Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-18

The Peoples Rights in tho Water
Power Of Maine, and What That
Right Means to the People.
go the Editor of the Kennebec Jour-
nal:
would like to call the peoples at
| tention to their real ownership Of the
immense water powers Of Maine,
through the columns of your valuable
| people. First, King James gave a
deed dated at Westminster the third
| day of November 1921, to the inhabi-
tants of Massachusetts Bay Colony,
and also a confrmatory deed given
by his son, King Charles the First,
dated the 10Th day Of March, 1926.
And later third deed given by his
grandson William and Mary, King
and Queen Of England and dated at
Westminster the seventh day of
October. 1851, which not only con-
firms the two previous deeds, but
makes the deed binding and more alb
solute, and also conferes more rights
and privileges. AS the deed Is too
voluminous to be printed here I will
only give short comprehensive alb
stract of it:
"And Of our special grace certain
knowledge and more motion, we have
given and granted and by these pres
ents, for US, our heirs and successors,
do give and grant unto our good sub.
jeets the inhabitants Of our said
province or territory all that part Of
New England called Aceada from the
Nova Scotia to the Sagadahoek river
and that part Of Maine lying between
the Sasadahock and Piscataquis
rivers, or any part thereof; and all
lands, grounds, places, soils, woods
and wood grounds, Ravens, ports,
rivers, waters, franchises, royalties,
liberties and other Embellishments and
premises whatsoever lying within
the said bounds and limits aforesaid,
and every part and parcel thereof.
To have and to hold the said terri
tories tracts, countries, lands, heredi-
taments and all and singular other
premises with their and every Of
their appurtenances, to our good
subjects, the inhabitants of our said
province Of the Massachusetts Bay IN
New England. And their successors
to their only proper use and hehoof
for evermore, to be holden Of US,
hour heirs and successors, a. Of our
Manor Of East Greenwich, in tho
county Of Kent, by feaIty only in fres
and common succage."
Any one can see by this abstract
that it Is good and sufficient war
rantee deed as can be made, and not
only that but it was made in per-
petuity that is entailed deed which
no person can dispose Of his right in
1t neither can the State dispose of it
nor can it be acquired by adverse
possession Chat Is by 20 years IF
peaceful and quiet possession and
cannot be acquired even by consent
of the people as they have no power
to dispose Of it, as coming genera
lions have the same claim as the
present or past. They can only lease
the use Of the water power for
revenue for the benefit of all the peo-
pie and this can only be done through
a special commission created and en-
powered to act for the people in
leasing and collecting a revenue for
the same, which may be used in Il
manner which l will state further on.
In order to understand how much
our water powers mean to the people
l will give some figures.
The water powers of the State %
Maine developed and undeveloped:
Unoccupied horsepower 1476 soo
Occupied horsepower S43' O96
Totals ISIS, 1896
Buy extra storage increase to 2,OOO.GCO
this all occupied. and let for one half
the cost to produce steam power go per
horse power per annum, it will bring in
revenue to the State for the benefit of
the people the vast sum per year Of
SEC, 900
rights 100000
$5O,OOO,0 900
for oulldins permanent roads 100000
s35,O0o,0oO