Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-06

The Condition Of the Kennebec is
Growing Serious.
The Paper Mill and Power Station are Suffer.
ting the Most.

10" water IN the kennebec river. 1t is
i nothing as compared with the trouble
they are having over on the Androscog-
gin river, where the cotton mills have
| been closed at various times in the past
week on account of the scarcity of water
| But even here in Augusta the situation
| is bad enough.
| The Edwards cotton mill has not been
Obliged to close its operations for a min
ute as yet on account of the low water.
though ii is often bothered for the lack
OF the proper amount of power. The
paper mill was Obliged to stop work,
stopping, Wednesday night. for the en-
tire night on account Of the scarcity.
They operated. Thursday. Thursday night
and Friday, and hoped to have enough
water To continue, today. The electric
supply. Wednesday night. and but for the
presence Of the new engines the city
would have suffered. AS it was, some Of
the street lights had to be turned off
Agent cole Of the Edwards mills. was
seen by journal representative, Friday
regarding the situation.
1T is very bad" said Mr.. Cole but it
is not 50 bad as over on the Androscog
gin, where they have been seriously in
terfcred with. over here we get all the
water there is going. for we are at the
very foot Of il all and everything has to
pass us.
The situation. today, is better than it
was, yesterday. by four or five inches.
looked, yesterday, for worse condition
Of affairs. but instead it is better. This
is due, | learn. to the fact that another
gate has been hoisted at the MOosehead
dam"
How much water is there in the sup
ply basin at the head Of the kennebec?'
II learned at the first Of the week there
was one foot and eisht-tenths Of an
inch"
The situation then must be getting
serious?"
look for serious trouble. but we are hop
ing for rain storm"
Are sou running any departments
overtime" asked the Journal.
mo, we are operating only on full time
in the MAN, though occasionally when
some one OF the departments is behind
We work it extra to keep the mill oper-
ating and all at work"
II seems rather pity that now when
everything else is 50 bright, when there
is demand for the material and a good
price being paid for abor. that the power
cannot be obtained to let the working
people have a chance to do the work they
wish ana which their employers like TO
have them DO. The cotton mill operatives
have the advantage Of the situation. for
the paper mill ana the electric light sta
ton both have to close if the cotton mill
managers say 50. The privilege of the
power and the water right is owned by
the Edwards people and the others are
merely tenants who can be stopped from
using the water in case the owners see
fit. The right is not enforced unless there
is an absolute necessity. and they have
been very fair during the past few months
when the situation has looked 50 very
dark.
The condition Of Wednesday night was
the worse that il has Deen in years. for
ii WAS even worse. so the paper mill 1
say. than AT any time in Octo- |
her. and at that time, it will be remem-
bcred. the condition was considered the !
most serious for many years.
The paper mill and the power station I
are both equipped - they can DO some
work even though the water power is
shut off. The power station can, when it
second engine is III good running order
and fully set up. run all its power by
steam. The paper mill is not so fortunate /
rs it must have the water power To run |
the parts N the pulp department that |
prepares the wood fur the machines
which are run ny steam. Though they |
have steam in q part of the MILL it will |
he Of little avail to them without the
water To- run the rest of the plant.
In the cotton mill things are different
ana il the water power is cut IF the
whole power is gone ana the mills must
shut down, for no steam power IL to he
found in the mill. In ease the rain should /
not come to relieve the necessity. 100 OBJ
eratives in this mill together with 81 in /
the paper mill. would be thrown out of |
employment. awaiting the pleasure hi
Jupiter Pluvius.
What the meaning If such Il calamity
would tie - Augusta. even for Il week
can be estimated by anyone. 1t would |
cause more than one family to suffer for
the wants of life. for many with large
families to support are to be found at |
work here. ana they cannot keep very far
ahead Of the weekly battle with life The
effect on the merchants would be severely
felt
What is true of Augusta is true of the
river.