The Portland daily press., 1901-01-23


in wide area for some OF the lumber
driven through the Songo comes by
means OF Crooked river even from the
region around Bethel. When the matter
comes up for hearing before the COM
mittes on interior waters. it Will be ar
gued that the lumbermen were first on
the Songo, that the river has never besn
closed by the drives, so that navigation
has been stepped and that. as it Is, the
legs are now out of the way before the
heavy travel OF the summer begins ana
that the logging interests are too great 10
be jeonaruized to facilitate the steamer
business which has been conducted year
after year without the aid Of such legisla-
tion as Is proposed. The fact that the
action asked for might afford a precedent
for similar legislation aff Getting othtr
waters of the state has lead number OF
concerns which do not get their lumber
from this source TO join the remonstrants.
MILLINOCKEr WATER SUPPLY.
A measure or far reaching Importance
was Introduced In the House this morn
ing. II is that already outlined in these
dispatches and des' gned to enable the
Great Northern Paper company TO store
the water OF the West Branch Of the Pc
nobscot river fer the purpose OF affordipg
a constant supply for the paper mill
which 1t has built at Millinocket at an
expense OF several million dollars. 1t IL
hinted that upon the passage OF this
measure may depend the erection OF other
giant mills In the future. Ihe supporters
of the plan claim that It Ia necessary Tor
the successful conduct Of their husinefs
that tt ey should have the right to so
n gulate the dow Of the water that the
supply may be constant. 1t is also
claimed that under the present system of
drivirg the legs the water is not econom-
icalIy used. Legs are now driven through
hose waters by the Penobscot Log
Driving company and the Great Northern
people seek to accomplish their purpose
by the exercise of the right OF eminent
domain. In other words tine bill intro
ducsd today gives them the right to &c
uuire the properiy OF the log driving CON-
pany and imposes upon them the duty OF
making one drive each year from the
waters of Chesuncook lake. at prices fixed
by the bill. IL 1t Is true that the erection
OF other mills like that at Millinocket de-
pends upon the passage Of this measure,
Its for reaching consequences are at ones
apparent. The building of the Millinocket
mill has been followed by the addition to
the man of a populous town with Its
business for the railroads and its addition
in other ways to the resources OF tine
state.
On the other hand, some, at least, Of
the parties Interested in log driving on
the Penobsoot will oppose the bill claim
ing that the matter of conducting the
business under the new system will re-
suit in hardship to them hanging up the
drives perhaps from one year to another.
1t is evident unless present appearances
are misleading that the matter is lKeIy
to lead to a CONTEST and become one of
the Interesting BATTLES of the session, It
is hardly neoe sssry to say that the Great
Northern Paper company is that IN
which a number OF New York capitalists
are Interested. MIR. Payne Whitney men
toned as one OF the oorporators is the
son OF lion william g. whitney.
1he bill is long one. Some Of its
principal provisions are contained In the
following extracts:
Frederick Ii. Appleton, Joseph p.
Bass, j. Fred Webster, Fred a, Gilbert
A. Lsayard Smith, Jr.i Sanford Barnes,
ana Garrt tt Sohenck their associates and
successors and assigns ara hereby created
a body polite and corporate by the name
OF ths West Branch Driving and Reser-
voir Dam company.
Section 1.-The capital stock Of sald
company shall be liked By sad company
and shall not be less than SlUO. 900 ana
may be increased from time to time rep.
resenting majority of the capital stock
Issued, but shall not exceed S6U0, ,01J.
Section When this charter shall be
accepted ana said company shall be or-
ga ni3ed and subscriptions TO the capital
stock thereof to the amount at Least of
500. OC0 shall have been made in good
faith, and 81, COO at least of such su beorip-
tion shall have been actually paid In cash
to the treasury OF said company, said
West Branch Driving ana Reservoir Dam
company may then exercise the power OF
eminent domain, and hereunder may
take and hold all the dams and real es,
tate and all piers. booms, wing dams and
side dams, and all ftsAmboats now owned
by the Penobsoot Log Driving company
ami hitherto used by 1t in any way In its
business under its charter.
Said West Bxanch and Reservoir Dam
company may serve written notice up
on the president, clerk or any director of
said Penobosot Log Driving company of
its desire to exercise the said power OF
eminent domain, and thereupon said
dams, real estate, piers, booms, wing
dams, side dam 5, steam boats and ether
property shall be and become the pro per-
ty of Eaid West Branch Driving and
Reservoir Dam company, and the fran
chises rights and privileges of the Pc
nobsoot Log Driving company, shall be
and became the franchises, rights and,
privileges OF the West Branch Driving
and Reservoir Dam company, and all the
duties OF said Penobsnot Log Driving
company shall be and become the duties
of said West Branch Driving and Reser-
voir Dam company which shall thereafter
be hidden TO perfor IL such duties except
as modified by the provisions of this act.
ii the directors Of said Penobcsot Log
Driving company and the directors Of
said West Branch Driving and Reservoir
Dam company shall agree upon the value