The Portland daily press., 1896-06-06

ing upwards of three triIlions. If but
forty per cent. of this is allowed to run
to the sea there yet remains over twelve
hundred billion cubic feet OF water to be
annually carried down our rivers ana
streams to seek an outlet in the great
ocean. The mean, or average height OF
the surface of the whole State above the
ocean is 600 feet. Hence this vast body
of water, in it's passage to the sea, falls
an average distance of 600 feet. 1t is
estimated that at each foot of fall there
are generated 4, 427 horsepower, whic b
multiplied by GOO gives total of 1856,
200 horsepower, force equivalent to
the working energy of 34,000,000 able
bodied men, laboring twenty-four hours
each day throughout the year.
These figures give some idea of the
immense water-Dower of Maine, distrib-
uted throughout the State in its rivers
and lakes.
There are but three or four districts OF
equal area in the entire world that car
compare with Maine in the extent of its
lake surface. The Orinoco has not SC
many lakes connected with it as the Ken.
nebec, nor has the mighty Amazon SO
many as the Penobscot. The surfaces CT
eight of the large lakes of Maine are
more than 1000 feet above the level OF
the ocean, while the waters of Rangeley
are over 1900 feet above the sea.
In other words, the waters from Lake
Itasca, in flowing the entire length OF
the mighty Mississippi to seek an outlet
in the Gulf oe Mexico, fall but few f. #
more than do the waters of Rangeley
in their comparatively short pathway to
the.ocean.
In the far northern portion of the
State, upon the waters of Fish river, a
tributary of the ST. John, is a magnificent
chain of lakes, connected by short
thoroughfares and extending for many
miles. Upon the Aroostook and other
branches of the ST. John, these natural
ceptacles for the gathered waters and
distributing them through the rivers
more uniformly throughout the year.
All unused, except for floating the
lumber from the forests and for driving
the local mills, the large bulk of this
mighty power is now running to the
sea.
But this grand, beautiful and most
valuable portion of the State is ere long
to be developed and much of this natu-
raj force is yet to be harnessed by the
skill of man and utilized for the driving
of many busy wheels.
Not only is the northern portion of the
State rich in industrial resources, but the
natural beauty of it's landscape scenery ID
unsurpassed. The Rhine is not so ma.
jestic river as the St. John and the
beautiful blue Danube, with all its 70
mantle associations, does not flow
through SO fair country as does the
Aroostook.
Railroads are now pushing their lines
of steel into these wilderness regions and
soon this portion of Maine, so long re-
garded as far distant and generally but
little known will be brought into close
touch with the business centres of the
State, The tendency has been in the
past for many of the energetic young
men of Maine to emigrate to the West
and for much of Maine capital to seek
Investment in business enterprises in
other States,
OF late the tide has turned. All over
the State new enterprises are springing
up, the latest resources of the State are
being developed and Maine men and
before known seeking employment at
home.
Thus in this last presidential year of the
Nineteenth Century, when the eyes of all
the world are being fixed upon the old
Pine Tree State as most likely to furnish
the Nations Chief Executive, she is
awakening to new era of Industrial
prosperity and rejoicing in the prospec,
of future of unexampled progress and