134 134 115 115 115 134 124 115 115 115 115 115 106 98 98 115 115 115 134 115 115 115 115 115 115 124 106 98 92 92 98 106 106 98 85 76 85 106 286 236 145 119 106 92 85 92 95 85 98 92 74 74 257 315 236 200 134 106 92 124 106 106 115 134 166 216 236 145 960 675 124 145 359 115 145 200 257 166 124 156 286 359 618 789 369 216 454 675 200 606 618 562 257 183 903 960 732 359 236 183 257 3030 1940 1540 505 403 315 286 236 156 156 1,56 216 183 166 156 183 183 183 166 166 369 216 200 183 183 257 183 183 183 183 216 286 562 618 2,110 960 464 216 216 170 166 156 156 183 183 183 183 183 216 903 662 464 403 732 903 618 403 359 216 216 789 454 464 369 315 216 236 216 236 403 403 618 1020 673 505 286 267 267 216 216 960 1590 618 403 257 257 216 216 216 183 183 183 183 183 166 505 403 286 216 216 200 183 183 183 1710 960 562 359 316 286 257 960 216 183 216 183 618 369 286 257 216 183 183 166 156 166 156 236 732 960 505 236 116 183 183 183 183 216 216 216 200 183 2 183 3 170 4. 403 5 236 6 216 7- . 183 8 183 9 156 10. 156 11 124 12 115 13 14... 115 236 15 789 16 454 17. 257 18. 183 19 156 20 156 21. 257 22 506 23 24 359 315 25 403 26 ;. 359 27 316 28. 29 '. 216 183 30 156 31 NLTi;, — See footnote following tables of monthly estimates. 92 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table 31. Discharge in second feet of Doe River at Elizabeth- ton, Tenn., igi2 . Day Sept. Oct. 1 88 2 84 3 83 4 77 5 78 6 81 7 80 8 98 93 84 75 81 80 86 80 85 82 86 128 86 78 77 101 115 101 93 123 100 94 89 75 9 74 10 75 11 78 12 76 13 74 14 84 15 ^ 108 16 - --- 84 17 . - 81 18 80 19 83 20 21 - - --- 88 77 22 76 23 86 24 86 25 -- 82 26 77 27 76 28 74 29 75 30 — 31 75 77 Note, — See footnote following tables of monthly estimates. < w w H 8(2 O O 5: o w H P THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 93 Table 32. Monthly discharge of Doe River at Elizahelhton , Tenn., for the years igoj, igoS and igi2. Drainage Area, 139 square miles. Discharge in cu. ft. per second Run-ofl. Max. Min. Mean Persq. mile Depth in inches on drainage area Total in acre-ft. June 15-31, 1907 960 732 1,360 2,800 156 315 960 152 115 98 98 92 74 106 326 211 246 331 118 129 297 2.35 1.52 1.77 2.38 0.849 0.928 2.14 1.40 1.75 2.04 2.66 0.98 1.04 2.47 10 300 July 13,000 15,100 19 700 October .. 7 260 7,680 December . 18,300 The period June 15 to Dec. 31 2,800 74 230 2,30 1.65 91,340 3,030 2,110 1,020 1,710 960 788 156 156 216 156 156 115 502 329 448 412 296 251 3.61 2.37 3.22 2.96 2.13 1.85 4,16 2.56 3.71 3.30 2.46 2.06 30,900 18,900 February.. _ March 27,500 April 24,500 May 18,200 June 15 300 The period Jan. 1 to June 30th 3,030 115 375 2.70 18.25 135,300 September 8-30, 1912 October 128 108 75 74 92.0 80.4 .662 .578 0.57 0.67 4,200 4,940 Note. — Monthly estimates for 1907, 1908 and 1912 are based on daily discharges obtained froni a rating table based on 4 discharge measurements made during 1907, a field determination of the point of zero flow in September, 1912, upon discharge measurements made at Valley Forge and transferred to Elizabethton by pro- portional areas, and by measuring the inflow from springs between the two stations, and upon the assumption that there has been no change in the relationship between gauge height and discharge since June, 1907,to Novem- ber 1912, which is not improbable. The rating table is fairly well defined below gauge height 2.0 feet (discharge 960); above this point the table is an approximation only and may be considerably in error. Table 2)2>- ^^^^ ^f f^'^scellaneous discharge measurements made in Doe River drainage basin during the year igoo. No. Date Strean) LocaHty Gauge Height feet Discharge cu. ft. per sec. 1 Aug. 3, 1900 Aug. 17 Oct. 5 Dec. 29 Aug. 3 Oct. 5.. 4.81 4.50 4.33 4.95 5.58 5.22 5.70 1.54 4.44 4.19 4.15 4.06 3.80 3.77 4.77 30.0 2 3 4 1 Two miles below Roan Moun- tain , Tenn., near Hampton 15.0 9.0 27.0 35.0 ? 17.0 3 Dec. 29 28.3 1 Aug. 3 Aug. 3 Aug. 18 — - Oct. 5 Aug. 2 Aug. 17 41.3 1 72.0 50.0 3 1 1. Above Elizabethton, Tenn... 39.3 143.0 106.0 3 4 Oct. 5 Dec. 31. .— 82.0 304.0 94 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. Table 34. Mean monthly precipitation. Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee. Elevation 1,575 ft. JaD. Feb. Mch. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual 1869.... 4.80 2.70 2.95 3.25 6.80 5.90 3.90 3.89 2.25 3.70 2.72 3.60 46.46 1870 2.65 3.22 3.40 4.90 4.45 14.17 2.71 4.09 2.10 3.17 1.45 2.16 48.46 1871.... 1.70 2.85 4.25 6.91 4.26 3.19 2.65 1.02 2.31 3.35 0.95 1872.... 1.96 1.42 2.75 5.63 6.63 16.38 1.10 5.17 2.56 2.36 0.88 9.87 55.76 18>3-... 3.83 5.54 3.33 1.68 4.83 1895 2.37 3.09 3.92 3.34 3.32 7.87 9.54 10.56 2.89 0.89 0.64 4.31 1.88 1.27 1.99 4.67 1.95 1.66 1806.... 0.46 2.61 4.42 45.05 1897.-.. 2.31 6.63 8.06 2.84 4.34 5.60 6.62 3.06 2.71 1.19 1.72 3.23 48.31 1898.... 5.13 1.04 5.09 4.35 3.89 6.66 4.44 3.98 4.27 3.16 2.22 1.23 44.46 1899.... 3.13 6.07 10.72 2.08 4.86 2.75 3.58 3.03 3.07 1.23 1.88 2.54 44.94 1900.... 2.23 3.70 3.98 1.14 1.16 4.41 3.94 4.40 3.05 2.55 3.81 3.31 37.68 1901.... 3.81 1.19 3.26 5.27 7.36 8.34 1.66 12.14 1.36 2.05 0.85 6.74 64.03 1902.... 2.85 4.76 3.55 2.05 1.87 8.19 4.40 3.06 5.43 2.03 2.99 1.57 42.75 1903.... 1.71 6.19 4.77 4.63 3.30 2.46 4.02 4.48 0.30 1.68 3.37 1.56 38.46 1904.... 2.06 3.28 6.07 2.64 3.71 3.68 2.06 4.75 1.26 0.02 2.13 4.72 36.37 1905.... 2.91 3.73 2.30 3.39 4.27 2.42 4.46 4.73 1.85 2.64 1.05 3.12 36.77 1906.... 1907 3.93 0.48 2.46 1.22 3.43 6.22 4.80 8.12 3.42 1.46 1.83 3.66 41.03 1908.... 4.39 2.80 4.49 5.46 5.60 4.33 7.42 4.07 1.32 2.92 '2.11 4.38 49.29 1909.... 2.21 3.18 4.03 2.62 3.62 6.51 2.63 2.80 3.90 2.66 0.95 1.48 36.59 1910.... 2.07 1.41 2.98 3.10 5.13 7.87 3.34 5.8S 1.62 1.40 3.40 1911.... 3.57 4.07 4.55 3.64 1.22 3.50 1.79 2.65 2.26 4.83 1.87 2.06 36.00 1912.... 3.89 2.39 4.60 6.05 3.95 3.80 6.83 3.23 3.28 ■ 1.78 Total. 59.53 69.92 90.44 77.19 84.65 124.88 97.51 87.42 56.23 46.31 43.24 63.07 Mean. 2.98 3.33 4.31 3.51 4.03 5.95 4.64 4.16 2.68 2.21 2.16 3.15 43.ii Linville, Mitchell County, N. C. Elevation 3,800 ft. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual 1891.... 1.10 10.79 7.37 1892 1.89 1.29 2,01 3.76 4.82 1896.... 6.62 2.30 6.05 9.60 7.79 3.49 5.24 6.89 2.55 1.21 2.53 8.94 63.21 1896.... 3.82 5.66 3.58 4.80 2.67 4.62 11.24 1.68 9.38 1.58 6.74 1.62 67.29 1897.... 3.98 10.23 6.92 6.12 4.64 6.76 7.38 2.81 1.83 3.67 2.24 4.47 59.95 1898.... 4.38 0.90 3.71 3.03 2.65 4.58 9.29 8.48 9.59 18.49 2.54 3.41 71.05 1899.... 3.38 7.13 11.89 2.46 2.92 3.21 3.39 6.60 4.41 2.00 1.50 7.42 55.30 1900.... 2.63 5.34 7.60 6.61 2.17 7.07 3.99 3.70 4.42 13,40 4.47 3.95 64.25 1901.... 2.97 3.15 5.82 2.07 0.62 13.66 1902.... 1.71 8.90 3.92 2.33 4.18 7.4^ 3.67 2.95 7.09 3.90 3.64 3.93 53.71 1903...- 3.16 8.46 9.56 1.82 5.51 4.55 4.15 4.97 3.83 2.50 1904.... 3.30 2.97 7.04 3.11 9.85 4.47 4.69 5.63 2.23 3.40 3.46 50.15 1906.... 4.06 6.05 2.26 3.44 7.06 7.74 11.21 9.70 3.66 1906.... 1.46 4.15 3.61 2.76 6.80 11.31 16.02 9.28 -Means-. . 3.49 4.91 5.72 4.25 4.44 5.61 6.91 5.15 5.69 6.02 3.52 6.52 60.23 Banners Elk, Avery County, North Carolina. Elevation 3,750 ft. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual 1907.... 5.32 1.30 3.94 4.78 2.40 3.85 1.90 12.54 4.00 2.91 4.25 1.08 2.84 1.23 0.68 1.39 3.66 5.81 5.54 4.31 4.40 4.19 1908.... 1909.... 1910.... 1911-.-. 1912.— 8.65 3.36 4.80 3.73 2.65 4.86 5.38 3.88 2.64 4.88 5.ii 6.58 0.62 5.70 6.74 6.64 4.14 3.12 6.38 5.18 5.57 8.68 4.29 2.05 3.85 5.67 5.84 6.81 3.40 4.35 7.60 4.18 5.76 2.59 6.89 8.24 5.44 8.87 6.95 1.58 72.95 66.43 51.62 46.94 Means.. 4.64 4.33 4.95 4.89 4.89 5.21 5.40 6.22 3.60 4.45 1.94 4.85 55.37 THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 95 Blowing Rock, Watauga County, North Carolina. Elevation 4,090 ft. Jan. Feb. Mch. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oof. Nov. Dec. Annual 1893..., i.U 5.18 2.10 2.73 1.19 5.42 0.81 4.54 3.57 3.33 1.82 10.73 2.30 0.94 5.08 4.74 0.58 4.55 11.38 7.67 2.63 5.88 10.29 3.73 1.41 "3.96 2.21 1.22 1.86 5.25 1894 1895.... 6.22 1911.... 4.08 1.95 5.10 1912 3.52 5.87 6.09 2.71 8.61 Meaos-. 