Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-24
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
The Wealth of Maine.
portland Press.)

Walter C. EmerSon's address before
the katahdin club Of Newton, Mass,
| contained information of a nature to
give people outside of Maine and for
that matter on the inside a new idea
of the natural resources of the State.
| We all know that there was much po-
tential wealth in the water power, and
| that considerable money was spent in
| the state by summer visitors, but it is
probable that our knowledge was more
! or less haZy and indefinite. 1t helps
| to have this knowledge reduced to sta
tistics and presented in the striking
way of which Mr.. Emerson is the mas
| ter. Mr.. Dryasdust may calculate that
| there are so many available horSepOw-
er, hut this is not SO impressive as
when we are told that the water power
of Maine is more valuable than the coal
mines of Pennsylvania. We may be
informed that the number of summer
SojournerS coming to the State in the
last season was larger than ever be-
fore. but when it is shown from the
figures of the transportation compa-
MES and the hotel men that the num-
her in the past year exceeded $4,000,
and when on the basis of IN estimated
expenditure of $50 apiece it is calculat-
ed that these people spent $23,0OO.O0O III
n single season, we begin to perceive
the full significance of it and the bene-
fit to the state of the summer resort
industry.
Take the case of the water power.
In recent report on the White noun
tain watershed relative to the propo-
CIT n
serve, the department of commerce
and labor showed the enormous indus
trial value of the streams which have
their sources in that region and the
great injury that would be caused by
the dminution of the flow Forty
years ago the Maine Legislation I'M
dertOOk by means of Il commission to
explore the water power of the State
the diminutiOn OF the flow. Forty
years ago the Maine Legislature I'M
The result appeared in volume of 800
pages, and it is so far as We are aware
the most complete work of the sort in
existence. Later surveys in special
localities may have been more COM
plete and it is possible that a new eX-
ploration Of the who.e ground would
cause q revision of the figures Of the
earlier report. At that time, however,
the theoretical water power OF the
State was calculated at 2,656,200 horse
powers gross, equivalent to the work
ing energy of 34.000,000 men laboring
without .intermission from years end
to years end.
Since 1861 concrete IN the conStruC
ton of dams has come into use and
water wheels have been improved, so
that it is Impossible to get more work
out of water than forty years ago.
Hence we may assume that the caicu-
Iati0n Of the engineers at that time
was not exaggerated. On the basis
of a rental value of $2e per horsepower
and assuming all this power accessible.
disable and adVantageOuSly located
with reference to railroads and sea-
ports. it means 4 value of S53.0o0.0tm
year. But to get at the produce, on
, the basis that all this power was
working full time. We should have to
calculate what 34000.000 men would
turn out and that would run into the
billions. Furthermore, these millions
of men would work without wage or
keep, eating and drinking nothing,
never taking holiday or a day off.
never getting sick or drunk. never go
ing on strike and ready to work at
any and all hours of day ana night,
like the good geni of the lamp. All
that is necessary is to provide and
maintain the plants; the water does
the rest.
Since the report was published much
has been done towards the develop
ment Of the water power of Maine
RdnIfnrd Falls and Millinocket have
been built up. to mention two great
manufacturing towns. and the latest
thing in this line is the completion of
the big concrete dam at Ellsworth
Furthermore attention has been
brought to bear as never before on the
vaiuc of these resources and the vital
importance to the State of conserving
the water supply and the forests that
act as reservoirs. Such addresses as
that of Mr.. Emerson will do much good
in advertising Maine abroad and call
ing attention to this state. both as a
pleasure resort and as a field for in
Vcstment of capital.