Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-04-25
Wanted, q Policy.

Now that 1.-The Octopus" has been re-
ferred 10 the next legislature, il is "up
to" the people of Maine TO do some
think ing land planning for the future,
along the lines suggested by the contest
over that measure. Ii is hardly neces-
sary 70 state that what was popularity
called the Octopus was bill to incor
porate a power company TO develop a
great water power on the Kennebec.
Whatever criticism may be made of any
OF the work of the legislature, there is
little doubt that on this measure the
best action possible was taken.
We are as people beginning to appre-
ciate the fact that some at least of our
natural resources belong TO the people
as whole, and should not be turned
over to any individual or organization Of
individuals TO be used forever without
compensation.
It has heretofore been assumed that in
granting franchise TO any one who was
willing TO develop it. the community got
the full return to which il was entitled
In the advantages resulting from the de
velopment of the franchise. A street
railroad was granted the free use of the
public roads, and the community got its
return for the Inconvenience caused by
the tracks and cars in the streets by the
advantages of the opportunity afforded
for rapid and frequent travel, and expect
ed nothing more. Aud so on. But now
il is customary TO demand some further
return than the service afforded the
public, and to limit the term of the
franchise.
1t is the same with the water powers
OF Maine, one of its greatest assets, and
one which belongs TO the whole people.
Undeveloped, these water powers do no
one any good. So it has been consider
ed that those who were willing TO de-
velop water powers were rendering the
community a service by doing it, aud
thus increasing the population and the
industries. and no further return was ex
pected. Now We are taking the view
that these powers should not be turned
over permanently TO any one without
some compensation TO the public which
owns them. Certainly they should not
be given to those who will carry the
power outside the state instead of using
il for the development of Maine.
The state is pretty well committed to
the last named proposition, that the
power developed here shall not be car
ried away to build up communities out
side the state. But aside from that one
feature of the matter, We have no formu-
lated policy with regard to the develop
ment OF our powers. For how long term
and under what conditions franchises
ought TO be granted, we really do not
know, the matter is so new and strange
TO u.s.
1t might have been that the bill before
the legislature could by the combined
wisdom of many have been made to em-
BODY the most desirable features of such
a measure, though a bill coming from
those who originally intended to use the
power outside the state is at least sub
ject to suspicion. But the power can
wait, and We can afford to wait two
wears for what advantages there are in
its development, rather than make mis-
takes which will have permanent results.
The water will be running just the same
IN later years, and its power will be
worth al least as much as II Is now.
The suggestion has been made that a
conference of those interested 10 the mat
ter shall be held, to shape policy for the
state to pursue, before another legisla-
ture is called upon to act upon this or
any similar project. Every citizen is
interested in it, and it is really one of
the most important matters that We have
before us as people, to establish some
policy that shall at the same time give us
the benefits of the development of our
enormous water power, aud the return
to which as a commonwealth we are en-
titled, so that future legislatures may
have basis more or less well established
on which to work.