6.22 3.91 1.96 3.57 3.65 5.02 5.27 4.72 6.01 3.33 1.72 4.07 49.45 PART II Method of Work The survey of Doe River was made by the transit and stadia method. Elevations were carried by means of vertical angles and by using the transit as a level whenever possible. Distances were obtained by sighting at stadia rods and by reading the in- terval subtended by the stadia wires in the transit; this interval multiplied by the proper coeflScient gave the distance from the transit to the rod. Azimuth was carried from the starting point by back sighting at the next to the last transit station when set up at the last station. Azimuth was obtained from observations on the sun. The water surface, banks of the river, roads, and railroads were located by stadia sights, and the river and adjacent topography were sketched in a sketch book as the survey progressed. The plan and profile of the river and the Eastern Tennessee and Wes- tern North Carolina Railroad, which paralleled the river most of the way, were located as accurately as could be done by the stadia method of surveying. In general, the topography adjacent to the river up to the elevation of the grade of the railroad was sketched in with the aid of a few stadia shots. The method of using the transit as a level and accompanying every other set-up was tried, azimuth being obtained by needle bearings on backsights and foresights. But the slope was so steep that only very short sights could be made with the telescope level, and as it was found most economical and convenient to run the transit line on the railroad right of way, and because local attraction from the rails affected the needle, the method was not used. There were four men in the party, a recorder, who was chief of party, a transitman, and two rodmen. The survey was started December 13th and finished December 27th, or in about 13 work- 96 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. ing days. The total length of the river surveyed was 21 miles or about 1.6 miles per day, which is fair progress considering the short days and the generally inclement weather during December. The cost per mile for the field work was about $12.00, which com- pares favorably with the cost of work in other parts of the country. The above cost only includes the expenditures of the surveying party from December 13th to December 27th. Nearly a week was spent in reconnaissance, establishing gauges, making discharge measurements, and in organizing and equipping the field party. Fortunately the train sche4ule at Roan Mountain permitted the use of trains in going to and from field work. River profile work can probably be done in Tennessee for from $10 to $15 per mile. The work can best be done in late summer and fall when the foliage is dropping, streams are at a uniform stage, and weather conditions are favorable. The results of the survey are shown on the three sheets accom- panying this report.* The plan and profile of the river from the mouth of Wilson Creek to the mouth of the river at Elizabethton are shown. The plan and profile are divided into sections so as to make economical use of the space on a sheet. The plan and the profile belonging to the plan are on the same sheet. The scale of the plan is 500 feet to the inch or i in 6,000. The horizontal scale of the profile is the same and the vertical scale is I inch — 10 feet. These sheets were drawn with the expectation that they would be reduced one-half for publication and the scale has been expressed on the sheets as i to 12,000 so as to read cor- rect when reduced one-half. Water Power. The. drainage basin of the Doe River is a mountainous area, covered to a great extent with forests except along stream bottoms, which are, in general, cleared. Above Roan Mountain the slope of the main stream and tributaries is precipitous, as the fall from the sources to Roan Mountain is approximately 3,500 feet in a distance of 8 miles. In this section there are many opportunities for small water powers. From Roan Mountain to Blevins the fall is much smaller, averaging about 40 feet to the mile. Through this section the valley is comparatively narrow with now and then a gorge. At places the valley is perhaps a quarter of a mile wide. ♦Combined and reduced for publication in this Bulletin into a single sheet. J. A. SWITZER. > H < H H O > W W THE DOE RIVER REPORT. 