Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-09-18
THE BELGRADE LAKES.
A Scheme for Locks in the Streams OF
the System.

Belgrade. Me, Sept. 1.-THE people
hare are much interested in project
described by a Waterville correspon-
dent of the Bangor News regarding a
system of locks in the streams con-
Meeting the Belgrade chain of lakes.
This would allow sail of 100 miles in
a launch and would give a new boom
10 the large and growing summer busi-
ness here. According to this corre-
spondent the launchmen of the Bel
grade system of lakes have discovered
how they can add a great feature to
the already attractive section Of the
State and at the same time provide for
additional resources to the family
purse. The Belgrade system is COM
posed of Snow, Long, Great, North,
Fast, Ellis and McGraw ponds. All but
The two latter are in continuous chain
and connected by the waterway known
rs the Messalonskee river. Ellis ami
McGraW ponds are connected one with
the other and flow into Great pond but
they are rot to be considered in the
route proposed for the sail of 100 miles
through inland waters. From the foot
of Sno-v pond at Oakland village to the
head of Fast pond the distance is ra-
ther more than fifty miles. East pond
is the last of the chain although it lays
east of North pond. Beginning at Oak
land the lakes are arranged in the or
der first named with Ellis and McGraw
on the east of Great pond
Snow pond, now called by some Mes
salonskee lake, is about eight miles
long Tho CIV haty Il,
and Long pond is eleven miles long and
there is a stretch of stream between it
and Great pond of only a quarter mile.
Great pond is rather more than nine
miles long and Is studded with islands.
North and East are rather more than
sight miles In length and the stretches
of stream between them will make the
whole distance from Oakland village to
the head Of East pond more than fifty
miles. Two distractions at present bar
the way to a clear sail over the dis
tance named. These obstructions are
two dams. one at Wings Mills and the
other at Chambers Mills, Belgrade
Wings Mills are located on the stream
between Snow and Long ponds about
nine miles from the entrance of the
stream into Snow pond. The dam at
Chandier's Mills is used for storage bv
the Union Gas and Electric Co of Wa
terville and for small mill work be-
tween The two ponds, Long and Great.
A county road bridge between Snow
and Long, at present obStructs the
passage Of launches With high avn
ingS but this can be remedied by rails
ing the bridge two feet and grading
back either way.
To overcome the distractions at the
dams it is proposed to construct locks
each fifty feet in length. The launch
| men are now talking over the subject
| and 4 preliminary survey of the loca-
tions has been made. 1t is claimed
that both locks can be constructed of
heavy timber. secured near by and at
a cost not exceeding $500 per lock- A
little dredging will be necessary at the
entrance TO the Chambers Mills lock
and i'll the stream between Great and
North and East ponds. The craft on
| the system of lakes numbers nearly
| three hundred ruddcrs and the owners
number about seventy-tive.
Just how to proceed In the matter Of
opening the Belgrade system to thor
nugh navigation has not been def
nitely decided upon. 1t is suggested
| that the owners Of craft on all the
lakes organize into an association for
the purpose Of improving navigation
and then apply to the governor and
council for permission to open up the
dam after the manner suggested above
| The establishment of locks ut the
points named will not III the slightest
Gegrec effect the migration Of fish. The
Belgrade lakes lay in one of the pref
| test sections of the State ana such a
sail az is proposed. through the lakes,
| among the numerous islands and along
the winding stream will add IL feature
to the summer season a Belgrade
which will be greatly appreciated by
the thousands WHO so there every year
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