Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-12
WATER SUPPLY IN MAINE.
WIG SOl NOU
Aug. 8.

Cooperation Between State and
Federal Surveys.
The United States geological survey has
recently completed arrangements for con-
tinuing the investigations of the water
resources of Maine that have teen carried
on for number of years in cooperation
with the Maine State survey commission.
At meeting held lately in Augusta, at
which the survey commission and repre-
sentatives of the federal survey were pres
ent, plans for the following work during
the next year were adopted:
/. The completion OF the surveys for
plan and profile of the east branch of
Penobscot river. The plan for this work
is merely part of the general project to
cover all the important rivers of the State
with profile and plan surveys that will
show the available water power. Such
surveys have already been made on the
main Penobscot, on the Androscoggin
and on the Kennebec, and have proved to
be of great value to prospective users of
water power and to the State as a whole.
2. The completion of the plan and pro-
files of Mattawamkeag river. This work
is similar to that above described. 1t was
begun last year, and only small amount
remains to be done.
8. The preparation of complete report
on the water powers and other water re-
sources of Penobscot river. A similar re-
port on the Kennebec basin has already
been published. 1t is, in effect, sort of
handbook on the resources of the basin,
giving physical characteristics, drainage,
geology, forest conditions, population and
industries, and transportation facilities;
showing the amount of stream flow from
the main river and tributaries, the rain
fail I, and the evaporation; and including a
discussion of floods, their effects and
methods of preventing them. Water
power is one of the most important topics
of the volume, which presents full &C
counts of the developed powers and of
those available for development. The dis
cussion of storage is another important
feature of the report, and so far as possible
the storage facilities in the basin and their
value to the river as whole are set FORTH
Finally the report discusses the quality of
the water and itaavailability for domestic
and industrial uses. All these facts with
reference to the Penobscot will be of
especial value at the present time, when
there is so great an impetus IN the devel-
opment of industries dependent on water
power in that part of the State.
The plans involve the continuance of
of river-gaging stations that have been
maintained during the last six years.
These stations were established for the
purpose of obtaining daily report of the
flow of waters in the various rivers and
tributary streams, the results being of
primary Importance in determining the
amount of water that may be stored for
use for power, for domestic and Industrial
supply, and for navigation.
In state like Maine, whose prosperity
is largely dependent on the proper utiliza-
ton of it's great water resources, the work
projected is essential to progress, and the
citizens may be congratulated that the
State legislature, as well as the federal
government, has provided SO literally for
! its continuation.