97 Plates VIII to XII are typical views of the section from Roin Moun- tain to Blevins. In this section low dams could be built almost any- where. Just below Roaring Creek a dam of considerable height could be built (See Plate VIII). A dam at this place would not interfere with the railroad as the railroad cuts across a bend in the river. Plate IX is a photograph of another possible dam site, with the reservoir site above it shown on Plate X. A dam 40 or 50 feet high might be built at this point. The railroad, however, would have to be raised, but this would not be ex- pensive through this section, as the grade is nearly level above the dam site. Plate XI shows a reservoir site that could be util- ized by a dam at the head of the canyon just below Blevins. A dam 30 feet high just above the railroad bridge would give a stor- age capacity of approximately 31,000,000 cubic feet. A higher dam would give a much larger storage capacity but would neces- sitate raising the railroad tracks. Plate XII is a photograph of a fair dam site. A dam 50 feet high could probably be built here which would back water up into the storage basin shown in Plate XI. The railroad would have to be raised, however. From the head of the canyon below Blevins to the lower end of the canyon the fall averages over 100 feet to the mile. Through this section the river is confined in a narrow canyon whose sides rise hundreds of feet above the river. In this stretch of the river there are numerous dam sites, the height of which are only limited by the grade line of the railroad. Probably the construction of a dam of the maximum height, with a pipe line from it running down the river to a suitable location for a power plant, would be the best solution, as considerable storage could be obtained by taking the pipe line out below the top of the dam and a large increase in head could be obtained, depending upon how long a pipe line was built. Below this section of the river there is a rather broad valley with a steep slope in which the Little Doe and the Laurel Fork join the Doe. Hampton, a town of perhaps 500 people, is located on the Doe River in this Valley. The head of the lower canyon is a short distance below Hampton. The average fall through this valley to the head of the lower canyon is about 50 feet per mile. Low dams with canals to develop additional head could be built through this section. The steepest part of the lower canyon extends from about mile 6.5 to mile 5.5. (See PI. VII.) The fall in this mile is about 60 feet. 98 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. The sides of the canyon are not so steep nor so high as in th a upper canyon. From about mile 4 to the mouththe river flows through a comparatively open country, the land on the west side of the river being cleared and cultivated and is comparative- ly level. The land on the east side is more rolling and not so suitable for cultivation. Through this section the fallof the river averages about 25 feet to the mile. Low dams with flumes or canals could be built along this stretch. From an examination of the profile and from the above descrip- tion it is evident that there are excellent possibilities for water power development on Doe River, provided the run-off is sufficient. Estimates of the amount of water power are dependent upon less than a year's record of the run-off, a period much too short upon which to base accurate estimates. If there were records at Val- ley Forge and at Blevins extending over a period of at least 5 years, fairly accurate estimates could be made of the amount of water power available at any point in the upper canyon and in the lower canyon, the sections of the river where the largest devel- opments are possible. The records that are available show that the minimum flow at Blevins is 17 cu. ft. per second, with a mean for the month of October of about 28 cu. ft. per second. Assum- ing that by means of storage a flow of 28 cu. ft. per second could be furnished, it would be possible to secure 2^ horse power per foot of fall with turbines of 80 per cent efficiency. With heads of 50 feet and 100 feet this would give 125 and 250 horse power, respect- ively. At Valley Forge, the data show