Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-29
y MOTOR 6OAT4MuEELERS.
Something About the Workings of<the
New State Law.

The peoples of Gardiner and vicinity
are much interested in the operations
of the new motor boat mufler law.
passed by the last Legislature chiefly
through the influence of the Gardiner
Board of Trade and Representative E.
l.. Russell of this city. The Clutter
clutter" which has disturbed the
dreams of the people of this locality
may be audible, but it must not have
the nerve-racking distinctness which
has made the noise a nuisance in the
past.
The provisions of the new law are
now in effect, and the open season for
the use OF the little, fragrant and noisy
ships will necessitate their owners at
orce complying with the statute, es-
pecially made and provided.
Some will consider it a hardship, but
most owners of motor boats have long
been aware that the noise was a NUS
ance to the public and themselves.
Tine only objection that is made to
the use of the muffler is the loss of
speed necessitated by somewhat inn
peded exhaust. The law provides that
motor boats operated on tidal or other
waters without suitable mufflers are
a nuisance, and a penalty not exceed
ing $25 is imposed upon each boat con-
tinuing without one. However, boats
actually entering and competing in
races between the hours of 9 A. NJ. and
9 p. M. are for the time exempt to the
provisions of the statute.
Devices approved by United States
inspectors on tidal waters shall be held
in compliance with this act on such
waters, but it is not made manifest
what sort may be used on interior
waters.
The history of the bill is as follows:
Gardiner has many motor boats. used
on the home river and lakes. Nature
geographically constructed our city
in a peculiar way, and gave it acoustic
properties something wonderful. 1t
placed a great river at our feet, cleft
the middle of the city with another,
and lifted the residential portions nigh
up. that the hearing nigh. be good,
and the result proves that nature won
out
Light morning sleepers were remind
ed at O'Clock or earlier that indus
trious people We're astir. From the Ken
nebec came the gattling gun gasoline
volIeys telling that river men were go
ing to work From the Cobbossee came
the mop. pop" of the cottager or fish
erman bound for Pleasant pond. The
both sides of a long suffering and later
impatient community.
w. S. Whitmore, president of the
Gardiner Board of Trade, with the as
sistance of others, circulated petitions
L. 1,f 70 70
action to do away with the trouble. He
also prepared a bill and interested
Hon. r. T.. Russell in the matter plac-
i1g the matter in his hands. The Gar
diner representative found at Augusta
that other cities and towns felt quite
as did Gardiner about the matter. This
was particularly true of the residents
of summer resorts.
Other petitions had been presented,
notably from Hancock county, and the
members of the Legislature from these
communities joined with Mr.. Russell
in interesting the Legislature IN the
matter.
The coast fishermen offered the
strongest opposition to the bill, while
powerful factor against it was the
influence of the companies operating
the large towing boats on the inland
lakes.
Ov ing to the fact that the question
was becoming a matter of moment all
over the country, the bill was passed
ard has become part of the statute
law of the State of Maine. A law which
shall be still stronger in its provisions
will be presented to the Legislature at
lis next session, and this measure will
have very strong backing it is be
lievcd. At the same time it is noted
that the national government has I'M
der consideration a similar measure
broad enough to cover all tidal waters.
which cannot be covered by state
law.