Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-09
There Is Cause for Alarm,


1t is safe to assume that very few people
in the kennebec valley realize the extent
of the danger now threatening them by
flood. The communication upon this sub
ject from Mr.. Randall, which we publish
this morning, is one that will doubtless
attract the attention it deserves; for the
writer's reputation as one of the leading
business men and lumberman of long
practical experience with this river, as
sures him a hearing and influence
There may be some who will not view
the existing conditions with such appre-
hension as does Mr.. Randall, nevertheless
it will be admitted by all that he is not in
any sense of the word an alarmist, and he
is thoroughly acquainted with the condi-
tions which exist below and above u.s.
The majority OF the people in this val
ley have not seen even the jam at Rich
mond, and very few indeed have any COM
prehension of the jam above Scion. I'm
less one has visited that part of the Ken
nebec extending from Iceboro down to
Merrymeeting bay, they can have no idea
of the significance there presented 1t is
impossible to imagine with any degree of
accuracy the extent of it. We have seen
masses of ice and debris between this city
and Gardiner but those afford no compre-
hnr rI,pkA &c
wedged into the channels on both sides
and above Swan island and firmly held
there by the immense field of ice in Mer-
rymeeting bay, where ice forms to great
thickness. Parts of the jam are 25 feet
high and the mass is believed to extend
clear to the bottom of the channel in many
places. 1t Is composed of ice, some cakes
90 feet long and several feet thick mingled
with smaller cakes, logs and debris of all
kinds. The river is constantly bringing
down to 1t floating pieces of ice and snow,
which serve to clog 1t and render the dan
ger from back water greater with each
cold day that passes. When it is considered
how securely this is held in place It is
probable that heavy rain or the melting
process would start the jam above Scion
before it would that at Swan island. In
that event we fall to see how disastrous
results could be avoided.
Mr.. Randall Is not one of the lumber
men who has logs in that jam, and conse
quently is not speaking for any assistance
in saving his property from the ruins of
the last food. But he has much propertv
that would be seriously affected by such a
rise Of water as he apprehends and he is
only one of many such. The Journal has
obtained from men capable of Judging
with quite degree Of accuracy. estimates
of the cost Of cutting channel through
the Ice for distance Of six or eight miles.
In their opinion the cost would be small.
trifiing when it is considered what a
calamity it might prevent. There ought
to be no difficulty in employing all the
men that could work to advantage. The
freshet has been the means of throwing
quite number out Of employment, many
OF whom would probably be DESTROYS of
obtaining such an opportunity to work at
reasonable wages. There would also he
those who have been working upon the
ics,who could be hired together with their
teams
AS Its readers we'll know, it is not the
purpose OF the Journal to deal in sensa-