that the minimum flow during the period covered by the records was 60 cu. ft. per second, not considering the minimum for January of 47 cu. ft. per second which was undoubtedly caused by the abnormally cold weather, with a mean for the month of October of 71 cu. ft. per second. Consider- ing that this flow, 71 cu. ft. per second, could by means of storage be used as the minimum, it would be possible to secure 6^ horse power per foot of fall with turbines of 80 per cent, efficiency. With heads 50 feet and 100 feet this would produce 325 and 650 horse power, respectively. The above estimates are based on less than a year's record and should under no condition be used for construction of a power plant, as another year's record might give values 50 per cent or more less than those obtained in 1911- 1912. H < > W pq < w o o l-( m p <; o >-l l-H <; p4 w w H & O iJ w m w H < P APPENDIX. A. 99 An examination of the rainfall records accompanying this report would indicate to some extent whether the igii-1912 run-off data represented the flow for an average year, a dry year, or for a wet one. A long time record of the flow of this stream would determine beyond a reasonable doubt the amount of water avail- able for any power development. Material for the construction of dams is abundant and easily accessible. Rock foundations are available practically every- where. The Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad, a narrow gauge railroad paralleling the river, would fur- nish convenient transportation facilities for machinery and con- struction material. Doe River has been subject to one or two very severe floods The flood of May, 1901, resulted from a long continued rain oveJ the entire basin with a cloudburst at the headwaters. The flood did a large amount of damage. Cultivated fields along the river were washed away or covered with rocks and gravel. Bridgfes, trees, and buildings were carried away. Trafiic on the railroad was suspended for weeks. Persons living in the mounains stated that the mountain sides were covered with slides. Eye-witnesses of these slides stated that trees, rocks, boulders, mud and water would suddenly spout into the air and go rolling down the mount- ain into the streams. Those living along the river stated the river was full of mud, rocks, trees, stumps, and trash of all description, which, by forming dams, caused the river to be much higher than it would have been otherwise. At Roan Mountain the water was a little over the railroad tracks. At the Blevins bridge the water was about 5 feet below the bottom of the bridge; this would make the water by the present gauge about 24 feet. At Hampton the water was about one foot over the railroad. As near as could be determined the stage on the staff gauge at Elizabethton would have been approximately 15 feet. This may be as much as 5 feet in error. A large amount of damage was done in that part of Eliza- bethton situated on the east side of the river. It is claimed by those living along the river that there was as much water in the flood of February, 1902, as in May, 1901, but it did not get as high because the river was free from drift and debris. A. H. HORTON, District Engineer, U. S. G. S., Nov. ij, igi2. 100 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE. APPENDIX A. DIGEST OF PROCEDURES AND LAWS OF OTHER STATES WITH REFERENCE TO WATER POWER. Before citing the laws of the various States and countries, couched as some of them are in legal terminology difficult to comprehend, it may serve a useful purpose if we summarize in non-technical language the salient features of these laws. The Survey is not informed upon the laws of all the States, but enough citations "follow to point pretty conclusively to the trend of legislative ac- tion with respect to the water power resources of the world. We shall confine our attention to the States of Maine, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Idaho, Wisconsin, and Ore- gon, and the countries of Canada, France, Italy and Switzerland. NEW YORK. In the body of the Bulletin, extended reference has been made to the steps which New York has taken in the direction of