Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-16
Power Resources of Maine.

THE Utilization of the Power Re-
sources of Maine" was the subject of
the first address of the afternoon
which was given by Walter S. Wyman.
manager of the Central Maine Power
Co. Mr.. Wyman said in part:
The first question that arises is.
what are our power resources? They
are practically divided into three class
es. first power. which can be obtained
from orr rivers and streams; second
power from our tides, and third, power
from the enormous beds of fuel that
are lying in orr swamps in the form
of peat If the world were acting as a
well managed corporation, conserving
its resources with a view to the far
distant future. we should not be burn
ing fuel at the present time to make
power IN any place where it could be
supplied.
Our rivers and our tides should fur
nish the mechanical power of the fu-
ture IS fast as such condition can
be brought about.
As matter of fact in Maine they
are doing this today. Except for rail-
roads steamboats, and purposes where
it is difficult to use electric power,
there arc very few steam plants OPP
Grating ia Maine today, but there
ought rot to lie any, and many of the
cpefatiens that are being carried on
in other states from steam power
should BE brought here and driven by
water power
We heFe il Maine about 100000
horse power of water power on our.
rivers and an enormous amount of
power available from the tides on our
To successfully harness it,
OF the 100000 horse power which is
probably as valuable from stream
dow about 60e,0e0 horse power could
be- successfully developed now, if a
market could be found, on the basis
of present market prices and the pres
ent cost of steam power.
Let us for a moment see what the
development of the first million horse
power would mean if its output could
be used in the State of Maine. A cot
ton mill Of the size of the Edwards
Mfg. Co. in Augusta or the Lockwood
Co. in Wateville is of approximately
5000 horsepower and employees 1900 or
1900 people. This would mean that a
million horsepower applied to driving
cotton mills alone would give employ
would sustain a population of Some
thing like 100000 Applied to the
shoe industry, 100000 horsepower
would employ directly something like
100000 persons and would support
community of nearly 10000 600. One
million horsepower would provide all
the power necessary for 100000 sue
cessful farmers.
The water powers of Maine or any
other state cannot be successfully de-
veloped until the development of the
other natural resources goes along
with them. We must have more farm
ers more manufacturers more atten-
ton paid to our lumber industries and
our fisheries. before the enormous
amounts of capital required to de-
Veiop these great powers can be OBJ
tanned
The whole thing is selling PROPOSE
ton, we, as citizens of the State, de-
Gliding to see our population increase
and to see important industries grow
up among us. have for sale the oppor-
tunities for such industries to locate.
ana we must present them to prospec-
tive customers in an attractive, ener-
getic way, Just the same as the manu-
facture of boots and shoes or cloth
ing sells his goods.
There are certainly great opportuni-
ties in our State for those who care to
devote themselves to its development.
Continued on Page Seven)
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