Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-03
WE NEED RAIN!
Situation on the Kennebec Is
Very Serious.
Mills on Short Time and May Have to
Suspend Altogether.
Mo Water from Observation-Disclosures
Rapidly Feeling Effects.

NalerN1lie, Me. Dec. 2.-(SpeciaD.-
II ever rain was needed in the Kenne-
bee valley it is right now. Up around
the falls at Skowhegan there is scarce
" water enough to drown a kitten and
the city supply here is getting SO linz.
ted that the engineers on the Maine
Central have received orders to fill their
engines whenever possible before COM
ing in. Moosehead lake has lost its
head, that is, the dam is not holding
any water and the river is getting just
The natural flow.
The mills from one end of the river to
the other are shutting down. The Hol-
linssworth & Whitney Co. is doing its
level hest to keep the wheels moving,
but 1t takes steam most Of the time to
90 it. Pulp has been purchased to help
out, but this is not very good plan.
AS many of the departments as possi-
lie "re kept running, but unless there
is an abundant supply of rain before
long the whole mill will be as silent
as q graveyard.
The Lockwood finds itself in much
the same position. Part of the mill is
running and night work is being done
20 help out so far as possible. All other
industries in this vicinity and all along
the river arc !,ainpered in much the
same way and only a lot of rain soon
will prevent {, general shutdown.
The travelling men are commencing
20 see Il change and one can hear them
talking about it most any time ON the
trains and other places where they con-
gregate. All along the river the re-
duced time is cutting down the payrolls
ard the people are facing 81 serious sit
uatiol. The traders are not selling near
IS much as when all wheels are hum
ming and are cutting down their orders
with unsparing~ hand.
They are obliged to sell a good deal on
credit and are going slow. The holiday
trade is commencing to feel the drouth
little and will feel it a great deal
more later unless it is broken pretty
quickly. Money for Christmas presents
is scarce just now and the movement
of holiday good is being retarded. All
lines OF business are feeling the trouble
md a regular stagnation seems possible
unless the water is Forthcoming.
The drouth is touching every one
personally right here in the city. The
Maine Water Co. doubtless feels that
the Kennebec Water District is good
friend after al. for there is not water
enough in the Messalonskec at present
to keep the pumps going in the station
TEey can move FOR an hour or two and
.1cn have to stop until another small
head is secured. 1t has been necessary
10 get the assistance of the pumps OF
The n. & w. Co at q cost of Sc TO"
every hour pumped. The users of the
water have been cmphatic2!ly eau
toned not to waste any water and TO
t;sc only such amount as is absolutely
necessary The supply Of those caush;
:isregartling warnings vii be cut off
Without ceremony.
G.. II. irodin. ovcrseer of the poor.
Gnds that the demands Oh his depart
merit are increasing On account of the
lack of work. A great many people
beside those actually employed depend
IN the mills for support and VIXEN any
thing cuts down the payrolis the poor
is sure tC be among tn"
liIst to notice it.
During the month of November Only
? little over an inch OF water fell and
at such intervals that it had no apprecl-
d bic effect en- the river. The brooks are
almost dead, the streams just crawling
and the lakes 50 low that it takes about
all their supply to make ice.
The water in the rivers has been go
ing down steadily since the ice formed.
All along the kennebcc the ice is brok-
en- up, showing how the water dropped
away from it. Sand bars have the APP.
pcarancc of islands and every pier ard
boom buoy has a fringe of ice about u
above the present height of the water.
Since the freeze there has been no water
ut al! going into the river from the sur
face ard so little from the brooks ard
streams that it can scarcely be noticed.
But the rivermen and weather propn-
cts are making encoura ging predicti"f ..
1t Is : aid that the river never froIe III
November for the winter and that there
will be q rise before long # not fresh
et 1t is generally admitted that the
water is about as low now as it ever
has been before in December. but few
will admit that there is any possibility
Of the present conditions lasting much
longer. A good snow storm with some
warm weather following would help out
but the thing most wanted is q good old
fashioned driving rain storm that y ii
"a irly food the trees cut by the roo8s
and fill every crack and crevice for the
winter
The big freshet of 1901. came along
a'rcut Dec. Is. and some are looking .or
another one about that time, this year,
in spite Of the present drouth.