establish- ing complete State control of the water power resources of that State. Nevertheless a complete and succinct statement of the experience of the State will serve the purpose of a greater degree of completeness in the Appendix than if it were passed over. The following digest is taken from a publication by the New York State Water Supply Commission. "Following the recommendation made by Governor Hughes in his annual message of 1907, the Legislature passed a bill, which became a law and is known as the " Fuller Act," "This law committed the State, tor the first time, to a definite policy- regarding the conservation and development of water powers. It 'au- thorized and directed' the State Water Supply Commission to devise plans for the progressive development of the water powers of the State under State ownership, control and maintenance for the public use and benefit and for the increase of public revenue. When it is remembered that the State, before the enactment of this law, had been giving away water power franchises in perpetuity to all applicants with persistence or influence enough to obtain them, it will be seen that the Fuller .\ct was a long step in advance. APPENDIX A. loi "It directed the comrnission to investigate all the water powers in the State and to report upon them in the order of their availability, giving in detail the amount of power to be developed in each case, the cost of the development and of maintenance, and the probable revenue to the State. In its final report the Commission was directed to submit a draft of a general law providing specifically for the development of water power by the State. As outlined by the act, this general law must provide for a bond issue to be authorized separately for each separate improvement and a tax upon the property benefited suficient to pay the interest and principal of the bonds. "This plan follows the plan adopted by the National Government in the reclamation of the arid west, under which the money advanced is repaid into the treasury. " The Fuller Act distinctly contemplates the sale of the power developed by the State upon terms to be readjusted at suitable intervals. It appro- priated $35,000 for beginning the work of investigation. "In the same session of the Legislature the State again definitely com- mitted itself to the policy of demanding payment for water power fran- chises. Application was made by a corporation for authority to con- struct an electrical power plant on the Long Sault rapids in the St. Law- rence river. The Governor refused to sign the bill unless provision was made in it for payment to the State of compensation upon a sliding scale in proportion to the amount of power developed and such provision was made. " Detailed studies of the most important water power sites having been completed by the Water Supply Commission, it reported to the Legis- lature of 1910 a bill for a comprehensive general law, providing for the issue of bonds as required up to a total of $20,000,000, for the sale or lease for stated terms of the water or power developed, and for the annual as- sessment of property benefited. The bill after receiving the signature of the Governor, was to be submitted to the people, and could not become effective until approved by the people at the polls. "This bill was opposed by the existing water power interests, and their opposition was strong enough to kill it. Nevertheless the need for more water poiver development in the State is so great, that they succeeded in inducing the Legislature to pass another bill which attempted to give to them what they desired by amending the River Improvement Act. The provisions of this biU were so plainly opposed to the mterests of the people at large that Governor Hughes vetoed it. "The plans devised by the State Water Supply Commission involved the necessity of flooding a small area of the forest land belonging to the Adirondack Park. But a provision of the State constitution whereby the Adirondack Park was created prohibits the removal or destruction o£ any timber whatever within the confines of the Park. This pro\'ision (now known to have been altogether