Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-08
By Rival Lumbermen at
Chamberlain Lake.
Canadians Blow Up DAM
Armed Men Now on Guard.
II Unable 10 Handle and Protect Property
Will Call on State.

AhN', <hu5' hiSoo'' ~
ger who arrived here, tonight, from
Chamberlain lake, i'm the wilds OF
northern Maine, stated that d more Sc
rious condition of affairs than was at
first supposed exists i'm that section as
the result of last weeks hostilties be-
tween ren supposed to represent the
lumber companies along the st. John
river and the Marsh and Aver Co..
whose interests are identical with the
East Branch improvement co. OF
Maine.
The first report stated that employees
Of st. John river company mad used
violence in interfering with a man IN
charge of a dam at the lake. 1t was
stated that a rifle carried by the man
had been taken away and that the
gates At the dam had been lifted 10 re-
lease wafer alleged to have been di-
vCrtcd from the st. John river, in spite
of his emphatic protest.
Tonight. it was learned that, late on
Friday, the men blew up the dam for
u distance of 20 feet near the gates
with dynamite The break was speed
ilv repaired by employees of the East
Branch Co, and the dam is now closed
50 tightly that no water whatever is
now running over il. A large number of
men employed by the Marsh & Aver
Co. are patrolling the locality.
The messenger says that two men
supposed t. he of the gang which did
the damage were seen in the vicinity,
this morning and the lumbermen there
,.t.I SnrinIIC frnnh1n chnnl6 "a fur-
Their attempt be made to release the
water.
Tn present difficulty is not altogether
a dispute between Maine and New
Brunswick Iumbermcn, as the East
Branch Improvement Co., of this
STATE, whose operations are largely
confined to the asst branch of the Pc
nobscot river, are opposed not only by
lumber interests along the st. John
river over the Canadian border. but al
So by several Maine corporations oprr-
"ting mills at points in Maine on the
St John.
The Improvement Co. was granted a
charter about two years ago, by the
State and allowed the privilege of con-
slructing dam at Chamberlain lake
one OF the bodies of water in which the
Allegash river, a branch of the st.
John, rises. The head waters of the AL
icgash are but Il short distance from
The snUrcc of the east branch of the
i'cnobSrot. BY the construction of this
liam, the mill owners on the s.. John
claim that the waters of the lake are
diverted from their natural outlet, the
st. John. to the Penobscot. thereby
lowering the st. John stream and injur-
Ing The numbering interests along its
course.
The st. John river mill men asser!
that the state of Maine had no author
1ly Ia grant n charter giving any con-
Germ the right to divert water which
would naturally flow into Il river run
rlng through to countries. to another
rlHer which does not touch territory
"utsid" Of the State. Should the exist
ing difficulty at Chamberlain lake
courts. as now seems probable. it is eX-
p"ctcd this point will form a leading
issur
1t is stated that the names Of the men
Who used tine dynamite are known to
Marsh &Ayer Co. and that the firm has
engaged Bangor attorneys to prosecute
the case. In the event Of further inter
terence it is said that the State author
ite' will be called upon to call force to
protect the dam. The Marsh & Aver
emrloye. sufficiently in the ma jority
10 control the situation. burt should the
opposition appear in additional force, it
Is feared that a clash will occur
Among the corporations operating along
the s.. John river. are the Van Buren,
Lumber Co.. and the st. John Lumber
Co, both of of Van Buren,. The two are
Maine corporations. A number of Amer
lean firms. which own mills in St. John.
\. r.. also do a large business in Maine.
Lumber on the Canadian side cut about
Continued on Page Two.)