Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-10
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continued from page ~

OF sudden rise in prominence in the
House. There are men in the House
acting as Mr. Cannon's lieutenants,
young enough to be his sons.
The fact remains that the RESPONSE
bility CT legislation in both Senate and
House rests upon the shoulders of men
who are approaching the age of three
score and ten. No man attains the
Speakers chair in these days till he
has got we'll along towards half CEN
tury of life and generally he is much
older. Reed was exactly 80 when
elected Speaker Of the F'ifty-first Con-
gress. Crisp, of Georgia, who was
Reeds immediate successor in the
Speakers chair which he held for four
years during the Fifty-second and Fiji
ty-tl.ird Congress, was as years old,
when chosen Speaker. John G. Car
Isle, of Kentucky, when elected Speak
er OF the 18th Congress. which Office
he held for six years in succession, was
48 years old. James G. Blaine, who
served six years as Speaker of the
House, being a Representative from
the Augusta, Me, district, was one of
the youngest Speakers of the last half
century. being only 80 when elected to
WELD the gavel.
The Maine Senators and Representa-
tives were on hand here at the begin
ming Of the regular session Monday and
listened attentively to the reading of
the Presidents message. Much OF the
contents of that document was already
known to Senator Hale. whom the
President had called in consultation at
the White House about different parts
of it. There was very general an"rov-
al by the Maine Senators and MEM
bers of the views expressed b. the
President on different topics affecting
his administration, as well Of the leg
islation which the President recon-
mends.
In big editorial leader of the Cncin-
natl Commercial Tribune, which has been
extensively circulated here and which has
attracted much attention among poltici-
ans, both Senator Hale and Senator Frye
are suggested as men capable of filling
the Presidential chair and as being of a
sufficiently large calibre to be worthy OF
consideration for the nomination in 1901.
The editorial suggests that President
Roosevelt may be unable to carry New
York state and thinks that one of six or
eight men which it names, including the
Maine Senators, could better be nomi-
mated. =
The United States Geological Survey
has recently completed a survey of the
Kcnncbec River from tide water at Au-
gUsta to Moosehead Lake. This survey
shows the occurrence and location of 4
number of fine undevcloped water powers.
In almost every place where there ere
plants in operation from one-half to two
thirds of the power still goes to waste.
At Augusta 17-foot dam furnishes
about c0000 horsepower of which only
1000 horsepower is used. Eighteen miles
up the river ut Waterville, two dams use
only a triflingj part of an available head
of 4? feet ard at Fairfield not more than
onc-tenth of the power Of a 1G-foot dam is
employed. The same is true OF the -
foot dam at Shawmut. At Skowhegan
where there is a fall in the river of &c
feet, only 7c00 horsepower is used.
Between Norridsewock and Madison
there are sites that present fine opportj.-
mites for power development. For q
miles above Scion there are q great many
rapids and shoals. which have a total
Forks, the last settlement up the river
is the first power on Moxie Stream. with
vertical drop of s. feet. For miles be-
low Indian Pond the river gorge is very
narrow, with wallis about POO feet high
In this distance that is a fall of 100 feet
with several excellent sites for power de-
velopment. The outlets of both Indian
Pond and Mocschead Lake are controlled
by crib dams that regulate the water foI
numbering purposes.
The survey was made by Messrs. 4
Y. Fowler, John c. 1Iyer ard T. j. Nc
Maugh. during last summer. In additio,
to making a complete map plan of tn,
river showing ell the islands; and the po-
sition of the hills on either side, the part!
made accurate determinations of tho
height above the ocean of the top ant
bottom of each rapid and fall. They lof
permanent bench marks on which futur,
surveys may be based. The elevation OF
Indian Pond was found to be 9333 feet au(
of Moosehead Lake 1929 feet.
Organization of the New York Public
School Athletic Association has Just bee,
completed and a series Of games has b@nt
arranged for Madison S'uarc Garden
Dec. Is. The leagues object will be gen
cral promotion of athletics along prone
lines among public school attendants. l.
the exhibitions. team and school wort
will he advanced over individual effort
Scholastic attainment Will also be made
an equivalent to athletic competition. tn.
standing of students in their classes heint
rated as carefully for team positions q
general athletic excellence.
III I j &