The independent-reporter., 1910-04-28
NAMES POTENTIAL
WATER POWER
Shall 1t be Turned Over
to Spectators
Edward p. Kicker Appeals to People
of State to Conserve Resources.

question of importance, involving the
welfare of Maine. The letter is too
yoluminous to reproduce in these
columns, but some parts of it are
given below:
In an interview few weeks ago
referred to the transmission of
electricity beyond the confines of the
State of Maine, and called attention
to the great importance of a careful
selection of representatives of the
18th Legislature in respect to this
matter.
| now wish to give a few facts in
regard to what has been attempted
and what has been done in the past,
and what will be attempted in the
future in this direction.
My position on this great question
has been previously stated by me,
but in order that there may be no
mistake | will restate it. In the
first place, in nothing that l have
or may do, do | desire or expect to
curtail in any way the existing rights
of any corporation or any other in
vested capital, or in any way to. dis
courage any industry or the invest
ment of new capital in the state of
Maine. | do not desire, as has been
charged against me, to convert the
State of Maine into a pleasure resort;
to cripple it's powers, or to lessen the
income to capital one penny. On the
contrary | desire to bring capital in
to Maine and have it secure here
larger returns than ever before. |
desire to see Maine become a great
manufacturing State. This has been
my life work and will continue to
be. But l also desire to see the re-
sources of Maine, especially in her
water power developed within the
borders of the State as far as possi
BILE, and not carried across the line,
by electrical transmission, and mon
opolized in our neighboring states,
against all hope or prospect of the
future growth of Maine.
Few people realize the enormous
assets Maine has in her water pow
ers. While large sums have been ap-
propriated and spent by state and ma
ton for the investigation of our
water powers and the determination
of the amount and value of the
same, much of this information has
not been published. The people do
not know the results. They have
been kept for the information of the
few, and | have no hesitation in say
ing that the few have profited greatly
by this information, thus obtained at
public expense. From the best au-
thority that | have been able to Sc
cure, Maine stands third among the
states in the Union in developed wa
ter power. New York and California
alone lead Maine in this respect.
California, Oregon and Washington s
water powers have high heads, but
small and irregular flow with very
little possibility of future develop
ment by storage. New York has near
ly reached its limit, unless Niagara
is further developed, and additional
storage provided. The area of Maine
is equal to the rest of New England,
while Maine has more than twice as
much water power by storage and by
the use of undeveloped water power.
Maine has the greatest future of any
state in the Union. From the best
Information | have been able to Sc
cure, viz, from government experts,
Names estimated possible develop
ment, without additional storage, is
$4,000 horsepower, and with storage
it Is 500, 900 horsepower. The flow
Of Maine rivers without storage is
more regular than that of any other
state Possible development places
Maine first, second or third in the
country in the value of amount of
this natural resource.
The so-called Fernald bill, creating
a water storage commission, was one
of the first steps toward a definite
plan and method of handling the wa
ter powers of Maine. That commits
sion has been organized; has secured
capable engineer and has begun
work along lines which the commits
sion believes to be broad and just to
all the interests and which 1t believes
will be of incalculable benefit to the
people. The issues concerned In this
matter are of no, small account. The
annual earnings Of $4,000 horsepow
er now developed in Maine at SO a
horsepower would be $5.700,000 while
the earnings of 100000 horsepower
which can be developed in this state
with practical systems of water stor-
age would amount (at so per horse
power per annum) to a total income
Of $4,000 900 year This figure at
$40 per horsepower, per annum, is
not half what electric power is being
SOld Tor To-Day.
What shall be done with this enor-
nous potential value? Shall the
State control IT'S output or shall itI
let it remain the easy prey to the
large interests which are already
making their plans to secure it? viii
the next Legislature assert its right
to see that this great natural re-
source be used for the development of
industries of Maine, or will it sit idly
by and see 1t taken from under our
very noses to be diverted to the in
dustries of 1other states increasing
their taxable property, while Maine
gets little or no increase in wealth
or population from this source?
1t has been said in public legisla-
tive hearings and through letters to
the newspapers that we are giving
ourselves unnecessary alarm in this
matter, that nothing of the kind. is
contemplated, but | propose to show
you not only that 1t has been and is
being contemplated, but also that It'll
has already been attempted, and that
1t will be attempted again and l fear
from the great wealth of those who
are interested in the project, that it,
will succeed, unless the people take al
decided stand to protect their rights
and so legislate that it's greatest pos
sible benefit may accrue to the peo-
pie of Maine, without hardship to the
rights of the invested capital or dis