The Portland daily press., 1901-01-25
Hearing on EXPIRES S
Tax Bill.
Show They are Paying Pretty
Heavily Now.
ESPECIAL TO TEE FRESH

Augusta, January "a The rival inter
este in the use OF the waters OF the sim
nous Songo were heard by the commit
tee on inland waters this afternoon.
Charles A. True, Esq, appeared for the
petitioners who want the state TO appro-
PIRATE $500 for the improvement of the
Songo and Chute's rivers, and who
also want to prevent the driving
of logs and pulp wood down
the rivers after the 10Th OF June
OF each year. william NJ. Bradley, Esq,
represented the rsmonstrants to the bill
relation TO log driving.
As the first witness, MIR. N. II. Seavey,
ex chairman OF the Cumberland county
commissioners, described the present
condition of the river channel which has
teen improved, hut ttill requires that
| The jetties at the mouth Of the river be
extended several hundred feet to the point
where the lake deepens. When the jet
ties have been built there Is sufficient
depth OF water, but beyond them the
sand nocumulstes and makes trouble.
| MIR. Charles L.. Goodr en-, manager OF
the Sebago Lake and Songo River Stsam-
boat company, then told the committee
how the jetties had been constructed so
that now the lowe st depth OF water Is
about IL feet. Before the Jetties were
built there was depth Of only two feet
at this point. MIR. Goodrich described
| the drifting In OF the sand at the mouth
OF the jetties as like the drifting Of the
snow In storm. 10 complete the chan
mel 400 feet of jstty is required. This
| would connect the channel OF the river
with the deep water of the lake. MIR.
Goodrich also told the committee how
the people had gone down into their own
pockets to improve the river, but they
say now that they have done all they can
do as they lind that after they have paid
out their money others came into reap
this benefit. Mr. Goodrich said, ~ have
put In 1915 out OF my own pocket and
have built up steamship business from
5000 to $1,000, and you may come there
and put on steamers to compste with
me and 1 can't prevent 1t. The improve
ment or the river has been followed by
the building OF two large hotels and 1t
brings business to the farmers aud people
around there. Had the river been left In
its former condition the hotels would
not have been built"
MIR. Nathan Paul, who had charge OF
the building OF the jetties, said that be
thought that the $500 asked for would
be sufficient to complete the work. he
said that two passengers and three
freight steamers used the river and did
large business.
MIR. Goodrich in reply to a question,
said that last year the boats carried near
ly 10000 paying passengers.
At this point, MIR. True stated that he
would say that however they might
differ on the matter to be presented to the
committee later, all the people Of the sec
ton represented were.of the opinion that
the request for the appropriation was a
modest one and one for a desirable OBJ
ject Briefly arguing the case, Mr. True
pointed out that 1t was seldom that the
county OF Cumberland asked the aid Of
the ststs In such a matter as this, but
it would be very difficult for the sur
rounding towns to make legal appro-
priation for such a work. Mr. True
spoke of the attractions Of Lake Sehago
and it's connecting waters. 1t is q region
acoessihle alike to rich and poor. being
only 10 miles from Portland, and fhe
wisdom OF the state aid already ex-
tended has been shown By the erection
of two hotsls and a great increase in the
business done on lake and river.
The resolve making the appropriation
was then tabled to await action, and the