Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-08

"Adl oHe VI the SktiZShS
OF Maine could ever go there from
December LIST to the first Of April and
find out how many cubic feet of water
was being used per second? Every
senator in this Chamber knows that
the company would draw what it
needed during those months. and no
one. even if he knew they were eX-
ceeding the limit. could help himself.
An utterly worthless and useless limi-
tation in the bill.
The following proviso locating the
elevation of the stills of the deep gates
simply makes clear and plain what
they said they meant in the rirst draft.
But next comes a great and sur
prising concession in this provision
relating to the construction of dam
across Rapid River below the Pond
in the-River for the purpose of facil-
itating the driving Of logs and thereby
saving water. On the face of it. this
seems like an honest plan on the part
Of the company to save up and store
an enormous amount of water But,
gentlemen. anyone familiar with the
driving of small streams knows that
dams like the one suggested are COM
paratively small and inexpensive af-
fairs and are built in large number in
all parts Of the State to aid log driv-
ers in dry seasons. The only wonder
is that it has not been done before.
Some water might be saved and prob
ably would, but it would be merely d
drop in the bucket, a bucketful in the
sea compared with the whole product
of this Rangeley water basin. And the
no "a Toy
would be- saved by the dam sufficient
to make up the extra amount which
could be drawn off under this bill is
absurd, a matter Of guess work and
conjecture. But, gentlemen, if the
company puts this forward as an hon
est proposition, why not say 10 them
Build your dam. save the water. and
see if you cannot tide over the low
water period a year or two and pos
sibly YOU may find that you will not
need TO dredge the outlets Of the lakes.
Possibly you may not require the
great concession from the State
Section has been added. In this
section provision has been made for
holding the company liable for any
legal damages sustained by any per-
son, etc. Note the wording legal
damages and legally recoverable p"
The damage must be legal; the dam
age must be legally recoverable.
Now, gentlemen, | am not going in
to the technical part of this matter.
am not going to array legal au-
thOrities or cite precedents but / am
going to say that in my Judgment
there is not an attorney within the
sound of my voice who thinks or be-
lieves that any damage whatever
could be legally assessed against this
company when il had been given the
right by the State to use and draw
off the water Of the State thereby
leaving the land Of the State exposed
to the air. an unsightly, foul smelling
border around the lake in front of
the hotels and cottages. Does any
one think this section makes the bill
more acceptable to those who are i'm
meGiately interested? But admitting
for the sake of this argument that
the damages would not be damages
without injury" and not too remote,
who could afford to test :hs out in
the courts with this powerful corpo-
ration. and of what avail would ii be
after one disastrous season at the
lakes.
| submit, gentlemen, it is fair
statement to make that the bill be-
fore us differs not in the essential
features from the bill as first drawn.
II SINNERS down TO one and the same
proposition, the drawing down of
Mooselucmaguntic and Richardson
Lakes some six or more feet below the
present low water level without let or
hindrance from December LIST to April
LIST; the opening of the door Of the
last asset Of the people, an asset
growing and increasing in value year
by Year and destined to be in the flu
turc the most wonderful lake and in
land resort on the face of the earth. to
a private corporation, animated only
| by desire for more dividends, a cor
poration without soul asking this
| mighty concession from. this Legisla-
tur". that they may have a little more
water for a week or two, a few weeks
now and then a year. III our whole
State there is nothing dearcr to the
hearts Of the people than these lakes
given to US in abundance by the AL
mighty TO be held inviolate through
the ages. Our beautiful rivers now
contaminated and poisoned We're deaI
to the people. our boundleSS and mag
nificent forests now beyond our reach
were our pride. but it has remained
for the corporations Ia touch the ten
dereSt chord of our heart strings by
this proposition Of levying upon our
lakes.
Oh. but they say. we will do no
harm. we will not mar the scenic
beauty. we will not destroy the fish
in the lakes" But. gentlemen. that
is conjecture only. and this is but
the first step. In this bill they are
merely getting a foot hold. What has
been our experience this winter? Is
it not true that three fourths Of our
time has been spent on these corpo-
ration matters? Is il not true that
they get what they can the first time
and then in two years, or when con-
ditionS are more favorable, they come
back for more? Once given the key
that unlocks the Rangeleys and the
other corporations will come trooping
in for the same treatment After tho