The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-15

boom Maine edition last week, had the
following about Skowhegan:
Skowhegan Is town. But there are
towns and towns. Some Of them are
far better off than cities and Skowhe-
gan Is striking example OF this.
Town that 1t is, it Is in much better
condition in every way than some
cities that pretend to more.
Skowhegan has a future. It is
future bright with promise, a future
which gives indication of being one
of the most remarkable In the indus
trial development of Maine civic CEN
tiers. Well laid out, beautifully stu
ated on the Kennebec river, populated
by progressive and decidedly liberal
citizens, 1t has every facility for rapid
and at the same time substantial
growth.
In these days when so much Is be-
ing said about the water powers of
the State and so many industries are
dependent upon the rivers and lakes,
it Is interesting to note that Skowhe
Skowhegan is a waterpower center,
the facilities for waterpower develop
ment have as yet been but partially
developed. 1t is herein that the future
Of the town rests.
Skowhegan occupies the strategic
point in the water power possibilities
of the Kennebec river. Above its
natural ledge dam is a great dead wa
ter reservoir wherein the river
spreads itself out to great width and
holds splendid reserve of water to
tide over dry seasons. The basin of
the Kennebec contains approximately
5000 square miles, and is about 145
miles long and IS miles wide OF this
eoormo"e araa about 5000 square
nnres is still covered by forest growth
conserved and held back to flow grad
ually into the river through the my
riads of small streams and tributary
rivers. The annual rainfall of this
region is estimated at six hundred
billion cubic feet. The rvier is a sort of
catch-water conduit, running across
the outfalls of the drainage valleys
leading to it from the White Noun
tains upland. There are over 1000
IN, nd rJc
of 500 ponds and lakes.
Moosehead lake, the giant reserve
reservoir of the Kennebec, covering
some 1870 square miles, is over one
thousand feet above the sea, which
gives an average fall of 81 feet to
the mile for its whole course. The
extra inflow in the spring due to
melting snow, etc, averages about Z
feet. The dam at present commands
surface, and it is proposed to raise
this head to ten or twelve feet. The
lake is a reservoir of remarkable
character situated at the head of
great river profusely supplied, held
at over one thousand feet elevation
above tide water, and commanded by
a comparatively simple dam. At the
lowest estimate it is capable of add
ing two hundred per cent to the low
run power of the power developments
on the river. 1t takes about q hours
for the swell made by hosting the
gates at the dam to reach Skowhegan
which indicates how completely the
flow of the river can be regulated and
maintained during dry seasons from
the dam at Moosehead.
There are at persent 81 wheels on
the whole Skowhegan privilege. The
aggregate power developed today by
these is less than 5000 horsepower.
Believing that the possibilities of the
power situation at Skowhegan far eX-
ceeded this development, the town of
Skowhegan at the instance of the
Board of Trade employed the firm of
Snow & Humphreys, hydraulic engi-
neers of recognized experience and
authority to make a survey and report
on the entire power privilege. The
engineers considered the power priv
ilege here at Skowhegan as a whole,
and not from the standpoint of the
individual powers. In very brief they
reported that the drainage area Of the
Kennebec watershed at Skowhegan
comprised 1850 square miles, and that
the normal or average flow of water
was 4446 cubic feet per second. BY
the Improvement of the storage re-
servoirs on lakes and ponds this
could be increased to 5000 cubic feet
per second, and it is practicable to
develop a Al foot head.
1t is pointed out that a consolida-
ton of the waterpower interests at
Skowhegan is absolutely necessary,
both to secure the desired develop
ment and to wipe out the disputes
that have continually existed between
the various companies. 1t is shown
that it would cost but $36 per horse
90 ri chic Uraat nnWpr