Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-01-20
The Water Power Of Maine.

We are indebted to Governor Chamber
lain, in part, for this new awakening to
our magnificent resources, and prospec-
tive glory. In his first message the
Governor savs:-"And vet Maine is
state of magnificent resources. Her
three thousand miles of sea coast. her
millions of acres of forests prineval of
new growth. the quarries and ores Of
her hills. her fertile valleys and broad
pastures of hitherto un,ried capacity :,
the measureless power of her inland
waters covering one-tenth OF her wide
domain; these, TO say nothing OF her
geographical position, holding the
frontage of the continent worth more
than the famed control OF the outlets Of
the Mississippi. make Maine field
where great things should be, and yet
will be wrought
In his message of 1865 the Governor
saws:
why is it gentlemen? Why docs
the over flowing energy of the old world
skip over u at a bound. and push half
WAY across sea-wide continent: Why
is il that the high industries OF mature
civilization find no abiding place on
our broad acres and beside our rushing
rivers: Why do our sons feel cramped
al home. and break away TO make other
wilderne>ses bloom. to found new
At Il III 4 10 81
selves honored in the lands of strangers:
Why does not the course OF empire
tlrry here on its westward way: l. il
not because we prefer an inglorious
safety TO a courageous faith in the virtue
Of manhood and the rewards Of Provi-
dence: l. il not because we shut our
es 10 the possibilities. the opportuni-
a. OF The times. Is il not simply be-
Au-e we do not encourage enterprise.
kill, industry, nor give room enough
for brain or muscle!"
To Walter Wells. Esq. the people of
the State owe debt of gratitude for the
able and mastery manner of presenting
the value and amount of the water Of
the State. Yet unused. The IIydrograph-
ic survey OF the state was initiated in
1867. and continued the past wear under
Mr.. Well-. alone. lie mode~tly SAYS:
The commissioners having conduct
ed the enterprise through its preliminary
stage, retired at the close of 1867. and
should not. accordingly. be held respon-
>ible for any shortcomings of this
Report"
Mr.. Wells treats Of Names Geograph-
Zeal position. OF its Continental Position
Of its Horizontal dimensions. General
elevation &c. &c.
We cannot give SO good an idea of
this Report in our own language as we
gather from the Portland Press. in the
extract below:
But to the intelligent student of this
work the specific facts will not prove of
the most interest. but his attention will
be particularly directed TO the mastery
way in which Mr. Wells treats of those
physical features of our State which
account tor and insure the perpetuitv
establishment OF the manufacturing in
du-tries. 1t il interesting TO know that
ia the aggregate our water courses
furnish an available power of between
two and three million horse powers:
that the approximate area OF the lakes.
ponds and rivers of the State is 800
square miles, and the area of forests 2l.-
go square miles. that Maine has l56s
lakes. more in population TO it, size than
any other part of the globe with three or
tour exceptions. and that / 20 2vo. upD.-
opo cubic feet of water are annually de-
livered by our rivers. And il j. still
more interesting TO be told how the geo.
graphical situation of the State. lust
halt way between the equator and the
pole. brings II about that our rainfall is
only moderately evaporated and is not
wholly converted into ice and snow,
that the winds are variable and not
periodic and consequently that the pre-
cipliatIon OF moisture is non-periodic-
III short. how the geographical situation
OF Maine enables II 10 command the adj
vantage OF It's water-power TO the maxi
mum; how the continental position OF
the State, on the ieeward Of the CONT
nent. III the RAIN draft of the Gulf of
Mexico, on the seaboaru projected from
the nlted States coast line, al the
Northeast corner vi the grand division
and exposed to Gulf Stream yapors.
induces rainfall materially abeye that
due 10 Its a>tronomic position and an
unusual volume and a constaucy of
volume i'll the rivers: how the great
Southern slope of the Stale has lust the
right scaward pitch-about SIN. circular
measurement-to carry Off the waters
without protracted exposure and waste
and at the same time without hurryiuo
them off i'll unmanagable volumes to be
succeeded by death; how the decliyity
Is uniformly distributed from its interior
Linton an average 40 miles from the
sea-to the coast. SO as TO insure water
powers the whole distance: how the
brokenness of the surface. the hardness
OF the rocks and their arrangement, and
the feasibility of natural and artificial
reservoirs have further favorable effect
upon the relations OF the slope to the
water-power. We can of conr.e rive
only the most meagre outline of Mr.
Wells elaborate discussion of the tono- |
graphical. geological and METEOROLOGICAL |
characteristics OF the State so far as they
are related to water-pOwer. He has not |
yielded to the temptation of drawing |
unnecessarily from his rich stores of in
formation on these related themes. bnt
has most conscientiously excluded
everything not having a direct bearing
on his main topic.
We are glad to learn that this interest
ing and valuable Report is to be exten-
sively circulated throughout the State.
Surely the state owes to its able autbor-
something more than it can or will nav
in dollars and cents.