Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-24
A GREAT PROJECT.
The Water Power of the Sheep
scot to Be Utilized.
An Enterprise That viii Increase
Our States MANUFACTURES.
Par'y OF Capitalists and Business Men Now
Going Over Location.

Coopers Mills, July 23.-(Special -
But very little definite information has
e'er been given out regarding he great
Sheepscot water power, locaGcd in Lin
coin hennebec and Waldo counties about
IL miles from Augusta This vast water
power, yet undeveloped is one of the
greatest in the State, and has now fallen
into the hands of persons who will I'M
doubtedly bring forward an enterprise
which 1t Is anticipated will increase the
manufacturing interests of the State
About 80 years ago the men who estab-
lished the Androscoggin Water Power Co
visited the Sheepscot waters and made an
effort to purchase the privileges for
developing this power, but the prlots de
lndnded by the owners Were so exorbitant
that nothing could be accomplished in
satisfactory manner, hence this first at
tempt at such an enterprise fell through
and now the Androscoggin river has
manufacturing interests which might
have been located on the Sheepscot waters
had the people in that section been more
liberal and foreseen what has since
happened.
William Doe, who was born in Windsor
and Is now ono of the most interested men
in this water power learned to swim, row
and fish in these waters. He went West
when a young man, and during his travels,
visited places where water powers have
been developed and so readily saw what
might be brought about on the Sheepscot
waters, with which no was familiar
He came East from Pennsylvania, where
he was extensively interested in oil wells,
looked over the Sheepscot waters, came to
the conclusion that there was a chance
for paying enterprise, and at once began
active operations to interest people in TIT
project 1t has been over a year since he
began, and during that time he has been
a very busy man. Surveys have been
made, capitalists interested, and charter,
chief of all, procured, so that now the
scheme has a bright outlook.
1t was during the last session of the
Maine Legislature that the charter was
granted and in obtaining this, Mr.. Doe
laborcd most earnestly. This secured his
courage increased. People then looked
more favorably on the proposition and
became more deeply interested.
The signers of the charter were, William
Doe, Henry l.. Ingalls,, DR.. A. NJ Card,
J. H. Link and G. p Collins. The name
adopted for the company was The Maine
Water and Electric Power Co, and its
purposes were for the development of thu
Sheepscot waters for motive power and
manufacturing.
Tuesday morning, a party was made
up in Augusta, composed of William Zoe
Of Duke Center Pa, J. II. Link of Will
Transport, Pa, Hon. W. y. Haines L. ii.
Soper and c. f. Gray of Waterville, o. o.
Stetson of Augusta, and journal re
porter. They left in covered carriages
and journeyed to Cooper's Mills, wher'
they were Joined by party from Wiscas-
set By special team over the new narrow
guagc road composed OF K. z. Rundlett,
president and general manager of tn,
Wiscasset 81 Quebec Railroad; j. !.
Tucker, superintendent of the road; W.
D. Patterson, treasurer: Henry Ingalls,.
president of the First National Bank of
Wiscasset; s E. Hopkins, u director OF
the Wiscasset x Quebec road, Prof. Grant
of Chicago, City solicitor L. Nj. Babsop
of Boston, G. b Sawyer, Attorney Seth
Patterson. w. G. Hubbard, John Turner,
wilbur Glidden, Capt Frank Baker Il
r Kennedy. Fred Allen, c. Il. Gray, G.
u Achorn, Freeman Turner, Fern Greeley,
John Ersline and others, all representa-
tive business men of the section where
tbe Sheepscot waters are located.
They took teams and drove to Long
lake. where an excellent water power waN
Io,ked over. and then they went to Ansel
Glidtlen's farm, where the Sheopscot lake
r,as viewed from an elevation and 400
acres of land seen which will he over
lowed when the plans OF the enterprise
mature
The party then went 20 the outlet and
,;awed the site where a dam will be built,
EIGHT feet high and 200 feet long. oausine
a rise of eight ct in the lake, and max
ing "a great How
About 40 rods below the dam tunnel
,,iIi he built about 800 feet long through
j., nect NJ land for drawing water in cast
of drought and heavy frost.
Tba total water power the company can
arIy is $3.50 horse power for 3i3 work
ing davs In tho year of 10 hours each.
1ho elevation is 900 feet above the sea
40, and d lakes can be drawn from.
There Their is plenty of capital behind the
=, ns,n and the people of this section
will soon realize 1t.