Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-13
TOPOGRAPHIC.
Fourth Report Of Maine
Commission.
Total Of 946O So. Miles Are
Now Mapped.
Work Done in Conjunction With
U. S. Government.


wick, State survey commissioners,
have submitted their fourth biennial
report, as follows:
The duties of the commission are to
prepare and complete topographic
map Of the State in continuance Of the
plan by which the entire area of the
United States will ultimately be
mapped, to investigate ana map out
the water resources of the streams,
lakes and ponds Of the State with ref
erencc to the complete development Of
its water power and to examine, map
and report upon the geological occur
renee, nature, location ana extent Of
such mineral products as may appear
to be Of value.
Under the provisions of the Jaw this
commission entered into Il contract
with the general government whereby
The work outlined should be done by
tho United States geological survey
ana the State commission in co-opera-
ton The cost of the field work of these
surveys is met jointly by the State of
Maine and the general government.
Uncle Sam spending the same amount
~ that appropriated by the State. The
United States geological survey with
out expense to the State.
The commission is intrusted with the
arrangement of the work as it proceeds,
with the final approval or disapproVal
Of the maps and reports, and WIfh the
disbursement of the funds appropriate
Cd BY the State. The advantages OF THIS
conservative plan of proceeding lie III
TIE fact that by it the State secures
the services Of men who are specially
trained experts i'll their respective lines
Of work and are in the permanent en-
liov of the United States, while the
expense to the State is less than one
half the actual cost Of the work.
Suitable parties were kept in the field
during the seasons Of 1905 and 1906 in
tho three branches Of topography. ny
biography and geology. Maps were
completed, engraved and printed OF
bingham, Matinicus. Monhegan, Rock
land ana Tenant Harbor. Besides these.
the four sheets. Bluehill, Castine, Dear
ISln ana EinalhaVcn have been re-
engraved on One-half the usual scale,
to provide a map for geological pur-
poses The Forks sheet and the Lewis
ton sheet are completed and in process
Of engraving The Poland sheet is par
TALLY completed, while the preliminary
triaasulation has been done for the
Frveburg ana Hiram sheets. Twenty
additional sheets are under control. the
primary triangulation having been
done.
The total area now mapped includes
about 1850 square miles. There are in
print AZ Atlas sheets. Each sheet is 1613
by 90 inches and represents an area Of
approximately 215 square miles. The
scale is one mile to the inch and diff
fcrcnces of level are shown by contour
lines. one for every 20 feet of height.
on the Monhegan sheet the experiment
Of tinting the wooded areas has been
tried and it is to be hoped that all
sheets hereafter issued may be 50 tint
cd.
In correction with other work, lines
Of precise levels were run from tide
water Mt Portland to Brunswick and
from Portland to Hiram and Fryeburg.
In the early days Of the survey no
permanent bench marks were placed
Now bronze or aluminium tablets, prop
erly inscribed, are set in suitable 10
caiItieS, and the opportunity was taken
to place such marks in the regions
lTlFcrSed. on the part Of the United
states II. NJ. Wilson. Gcographer, was
~ chtrrc 81 the work, while +. Eos
t'f Slaughter was at tho head of The
h"ii party Of 1905 and Glenn s. Smith
ana Jersey Munroc for 1906.
~ the time If the last report the nv
geographic survey Of the Kcnnrbcc
river had proceeded rs far as Moose
hrld lake. During the past two seasons
lHft"S nave continued the work, main
~ on tie tributaries cmptyinr into tina
FAKE, The examination Of the connect
ihS lakes, Brassua, Long. Wood At
tt'iH ana others has been thorough and
maps 81 IN" more important ones have
been prepared in great detail.
INC immediate problem was to deter
MIN" the availability Of reservoir sites
~" the storage Of surplus waters. The
results arc surprising. even to those
best acquainted with the region. The
contour OF the country, the extent of
the drainage basins. the amount or
rainfall and the practicability Of build
ms dams for storage basins arc such
thlt the question Of reliable and Der
rlaHcnt supply Of water for all the WI
t"r powers Of the Kenncbcc river. ana
f"r other uses, becomes a simple on. to
answer. The cost Of building suitable
cams will BE- comparatively inexpensive
and the damage by Aowage will b. at
a minimum.
Vast Quantities Of water may thus b
rctaiacd until it is desirable to use il.
Should this plan be put into effect the
water resources Of the river would be-
come immensely moro valuab bic. Four
additional sheets Of the river survey
from SkoWhegan to MoOSehead lake
ard one sheet showing its profile from
tidc-Water at Halowell to the lake.
have been completed.
The Penobscot river from Bangor to
North Twin lake was surveyed III 1904.
a series Of maps, five il number. illus
trdtin- the results. have been engraved
and printed. During portion Of the
Tast two seasons parties have com
rlCtcd the survey Of the west branch
from North TwiE lake to Northwest
Carry and maps Of this portion Of the
rjy will soon 10 pnr11platad