shortsighed, inasmuch as it not only blocks water power conservation, but also actually defeats its own pur- pose by preventing scientific forest management within the park) cannot be set aside without the adoption of a constitutional amendment; and as yet the assent of the people to this amendment has not been secured." I02 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE This statement was made about four years ago. In July, 191 1, the law known as the Conservation Law was enacted. This law created the Conservation Department, and the State Conserva- tion Commission to be the administrative body to carry out the provisions of the law. The Commission consists of three members, at an annual salary of $10,000.00 each; and it superseded a num- ber of other boards and commissions, including among them the water supply commission. A bill drafted by this Commission was introduced into the Legislature in February, 191 2. In brief, this bill provides that — ■'The Conservation Commission is authorized to acquire by purchase, lease, or condemnation, lands, water privileges, and water rights, and to use and develop the same. It is also empowered to construct transmission lines for the purpose of delivering electrical energy to the various munici- palities throughout the State. It may likewise purchase electrical cur- rent from a private producei, or transmit the same to any point for such producer, at a price fixed by the Commission. It further provides that such municipalities are authorized to enter into contracts with the Con- servation Commission for the use of power so transmitted. Each munici- - pality is required to pay its proportionate share of the cost of production and transmission, including a charge for interest, upkeep, maintenance and operation, with an amount sufficient to amortize the investment in from thirty to fifty years. The maximum cost to the ultimate consumer is fixed by the Conservation Commission. Before any municipality shall enter into such contract, it must be approved by a vote of the people. "In other words, the agency of the State is used for the production and transmission of electrical energy to the various municipalities, which un- dertake the distribution thereof to the consumers, the purpose being to furnish light for its public streets and buildings, commercial and domestic use, and power for manufacturing and traction purposes, at cost. " Id case there is a private distributing company operating in such munic- ipality, such company is authorized to enter into a contract with the municipality for the distribution of electrical energy at a price to be fixed by the commission. In case the municipality refuses to enter into such contract so determined by the commission, its application for power will be denied. The purpose of this provision is to protect hon- est capital invested by private persons in electrical enterprises. "In the event that the efficient development of unused water power involves the regulation of stream flow by impounding flood waters or otherwise, the Commission is authorized to enter into agreements with the owners of developed powers to pay the State for the benefits derived therefrom. This is regarded as a practical and business-like method of improving the power capacity of our streams, and will greatly increase the power at developed sites at a minimiun cost to owners. "In a word, the general scope and scheme of the statute is aimed at the utilization of the undeveloped water powers of the State, the dis- APPENDIX A. 103 tribution thereof to the various municipalities, which in turn serve the same to the ultimate consumer at the cost of production." The bill had the hearty support of the Governor and was passed by the Senate, but was killed in the House. Sooner or later an aroused public interest will undoubtedly force the passage of this bill. NEW JERSEY. While the State of New Jersey has practically no water power resources, its attitude towards water supply is fully abreast of that of any State. In 1907 a law was enacted creating a State Water Supply Commission, 'charged with general supervision over all sources of potable and public