Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-07
Water Powers Names Great Asset.

| some of the same problems that con
| front us here in Maine. The Missouri
| waterways commission has just mad
| it's report To the legislature, in which
| il declares that the state has an in
herefit right TO the control of its wa
terways, the conservation Of its waite
power, and TO adopt such legislation a:
may be necessary for control. TIL;
commission recommends that the 46tl
general assembly make an ample ap
Precipitation to conduct investigations
along the following lines:
Water Supply Of cities and its rela
tion 70 public health.
Disposition of sewage by cities ant
the dangers OF contamination of water
supply.
Maintenance of springs through i'm
proved agricultural methods and for
estry.
Loss from foods ana the extent OF
protection against them.
Influence uf transportation upon
production.
Saving of freight expenses to the
peJplc by improving the rivers for tht
purpose Of navigation
Extent of lcycc work in the state
and the value of more extensive work
Of that character.
The committee commends the policy
of the Legislature in promoting the in
terests and welfare o. the state by
providing FOR drainage districts and
for licensing dam power rights under
proper restrictions, and 1t is recon
that this policy be continued.
ITO THE END THAT PRIVATE
AND INDIVIDUALS
MAY NOT GOBBLE UP TIE VALC-
ABLE RIGHTS OF THE STATE"
The recommendation of this Missouri
is applicable to the state
OF Maine and should lie given consid-
Grafton in the most careful manner be-
fore any valuable franchises are voted
away by the law makers. With the
people Of the "Shov Me" state the citi-
zens Of Maine should take the view
that the natural waters and water
ways are great asset, are essential
to Industrial and commercial develop
ment and are of greater value to fu-
ture generations than any other gift
which We may bestow upon posterity
The Missouri commission further
recommends:
That legislation relating to any use
Of water within the state take into
The quantity available
and it's uses for all purposes. mclud-
ing the maintenance Of volume nee
essary To navigation.
That all civic action relating to wa
tiers, whether by the state or munich
palitv by counties or districts. be TAX
IN in accordance with the principle that
the waters and waterways of the state
belong jointly to the people, and that
their rights are natural and inherent.
That all controversies between the
national government and the state
to jurisdiction be settled by
arbitration.
The commission finds that no sys-
effort has been made in Mis-
souri, to maintain tic clarity or purity
IF the water in the rivers for public
use. One-half the people of the state
get their supply Of water from shallow
wells which are likely to be contami-
,o.od fro,,, c,,rfaoe drainage. 1t rec
,mn.ends that the state adopt a policy
Il maintaining forests on lands adjoin-
no waterways and that systematic
work in this regard be undertaken as
has been in New York, Pennsylvania
and some other states.
Gov. Had!ey favors liberal appro-
prlation Tor the waterways commas
sion to be used during the next bien-
NAL period. lie believes that the Work
n III, commission in that state VIII
p e,,,t in ali Increased interest III other
states in the matter Of rivor improve
nent and ultimately may lead Con-
rress To adopt a new policy with re-
spcct 10 the improvement OF western
rivers. In that we arc not particularly
interested at this time. but the preser-
walton of valuable rights OF the state
co,nes near home, We should be not
hastv In granting the demands OF those
who come bearing gifts OF exploitation