Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-03
STATE HOUSE,
Report Of Water Commits
sion Issued, Friday,
Ru!a! Districts 10 Hear Lee
lures on Rural Hygiene.
Matters Pertaining to State Roads
.-C0rporaiion Certificates Filed,
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Thursday, May 20, 1913, at
10 A. M.-SpcciaI Meeting, Nav 2.

IN the forthcoming report of the
Water Storage Commission, prepared
under the direction Of Cyrus C. Babb,
chief engineer. a chapter of considera-
BILE length is devoted To numbering and
log driving conditions in Maine.
One of the most important uses of
the rivers If Maine since the early
history of the state. has been as high
ways Of transportation for its lumber
products. The earlier reservoirs were
mainly constructed for the purpose OF
storing water to be used in tie annual
drives of logs. Many of the decisions
of the courts of Maine have been in
relation to controversies between loe
driving and water power interests. 1t
is only within more recent years that
the power interests have eontended
successfully for the control of the riv-
ers, PONDS and reservoirs OF the State.
According to the report now in the
hands of the printer the average cost
Of driving logs on the rivers Of the
State is $6.0144 per milo thousand The
average freight rate Oh railroads of the
state is s0.0219 per mile-thousand on
the assumption that lQ09 feet b. NJ Of
logs weigh $500 pounds, the average
cost of driving is sG00S2 per l0-mile
with the average freieht rate 80 per
cent. higher.
In table compiled by tile Water
Storage Commission, the average cost
of log driving for long distances is seen
To he CORA per ten-mile or about one
fourth the average railroad rate.
Amount CT Water Used in Log Driv-
ing.
The amount of water used. during
The driving in the TarleEs rivers, can
not of course be reduced TO basis of
feet b. NJ rs the quantity cf water is
not SO much dependent on the amount
of logs driven as it is on the condition
ri the channel. the width depth and
slope. \ large quantity of water Is
not necessarily required but as steady
and uniform a flow as possible
S.. John River.
ON this river there. IS required 1900
second feet at Fort Kent, during the
month of June and s0d9 second feet at
Grand Falls. during the month of July.
The average quantity Of water requir-
Cd fer leg driving is shown ~ esti-
faates covering the last IL years as
about 5000 million euhle feel or per
cent. of the total possible storage in
tho BASIN and about Il. per cent of the
storage available to present high water
levels. In an ordinary year the amount
of stored water required for leg driving
Will therefore be small in amopnt. In
dry year about one third of the stor-
age to present high Wtter levels would
he required or about one-siXth OF the
tota, possible storage in the basin.
penobseot River.
The following quantities of water are
required to drive from Chesunceok
Lake TO the Penobseot boom.
From Chesancook Lake To Ambe]e-
ius. about 1900 secondfeet.
North Twin to Quakish, probably less
ihaa 5000 second feet There is really
no excess used in this distance. how
ever, as day pitch of about @,'oo sec
ond-feet is used which is held at Quak-
| ish Lake and used through the Wheels
at Nillinocket. about $500 seeond-feet
| being required here day and night
From Quakish Lake to Shad POND
about $500 seeond-feet
II was customary for the Penobscot
| LOG Driving Co to require fi@o second