The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-08-26
August Meeting Of Board of Trade.
CONTINUED from flrst mage.

Continued from first page.)
Under the second scheme, Mr. Humphreys
finds tn ct 1t would be possible to develop
$1,000 horse power by expanding s4Ss,s2o.
And under the third scheme, which would
include all the work in the second plan and
In addition, the. construction of canal or
penstock from the dam on the South Chan.
mel to the Great Eddy, Mr.. Humphreys finds
that 1t would be possible and practicable to
secure net power Of $4,000 horse power af-
ter making discount of 20 per cent for l,ss
in the wheels, and 33B per cent in electri-
hcation and transmission. The entire cost
OF this development construction would be
S682, $4,000, or $50 per horse power. Inas-
much as the average value of power in the
United States is from s33 to $40 per horse
power per year, and the lowest rental in
Maine that we have been able TO find is
sI9.3o per year, it would appear that this
development, il properly presented should
offer attractive possibilities for capital that
should insure the execution of the plan.
There are SO many considerations which
must be taken into account, that it would
certainly be unwse to come to any sudden
decision as to which Of the three plans for
improvement should be accepted 1t seems
to your committee that there can be little
question that the last plan, or the complete
utilization OF our resources here is the most
desirable, and that every effort Of the Board
of Trade and citizens of Skowhegan should
be made towards its accomplishment. The
cost, of course, seems an impossible amount,
and it certainly would be an impossible
amount, if it were necessary to raise it here
in Skowhegan, but it is not at all impossible
provided we can show capitalists that the in
yestment will bring an assured income Bos-
ton business men have fallen over themselves
to invest in much more hazardous and uncer-
tain properties in the Northwest; and If
there be any sincerity or truth in the senti-
ment and speeches Of the 200 Boston Cham.
Der of Commerce representatives touring
Maine this Spring, it is neither ridiculous or
visionary to believe that we can depend up
on Boston influence and Boston capital to
| furnish US with customers for our surplus
power and money for its Development The
Skowhegan Board of Trade must realize,
however, that Boston men will not come ask.
ing for the privilege, and therefore that we
must formulate proposition on strictly con.
servative lines which will appeal to them as
an opportunity for safe investment. We
must first of all convince our own people and
ourselves that we have wonderful natural
resource here that is capable Of furnishing
the prime requisite for city four times our
present size, because, if we do not believe in
ourselves and our possibilities, we cannot
expect other people to believe in our plans.
The water-pqwer situation in Skowhegan
has good many aspects favorable to COM
plete utilization and development which are
wanting in sites with similar amounts of I'M
developed power. In the first place this is
the largest, in fact, the only very large power
undeveloped, situated on the railroad in a
town with established resident labor and
business facilities. The site is the key to
long stretch of the river including in its res
ervoir the Sandy River. whose storage is
controlled by new modern power plant.
The most desirable place from the standpoint
OF power for the location of the two dams is
on solid ledge, thus doing away with the tre-
mendous expense of foundation constructions
in most developments. In the construction
of the canal we are blessed with an abun-
dance of natural material for concrete from
the excavation itself; the best of sand and
plenty of rock right in the path of the work.
These several factors will undoubtedly mean
a saving Of from IS to 40 per cent in the
cost Of development. The nature of the
banks above the dam render any considerable
lowage damage impossible. The survey
shows, for instance, that less than Is acres of
land will be affected, and a generous estimate
| of the entire damage would be under $1,000.
The submitting of the hydraulic survey and
report completes the work of this committee.
We wish to express our sincere appreciation
of the hearty cooperation and sympathy with
the purposes Of the work extended by you,
gentlemen of the Board of Selectmen.
In closing, we would respectfully call the
attention of the Board of Trade to two mat
tiers in relation to future work.
Ist. The Maine Central Railroad antici-
pates completing its new bridge this fall.
The power canal should pass through the
present south end foundation of the bridge,
and therefore a considerable saving would be
made if the company would allow for this.
Your committee would recommend that Mr..
Humphreys be asked to make out a request
covering the technical points involved which
the Board of Trade could properly submit to
the railroad for early consideration.
end A special committee Of not over FIVE
should be appointed to take in charge the
furtherance of this project of power develop
ment.
1t would be unwise to hamper the commit
tee too much with instructions, or in any way
limit its activity. This committee, in con-
junction with the regular committee and the
executive officers of the Board of Trade
should meet and prepare plan Of campaign
and all further actions of the Board should
be in line with that plan.
Very respectfully,
Roy L. MARsroN,