Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-08
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from Page Four.)

MI up in the spring that Won destroy
the spawn. The best authority which
can get from the United States fish
commissioners says that IL you do that
you destroy the spawn OF the trout and
annihilate the fish in those beautiful
lakes and that is an element which
makes these lakes valuable.
i am proud OF these grand old lakes
today as / see them pictured out on
that map referring TO the map hung
In the Senate chamber). 1t would be a
sorry day for Maine when q private cor
poration under the Pigment of drawing
down that lake six feet-when as | saw
they do not need It, destroyed those
If the water was shut off today, they
would use coal. They can get coal here
In Maine l am told as cheaply deliver
ed in Lewiston as at Newport News or
great many other places which
might mention. They would not be
destroyed. hope they will not be de-
stroyed. L would not do a thing to in
Jure the industries upon the Andro-
scogsin river; but do say, let US pro-
tect for the people of the State these
grand lakes which are the pride of
everybody. Shall we do it? We must
cease giving away the franchises of the
State. A man who has been here for
five or six sessions of this Legislature
we'll knows that there is hardly
stream in the State of Maine upon
which corporations have not got their
grasp. Let us call a halt upon the
greed of the corporation of the State
and protect these lakes and do not for
get that, by the testimony before the
f.f.v-. rn,it +rz
WITHIN the last 26 years. Let them
dam Rapid river if they please spend
ing their money there but let the lakes
alone because it is an absolute fact
that the Union Water Company knows
that they can save the water that runs
away in the spring by daming Rapid
river but they don't want to do that
because they would have to take the
$4,000 which they get for selling water
power and put $4,000 more with it to
dam that river. but they would rather
come to the Legislature OF this State
and by their powerful lobby which has
been here for four five weeks ac-
complishing in this way. l do not
doubt Mr.. President, that if they would
take the money that lobby has used
here this winter they could build half
the dam on Rapid river. (Applause)
What is the occasion of their coming
in here? 1t is not only the Union Wat
er Power Company hut the Great In
ternational Paper Company and the
Berlin Mill Company whose stock is
holden outside of the State of Maine
that comes in here and undertakes to
destroy that portion of Maine which
lies in that region.
There is another principle involved
in here that is worthy of consideration
and that is the purity of these lakes
and you will all agree with me about
that. AS the senic duty Is governed
by the high water that covers up the
mud and rocks, so is the purity of the
water, in the opinion of the best scien-
ties of the country, dependent on keep
ing that water at 4 hight level and in
drawing it down you destroy its puri-
" and it comes polluted. Will any
body gainsay that? If they do let
them refer to the best scientists of this
country upon that question and they
will find that | am correct.
For these reasons, standing here as
| do. | must confess that | am sur
prised that any senator in this body
in view of all the facts that came be-
fore that committee will stand here
and plead for the International Paper
Company or the Union Water Com
pany which want to take the water
from these lakes not only for the use
of these mills but to sell to other cor
porations and to pocket every year
$4,000 for such sales.
/ e. YOU the people OF Maine never
will allow an entering wedge IL be made
To the 400 lakes Of this State. We have
given away too much. We have allowed
corporations To creep into almost every
avenue Of public service of the State
of Maine? Ii is now time 10 call halt
We shall not destroy the mills upon
the Androscogsin river. say again
that my impulses are for the create
number and not for private corpora
tions. thank heaven if have that
reputation am proud of IL. and
senator from Hancock-you may speak
wherever you please; ana will throw
YOU bouquet. ApplauscD
IL would cost from the h,st Informal
ton I could get $50 900 To- dam Rapid
river AMI They could have saved So 900
of that money. IL they had gone to
work instead OF coming down here.
l have n" interest in this question
except as q citizen Of the State 1 be-
l,.Vr in the Industries and have never
wilfully tried to injurc the incorpora-
tinr of the state Of Maine. but have
always endcavorcd to do what my
conscience has told me was right AS I
20 down the dnclivity Of life I trust /
will have no tormenting doubts and
misapTrehcnsions as to whether or not
I have done my duty in this case. Let
us say to the Union Water Company
SO and build your dam-but you ask too
much of us when you seek to take
these great lakes which have come
down to us from our forefathers. AS
to which we pledge the people that we
would be their faithful guardians. Let
us not betray our trust but keep them
for public uses and for the benefit of
everybody and let us say to the Union
Water Company: We admire your in
i'll o;I oil h.lt