water supply. The Commission is also empowered to build reservoirs and other regulating works within the boundaries of water supply districts to be established by act of the legislature. When built, the Commission is required to maintain such works, and is authorized to sell or lease power to be derived from the flow of water at or near any dams included in the regulating works, at a rate agreeable to the Commission. Since the passage of the law of 1907, several supplementary laws have also been passed, all tending to strengthen the jurisdiction of the Commission, until now a complete system of water conserva- tion and distribution is in full effect. A number of large storage reservoirs will soon be built by the State for municipal water sup- plies. CALIFORNIA. In April, 191 1, an Act was passed regulating and limiting the appropriation of water power and creating a Water Supply Com- mission, and this Act was finally amended in January, 191 2, to the present law. This law provides, among other things, that water or the use of water for the generation of electricity or other power shall be appropriated for a period of not longer than 40 years; that all appropriations shall be made subject to the right of the State to regulate and fix the rate of compensation for which such power may be sold, rented or distributed, and subject to repeal for non-use. It provides that no appropriation shall be made without a permit from the Commission; that the Commission shall not grant a permit for the appropriation of more water or the use of more water than can be applied eflSciently and economically to the use for which application is made; and that the Commission shall not grant the permit at all if in its judgment such grant is contrary to the public interest. It provides that actual construe- 104 THE WATER POWERS OF TENNESSEE tion work shall begin within six months from the date of granting the permit, and shall thereafter be prosecuted with reasonable diligence; and such work shall be completed within a reasonable time as fixed in the permit, not to exceed five years, unless for good reason the Commission extend the time for one additional year. Upon completion of the works the use of the water shall not be permitted until the Commission shall approve the same. An ex- tension of the grant for a second period not to exceed forty years is provided for. All appropriations of water or the use of water shall be subject to the imposition of fees and charges by the State as follows: A fee of $io upon the filing of application for permit; a fee of $100.00 upon the granting of such permit, and in addition to this an annual charge for each theoretical horse power as fol- lows: For the first 100 horse power, no charge; and for all above 100 horsepower 10 cents for each horse power. The act further provides drastically against combinations in restraint of trade or mergers of any deleterious kind. Finally, the act declares any violation of the act or of any order or regulation of the Commis- sion to be a misdemeanor, and punishable as such. IDAHO. The law of Idaho declares that any use of water essential to the completed development of the material resources of the State is a public use and as such is subject to the regulation and control of the State, such control extending to the fixing of charges by the State. The law makes the State Engineer the executive oflScer through whom the strict supervision and control of all dams, reser- voirs and other- works for the utilization of the water resources is effeAed. The law provides that all rights of way for canals, etc., shall be approved both by the State Engineer and by the State Board of Land Commissioners. It provides that State lands suitable for reservoir sites may be reserved by the State for storage purposes. And, finally, it provides that all water rights shall be forfeited for non-use for a period of five years, and that any work of construction to utilize water shall be completed within five years of the application for the water-right. MAINE In 1909 the Legislature passed a law creating a State Water Storage Commission consisting of the Governor, the State land ag