Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-25
Importance and Value
of State Water Powers

Importance and Value
of State Water Powers
THE people Of Maine are we'll aware o
the importance and value of the waite
powers of the State. regardless o
whether they are owned by private indi
viduals or otherwise state the member
of the Public Utilities Commission. Hon
Benjamin F. Cleaves of Biddeford, Hon
William B. Shelton of Lewiston and Hon
Charles W. Mullen of Bangor, in thei
annual report relating to topography
geology and water resources. which wa:
filed with the governor and council
Wednesday.
The report of the commissioners says II
part:
THE legislature of 1889 passed a Law
creating what is known as the State Sur
vey Commission. In 1909 the legislature
passed a law creating another commits
sion known as the State Water Storage
Commission. The legislature Of 1911 con
solidated or combined these two commits
sions, and the legislature of 1913 by Sea
ton II of the act creating the Public
Utilities Commission repealed the Law
creating the State Water Storage Com
mission and gave the Public Utilitie:
Commission all powers vested In sale
board water Storage Commission) to-
gether with the duties and privileges now
conferred upon said board by law
Thus the Public Utilities Commission
when it came into existence by act OF
the legislature. was given charge of al
the survey work of the State that had
been carried on under the different State
commissions.
I'VE have had in mind from the first
the great importance of this work to the
citizens of the State, and Immediately
after we met for organization, took al
the steps necessary to insure the con.
tinuation of the work Of carrying on anc
extending the stream and river measure
ments of the flow Of water, as we'll as thu
typographical survey.
satisfactory arrangements were made
with the United States Geological Survey
to contipue the different Investigations
and work in connection with the com
mission.
THE Importance of the work which We
are undertaking is fully realized by the
members of the commission, and by its
engineering staff and assistants.
Every supply of water in the State
used for domestic purposes must neces.
sarily depend for it's purity upon the
condition of the streams and rivers above
the point from which it is taken.
ut is just possible that persons taking
under consideration the development OF
any particular section or any particular
water power have considered only one
phase of the situation. They have giver
perhaps their full attention to the de.
velopment of the power, neglecting tc
realize that it is of great importance tina,
they have before them all the informa
ton possible, in relation to the whole plar
of development, considering not only the
whole amount of the power to be used
and what 1t may be used for. but particu.
larly the health and comfort Of the com.
munity who are to use it.
whenever such developments are to be
made. the engineer should give special
attention to the question of pollution OF
the stream or river by the factories tina,
the domestic sewerage.
buTiHS tHe last year the commission
has had submitted to it for it's considera.
ton samples of water from many of our
rivers and streams. and upon analysis
these samples were found almost invaria
bly, to be so bad that the water was no,
fit for domestic use.
I'm this connection it Is timely and
right to say that the State health officers
should have authority to enforce obedi.
ence to their demands and suggestions
for cleanliness in every locality Of the
State.
THE people Of Maine are we'll aware OF
the importance and value of the water
powers of the State. regardless Of wheth-
er they are owned by private individuals
or otherwise.
I'VE have water powers enough in the
to carry on large industries. in a manner
other states.
True. our geographical position re-
moves us much farther from the great
markets than some OF our sister states
and the only way to overcome this. II
seems to US. is by cheap transportation.
and the facilities offered by our water
powers. for this cheap transportation.
both for raw material coming into and
across our State. to the different points,
where 1t may be manufactured. and for
the manufactured goods that are taken
to the markets. should finally solve this
problem satisfactorily.
I'VE doubt II any student who has
taken the trouble to study the question
carefully and intellisently could give a
good reason for using one pound Of coal
for motive power within the whole State.
and it is not possible and 1t is not prob.
able that an electric line may be operat-
ed at no distant day the entire length OF
our State with many electrified branches
for the purpose solely of giving this cheap
transportation in favor of our industries
This does not necessarily mean that
new trunk lines Of railroad should be con-
strueted. or that any road now existing
should be injured in any way.
This cheap transportation would take
care Of our goods within our State only,
but there could be no possible objection,
while we have the electricity to spare, to
electrify a line from our State border to
one or more Of the great markets Of the
east in order to give our own manufac-
tured goods and our own raw material the
benefit Of this cheap transportation en-
tirely to and from markets where the
goods may be bought or sold.
THE electric current. however. that