The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-02-03
Daming Long Creek.

To the Editor Of the Press:
There is now pending before the Legislature bill
entitled An Act in relation to the Clark and Chap
LIN Ice Company" This bill 80 far relates to that
company that it authorizes it, under certain restric
uons, to "erect and maintain dam across the
mouth of said creek and flow said creek and take
and enjoy the exclusive right of taking ice from
said creek when howed.'
A similar bill was defeated in the Legislature Of
1880, on the ground that the structure contempla-
ted would be an injury to Portland harbor. Gen.
Thorn at that time in charge of the U. S. Engineers
Office in Portland, said;
"In my opinion the effect of such a dam would be-
fact that Long Greek together Wish strOpSWatsr ter
and form the inner basin or reservoir of
tide water by which the harbor ia in great meas-
ervoir any disturbance Of the regular tidal cur
rents therein would be positive injury;
u could not be done with impunity in Long Creek"
He quotes in support Of his opinion the opinion of
the United States Advisory Commissioners in their
report of 1855. upon the harbor OF Portland.
This commission was organized by the city gov
ernment in 1854, at the instance of the managers
Of the Board Of Trade, "to examine and report a
plan for regulating, permanently the shore line Of
Portland harbor so as to adapt ii to the wants Of
commerce, to prevent unnecessary encroachments
In the waterroom, and to retain or increase tho pre-
sent depth of water in the harbor, and to facilitate
the access to It." That commission consisted Of
Gen. j. g. Totten, Chief Engineer Of the United
States, Prof. A. d. Bache, Superintendent Of the
United States Coast Survey, and Commander G, Il.
Davis of the United States Navy, Superintendent
of the Nautical Almanac. Unquestionably there
could not have been found three men, in the United
States better qualified for the performance Of the
important duty entrusted to them.
In their first report, made October 10, 1854, they
say:
1.-THE commission recommends that the basin
abone Portland bridge, known as Fore River or
ment.
The existence of Portland harbor is entjrely dus
TO this inner basin. If the latter is diminished, the
former will suffer in corresponding degree. This
Ituoug the ccmmission S is fuiiY aws9s that i'm
as0 Incre@sJ9ts -hs--rB9 !essA tsis haaizFljsb
ments could oAly be safely conducted under the
superintendence of competent engineer.
If any such alterations are proposed they Ought to
be carefully examined, and subjected to vigorous
In the present state of things, however, any inva-
sion OF the tidal waters above Portland bridge, will
be attended with danger"
In their second and supplementary report dated
Washington, March 10, 1866, they says: "The
second recommendation Of the Commissioners and
the one to which they attach the highest i'm
portance, is directed to the means of maintaining
the harbor aid Of preserving in all future time its
present capacity and usefulness. This recommends
ton is that the city government should keep most
jealous watch over the waters Of the reservoir or
receiving basin above Portland bridge. Upon the
conservation of this reservoir in state of useful
ness equivalent to that which now exists, depends
the usefulness of the harbor.
In this field yiglant supervision, and energetic
control are absolutely imperative II Is perfectly
understood that the harbor of Portland owes its
istence to the securing action of the waters Of the
reservoir on the returning ebb. The character OF
the harbor may be regarded as an expression or
function of this power II the power be diminished.
the depth and capacity Of the harbor will be
diminished in the same proportion; II the power be
Increased, the harbor will be proPortionately i'm
proved.
This statement is simple and accurate. It coHI-
prises all shat need be said. The harbor now ex-
lists; whether it shall be improved, or whether it
shall be suffered to deteriorat0, are questions
which will be solved hereafter by the action Of
those to whom this most important trust shall be
conhded," and much more to the same effect.
Now, in view of these emphatic declarations,
made by the highest scientific authority, especially
employed for this purpose it would seem that our
legislators should hesitate before passing this bill
passage by the Legislature is endorsement of the
scheme. The bill passed, the dam will follow; and
considering the innumerable ice privileges scatter
ed all over the State of Maine, it would seem that
nothing would justify the conversion of any part of
Portland harbor into an ice pone.