Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-10
VIGOROUS KICK
AGAINST Ashburton Treaty
on St. John River.
Neighbors Object to Obstruction
of River by Company
Which Holds Charter to Begin, Tran
sact and Continue Business.

htllcDec. PenODSCot ana Mallle
iumbermen in general Will be interest
ed in the following from the st. John
Times of Friday, registering Il kick
against the alleged obstruction of the
St. John river by the St. John Lumber
Co. The article follows:
For the past few days the question
of the lumber business and Obstruc
tons TO the traffic along the ST. John
river has been receiving the attention
Ot millmen and lumbermen not only i'll
this city but along the river generally.
"A few days ago ii meeting of part
les Interested Was held at John +.
Moores office and a committee was APP
pointed to take some steps to prevent
the placing of obstructiOnS in the st.
John river to the detrlnent of the lum-
bermen'S interests.
"A short time ago a st. John ium-
herman, in conversation With the
Times said:
The st. John Lumber Co. who have
erected 50 many piers in the st. John
river ut Van Buren,. about which
there has been Il good deal of trouble
are. il is said. preparing to erect sew
erdl more piers in the river. The New
Brunswick government has already
taken some steps i'll regard to this mat
ter. last winter. as the Ashburton
treaty foroids any obstruction in the
ST. John river. where il is the boundary
line. THIS company has piers connect
ed with bon.nS all along the middle of
the st. John river from Van Buren, to
Il point almost five miles above. This
is claimed To be Il violation of the
treaty ana the announcement that the
company intends putting in more piers
is creating considerable interest.
THE parties forming this company
are the same people who. it is alleged.
z few years ago. attempted to dam
the river at Winding Lodges. but their
application for Il charter for that pur
pose, not having been successful. they.
it is said. have attempted to attain the
same object. that is the holding of their
lumber by monopolZing about one
half of the width of the river with piers
and booms for a distance of five miles.
THE committee appointed to deal
with such matters met in John T..
Mo0res office and discussed the sit
uation thoroughly. but no definite ac-
ton WAS taken and a further adjourn
ment Was made until next week.
zone OF those directly Interested was
interviewed by Il Times reporter. Fri
day morning. He said the worst OBJ
StructionS are between Van Buren, and
Grand Isle. At the latter place there
is boom which turns logs out of the
river behind the island. on one oc-
CaSion the whole drive is alleged to
have been turned ont behind the is
land. ana as a consequence lay on the
bed of the river all winter. After the
logs W"r" assorted the water fell 50
low that the drive could not be taken
To Grand Fails.
The navigation of boats. logs. RATS
ana everything that floats down the river
is greatly interf"rcd with ana navisa ion
generally is Handicapped
The excuse given for the building of
these piers and constructions is based ON
the following act passed hy the Maine
Legislature, which is as follows and is Ell
titled:
LEGlSLATIN T. AUTHORITY
An act to authorize the St John I.um-
Der Company to build piers ana boorns in
the Saint John river in the town Of Nar
Buren,. Re it enacted by the Senate ana
IiouS" of RI representatives. in LEGISLATURE
ass, mbicd as follows
The Saint John Lumber Company. a
corrnraticn organic, q ANA existing tjndcr
tile avs of tn" State Of Maine. it, srIc-
cesS"rs and assigns are hereby authorized
To build and maintain piers and huomS in