sold by the State Comptroller, but the State is not liable for any part of the principal or interest thereof. Series A, $300,000, was issued prior to this year; series B for a like sum and series C for the sum of $400,000, were approved April 30, 1924. During the current year various contracts have been approved as follows: Apr. 30. Contract No. 5- Raising tracks of New York Central with the Railroad-$243,000. Railroad On September 15, 1924, certain changes in the design of the dam were approved. On the same day the approval of the Commission was given to the estimate of expenditures for the maintenance and operation of the Stillwater reservoir for the ten years subsequent to July 1, 1924; the estimated amount being $15,000 per annum. The Some 3,168 acres of State lands in the Adirondack Park are to be flooded by the Stillwater reservoir. On July 20, 1923, the Commission sold the timber thereon to Fred C. Pierce of Croghan. proceeds of this sale, less the cost of inspection, measurement and scaling, are to be paid into the general fund of the State. Financial statement on this contract is as follows: The inspection, measurement and scaling under this contract was delegated to the Conservation Commissioner. Hudson River Regulating District This district was created August 2, 1922. The Board consists of Henry M. Sage, Albany, President; Erskine C. Rogers, Hudson Falls, and Edward H. Betts, Troy; Ranulf Compton of Albany is secretary and Edward H. Sargent, Albany, is chief engineer. The "General Plan" of the district was approved, with certain modifications, by the Commission on June 7, 1923. On January 28, 1924, the Board certified its determination that public interest and welfare required the construction of the Conklingville reservoir on Sacandaga river for the regulation of the Sacandaga and Hudson rivers below Conklingville and submitted preliminary plans, maps, specifications, estimates and statements, all of which were approved by the Commission March 6, 1924, subject to the condi tion that the level of the water impounded in the reservoir should not be drawn below elevation 756 between May 1st and Labor Day of any year. Surveys are now being made, plans and specifications prepared for this reservoir. Racquette River Regulating District A petition praying for the creation of the Racquette River Regulating District was filed in August, 1922. Public hearings on this petition were held February 7, April 12 and June 7, 1923. On September 15, 1924, the petitioners applied to the Commission for permission to withdraw their original application, which was duly permitted on that day. DRAINAGE Three separate articles of the Conservation Law provide means for the execution and maintenance of projects for the drainage of agricultural lands. Article VIII provides complete procedure for the reclamation of large tracts of land by drainage improvement work, for the distribution of the cost of the improvement over a long term of years and the collection of such cost from the owners of the properties benefited. Article VIII-A makes it possible for an individual or several co-operating parties to acquire a right of way for an outlet ditch from a drainage improvement belonging to them, after the necessity of such drainage and the occupancy of lands has been determined by this Commission. Article VIII-B provides means for maintaining ditches and improvements in drainage districts previously created under the General Drainage Law; the limit of expenditure for this maintenance work not to exceed $2,000 for any one project in any one year. Arkport Drainage Project On February 9, 1922, petition for the formation of the Arkport Drainage Improvement District was filed. After a preliminary investigation, on May 31, 1922, the required preliminary determination as to the public necessity for such an improvement was made and the State Engineer directed to prepare plans. After informal conference and investigations, on December 4, 1923, the Commission again directed the State Engineer to prepare plans and, on March 12, 1924, the sum of $1,000 was appropriated to defray a part of the cost of the necessary surveys. On December 1, 1924, the State Engineer transmitted maps, plans, designs, estimates and a report on this project and in accordance with the recommendations therein contained, the Commission proceeded on December 8, 1924, to prepare the plans and other papers required by section 484 of the Conservation Law and has directed that these be filed as required by statute and that a hearing be held thereon. Burns Drainage Improvement District Petition for the formation of the Burns Drainage Improvement District was filed May 11, 1923. On December 4, 1923, after a pre liminary investigation, the Commission made the required preliminary determination as to the public necessity for such improvement and directed the State Engineer to prepare maps, etc. On December 1, 1924, the State Engineer transmitted maps, plans, designs, estimates and a report on this project and in accordance with the recommendations therein contained the Commission proceeded, on December 8, 1924, to prepare the plans and other papers required by section 484 of the Conservation Law and has directed that these be filed as required by statute and that a hearing be held thereon. Hastings Drainage Project Petition for this project was filed April 5, 1921. Preliminary plans were filed, hearings held thereon and, on May 4, 1923, the final order creating the Hastings Drainage Improvement District was made and filed. Thereafter the Commission proceeded to make an appraisal of the values of the land in connection with the apportionment of benefits. No further action has been taken. On November 1, 1924, Dennis Ryan, William M. Hipp, Carl C. Williams and Calvin D. Braman made application to the Commission to repair the Bacon drainage ditch, so-called, in the town of Penfield, Monroe county. This petition was referred to the State Engineer for investigation and report December 8, 1924. PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES Three articles of the Conservation Law having to do with public water supply systems are administered by the Commission. The provisions of Article IX require the approval of the Commission for all new water supply projects; the duty of the Commission in connection therewith being to assure the equitable apportionment of the water supply resources of the State among the inhabitants thereof, to provide for structural safety of the works and sanitary quality of the water, and for the determination and payment of damages arising therefrom. Before any such new water supply system is operated, it must, as constructed, receive the final approval of the Commission. Under article IX-A provision is made for the formation of Union Water Districts, composed of several municipalities which desire to construct a co-operative waterworks supply system. Under Article IX-B provision is made for the construction of water supply reservoirs on State owned land within the Forest Preserve. During the past year nothing has been done under the last two articles. In connection with the approval of new water supply projects the past year has been a busy one, thirty-one applications having been filed, hearings thereon held on thirty-two days and twenty-eight sources of supply inspected. Twenty-nine applications have received preliminary approval, one was withdrawn by the applicant, four are pending. Eleven completed systems have |