The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-05
FROM SEBAG0 TO THE SEA.
a Manufacturer Tells a Press Man
what Might Have Been.
Something About the Water Power
OF the Presumpscot.
And a Company That Now Proposes
to Develop u.

Sew people have any idea Of the power
Of water" said one Of the leading manufae-
turers Of Saccarappa the other day to the
PRESS reporter; 'as a rule they have no
conception of its great practical use for man
ufactories. Neither do our capitalists seem
to appreciate the value OF a conveniently
situated water power. / tell you Portland
made a great mistake in overlooking the
water power Of the Presumpscot. venture
to say that had Portland used the money to
develop the water power OF this river that IL
put into the Portland & Ogdensburg rail-
road, and had the capitalists Of the city In
vested the money along this stream that they
have expended In Western and Southern
lands and other property outside the State
the city Of Portland would today have ex-
tended from Sebago Lake to the sea, and
would have been far richer than It Is now,
and her capitalists in better financial way.
The Presumpscot Is one Of the best water
powers in the country. and at Cumberland
Mills and Saccarappa, where capital has
touched 1t, you can see for yourself how as
tonishing has been the result. There Is very
little variation Of the volume Of water in
the river. The natural uniformity Of the
stream Is assisted by the artificial control OF
the delivery Of the lake, so that for the prae-
tical purposes Of extensive manufacturing Il
is constant throughout the year. From se-
bago Lake to the tide water, by the course Of
the river, Is about % miles; the descent OF
the river, PAT feet, Is at the mean rate Of
some 11.2 feet per mile. There Is dam at
the outlet Of the lake that controls the fow
af tho rfvar nd In ffa fal Of fo.k H..
river has a gross power sufficient to move
upwards Of 10000 spIndles. There l. an
enormous waste Of water, the greater part Of
which, with suitable dams, can be used for
manufacturing purposes. OF the 5000 to
10000 horse power available upon the Pre-
sumpscot, unsurpassed In all respects, but a
small proportion Is yet In use. Why Is it
that the absolute immunity Of this power
from dearth or freshet, the superiority Of its
natural sites for improvement, its proximity
to markets have not called 10 the banks Of
the Presumpscot the great manufacturers OF
the country9"
Portland should be the great city ofNorth-
ern United States. II Is the natural port Of
commerce with England. Its harbor Is one Of
the best in the world, and the city and is
surroundings attractive and beautiful be-
lieve the time is coming when the advant-
ages Of Portland as a great commercial city
will be fully appreciated; when every drop
of the Presumpseot win be utilized by man
ufaetories-then Portland win be the great
city Of the Northeast"
1t is safe to say that the value Of the Pre-
sumpscot is beginning TO be appreciated here
in Portland. A short time ago, a number Of
gentlemen, among whom were Mr. George p.
Wescott, president Of the Portland Il R0eh-
ester railroad, met for the purpose Of organ
izing corporation under the laws Of Maine,
for the purpose OF constructing q railroad.
The proposed route commences In Standish.
near the outlet OF Sebag0 Lake, and extends
to the village of Saccarappa. In the town Of
Westbrook, all In the county Of Cumberland,
through the towns Of Standish, Gorham and
Westbrook.
The gauge of the proposed road Is four
feet eight and one-half inches, and the name
adopted by the association Is the Presump-
scot River Railway Company. Geo. p. Wes-
eott Edward Moore, James Webb, Jr,
Frederick Q. Brigham and William j.
Kn0wlt0n were chosen directors. The capt
tai stock OF the company Is $4,000, par value
OF shares 500. Five per cent Of the stock
subscribed has already been paid In. Seven
issued, Of which Geo. p. Wescott owns 697,
and James Webb, Jr., Frederic @. Bridgham.
Daniel T. Richardson, Jr., William j.
knowlt0n, G. II. Matfocks, all Of Portland;
Byron Kimball, Freeman II. Brown, George
5. Farnsw0rth, Samuel @. Smith, III. A. Sh0-
rey, j. l.. Wales, John Z. Perley, w. A.
Stevens, William f. Perry, all Of Bridgton;
Henry L. ForhaD, Gibeon r. Davis, Henry
Harmon, all Of Raymond; John ID. Spiller,
John Mcclellan, both Of CascO; Edward
Moore of Deering, @. Eugene Wesc0tt Of
Gorham, j. M. White Of Windham, all Of
Cumberland county; and Henry Nulty Of
Buchfeld, Oxford county; each own one
share. The company held a meeting last
night at the Preble House before the State
Board Of Railroad Commissioners, 10 get
certificate Of approval OF the articles OF or
ganlzation. Ardon w. C0ombs, Esq. read
the articles Of organization TO the eommis-
sioners, who declared them to be In harmony
with the laws OF the State, and who certified
TO their legality. A meeting will be held
later, when the subject Of location Of tbs
road and whether the public convenience re
qulres its construction will be considered.
After the meeting last night. Mr.. WeSeott,
In reply 10 same questions, said to the Press
reporter: "The proposed railroad will be II
miles long. and II the location Is given and
the charter granted. the construction OF the
road will be begun another year. There are
ten falls on the PreSumpsc0t river, above
Saecarappa, and i've Of these falls are today
unimproved. It Is to develop this water
power that the railroad will be constructed"
IL charter Is granted for the construc-
tion OF the proposed railroad, II Is probable
that wood pulp mills will be erected at some
OF these falls, and OF course the excellent
water power would Invite manufacturers OF
Ii. q