Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-07
RIVER IMPROVEMENT
Driving Much Easier Than
in Former Years.
Drive Over Earliest of Years With
More Water in Reservoir.
Further improvements Planned for This Season
Will Greatly Facilitate Driving.


The close of the log driving season on
the Kennebec proves in most conclu-
sive manner that the work that has
been done on the river in removing OBJ
structions has been a complete sue
cess And it is argued by both the log
driving and the manufacturing COM
panies that more improvements will
mean a greater economy of water.
There is at the present time more
water in Moosehead lake. the reservoir
of the kennebec, than there has been
at any time since the Kennebec Water
Co. was formed in 1892. at which time
the work of keeping systematic rec
ords of the amount of water on hand
and the amount drawn off, was COM
menced.
There is al the present time an album
dant quantity of water in the river to
carry on the manufacturing of the diff
ferent plants. There is but little
change between the amount of water
in the river at the present time than
there was during a corresponding
period, last year, but there is much
more water in the reservoir Moose
in water through removing obstruc-
tons in the river
When the log driving was finished,
last year, SO feet of water had been
drawn from Moosehead lake. Since
that time great improvements have
been made in the river. The result is
that the rear drive passed over the
Lockwood dam last Saturday, the
earliest since records have been kept,
and more than that. but IS feet have
been drawn from Moosehead lake.
What this saving of % feet means
may be seen from a glance at the
tables in the report of the committee
on floWage of the Kennebec Water
Power Co. According to this table one
foot of Moosehead lake supplies 565
horse power for 100 days at the Lock
wood dam. 515 feet at the dam of the
Edwards Manufacturing Co. in Angus
TIA, go feet for the Holingsworth &
Whitney Co. in Winslow, 40 for the
Skowhegan Water Power Co, $40 for
the Manufacturing Investment Co. in
Madison, and 904 for the Moosehead
Paper & Pulp Co. in Scion.
1t is estimated that in former years
the Log Driving Co. has used from
1000 to 5000 feet of water per second
in driving the river. During the last
two years between 1000 and $500 feet
per second has been used. And it is
estimated that by further clearing out
The river and making improvements
which have been suggested by Agent
f. +. Boston of the Hollin5sworth &
Whitney Co, the driving can be done
with 1000 cubic feet per second.
The improvements that have been
made in the river are in clearing away
Instructions at different points. These
Instructions have been in the form of
lodges against which jams were form
ed. In order to remove the jams it has
in the past been the custom to let from
the reservoir large amount of water
into the river. While the jams have
been removed by this plan it has been
to the loss of power later i'll the sea
son for the manufactures along the
river.
So successful have been the improve
ments that have been made so far. that
the Log Driving and Water Power co.
propose to make further improve
ments in the river. What these i'm
provements will be will be determined
largely by the amount of money that
will be expended.
Regarding the instructions in the
river f. II. Colby, in his report on re-
moving the Instructions in the kcnnc-
bee, makes the recommendations that
the logWay at the lake be closed and
in its place be put a Sluice gate of %
feet in width. He further recommends
that few minor repairs be made on
one Of the piers. He also recommends
closing the sideways at the Indian
Pond dam and sluice gate he put in
it's place Between Moosehead and In
dian pond there are some boulderS
and points Of ledge that he thinks
should be removed. At Farm Island,
two miles below the lake. he recon-
mends building a side dam.
One of the bad places on the river is
Boar Hog eddy. This is where the big
jam Of 1891 was formed. What is call
ed fin boom is being tried there.
Above Chase stream is the Pocket,
where, it will be remembered, was
formed the jam with $4,000 900 feet in
it. This is thought to be one of the
worst places on the river and has to
to be closely watched at all times.
Just what is to be done with this is not
certain. Mr.. Colby thinks a side dam
might be put in there as it would save
the jam DefliS loIIleu Jul NoGiu iot
save the water.
Farther down the river he recon-
mends that Turtle island should be
blown out The worst place on the
whole river is the Stirling islands
The river is wide here and in conse-
quence the water shoal. 1t is thought
that the only way to use this will be
by building side dam across the east
channel
Another bad place for jams to form
is at the Carry Place gravels. This is
especially bad when water is low
This is thought to be rather expensive
to move as it would cost $500 or 500
to remove it. Other bad places rathe
too expensive to be removed are ths
Rollins Island and the Upper and Low
err Coleman islands.
AS an alternative the fin booms viii
be tried ut Hunnerwell islands, Emer
toms gravel and the Coward. In 1856
bad jam was formed at the Bra.
sraveis- The whole river was plugge
and $1,000 was expended before the Jan
WIS removed. The advisabiIity O
hoodiDG these gravels over is consid
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