The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-31

powers of Maine, which in their num-
Der and extent stand unrivaled among
the nations of the world
Like our vast forests, the import
ance Of these have been but family
understood by the people, and hence
but little effort has been made toward
their conservation or development.
1t is only. of recent date that we
have had more than a glimmering of
the extent of the water powers of
Maine. 1t was not until 1901 that the
U. S. geological survey commenced
systematic photographic investiga-
ton and established stations on all
the large rivers and their tributaries,
and this work is still going on.
Commencing on the western side of
the State, there is the Umbagog and
Rangeley series of 80 square miles
and with the Androscoggin river as
the outlet. Here there are $4,000 de-
yeloped horsepower with $4,000 horse
power as yet undeyeloped.
In the Moosehead series there is
one lake alone that has an area of 100
square miles. These lakes form the
headwaters of the Kennebec river and
they furnish $1,000 developed horse
power and 153,500 that as yet re
main undeveloped.
The Penobscot series consist OF the
Chesuncook, and its chain of sur
rounding lakes on the west and east
branches, with $4,000 developed horse
power and with an undeveloped pow
er of $4,000. The Sehoodic lakes in
the southeastern part of the State are
drained by the ST. Croix and their
full power is not yet fully determined.
There is a total of 100 lakes. with
an area of $500 square miles and this
does not include hundreds of ponds
with their smaller outlets and water
powers.
H. X. Barrow, district engineer of
the U. S. geological survey, esti-
mates that the total developed horse
power is 153,3O0, while the entire
power in its original state he fixes
as a minimum $4,000. This he says
can be enlarged by storage dams to
the amount of $4,000 horse power at
the minimum, and these figures do not
include the smaller systems.
Placed at the lowest figures. it is
estimated that Maine can develop not
less than 100000 horsepower enough
power to turn all the wheels in New
England if pumped out of the state
in the form of electricity. If this
same power was developed and re-
/ tanned within the State it would make
/ Maine the greatest manufacturing
+ center in the country and sustain a
population of 100000.
NATURAL STORAGE BASINS.
One reason why Maine is superior
/ to all other states in water power is
/ the number of lakes that are natural
/ flowing water it is important that
/ this should remain steady throughout
the year, and this is here made pos
sible by the lakes and ponds. This
is an advantage not possessed by any
+ othnr State
The flow of the Penobscot at Old
Town at its lowest is but one-third
of cubic foot per second per square
mile of it's drainage, due to a lack of
proper regulation higher up. With
scientific storage the power of the
Penobscot could be vastly increased.
The Presumpscot and Cobbosseecon-
tee have been so improved that very
nearly the full horsepower of their
headquarters Is under control.
The st. Croix has tremendous I'M
developed power, and so contracted Is
the area of the great chain OF lakes
above that the storage could easily be
controlled. Above Vanceboro and
Princeton the two branches of this
river may be called a succession OF
lakes having 1870 square miles of
surface.
Greater still Is the undeveloped
power on the Kennebec, one OF the
finest streams in the United States.
1t embraces a watershed area of 633O
square miles. OF this area 1851
square miles are tributary to Moose
head lake, and this includes the wat
ersheds of Mts Bigelow, Abraham
and Saddleback.
From Moosehead lake to The FORKS
the river is torrent, falling 500 feet
In a distance of % miles AT The
Forks the waters of Dead river join
the main stream. Within 60 miles oil
the sea, hills begin again to appear
and several. enormous powers are
partly developed.
The Androscoggin basin Is III
miles long by 20 wide in one or two
places. and within this area are nj
less than 14S lakes, the largest o
Lt.L a.. .ho Irpohoooo IF tho Range