Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-25

would be used outside the State border.
should be used for transportation and Tor
transportation only, and should, as stated
above, only be installed with the idea OF
getting cheaper transportation for our
own products, and this method of permit
ting electricity to go out of the State is
partially cared for in Chapter IA Of the
flaws Of 1911.
THE commission has undertaken in
every possible way to secure data In re-
lation to this development project, and
hopes in it's next annual report to be able
to present to the people Of the State a
much more comprehensive report than
we are now making.
LAS the typographical work of the State
progresses, the data for the intelligent
consideration of water power develop
ment is getting more and more available.
and this commission proposed to extend
this topogra phical work as fast as it is
made, over the great northern forests OF
the State, where the water supply of our
great rivers must be conserved and
stored.
"A great deal has been accomplished in
late years upon all three of our great
rivers in storage of flood water, and fur
Their work is now being done to create
additional storage by the erection of the
Ripogenus dam on the west branch Of the
Penobscot
THE reservoir created by this dam will
practically take care of all the precipita-
ton in the drainage area of the west
branch above it, as the erection of the
Aziscohos dam on the Androscoggin has
done for the upper end of that river.
1T is the intention of the commission
during the next season to investigate so
far as it is able the question of the dis
tribution of light and power in the small
villages and sparsely settled communities
of the State.
Regardless of the wealth of our manu-
featuring industries, and of our mines
and our forests and our fisheries, still the
great wealth of our State has, and must
continue. to be obtained from agriculture,
and with the abundance of water powers
which we have either in use or idle, it
seems that some arrangement should be
made for supplying these communities
with light for their houses. and small
power for their farm machinery and
diaries, if it can be possibly accom-
plished, and the Commission feels that
no more worthy study than this can be
taken up by the legislature and the SER
wants of the State.
Cheap electric lighting in the farm
houses of the State would do more for the
comfort. convenience and happiness of
the people on the farms than many times
the same amount of money would accom-
plish if expended in almost any other
direction.
1--WE call public attention to the above
at this time because we believe that the
farming community in the State is GER
tainly not of less Importance than other
communities of the State, and often 1t IS
much greater.
Section eight of Chapter 2lo of the Laws
Commission, provides, as follows:
THE commission shall ascertain what
townships or parts of townships of land
can be purchased by the State and the
cost thereof. with all the necessary data
for correct understanding of their value
as forest reserve or for conserving the
water powers of the State, or for re-
forestation, and shall further investigate
the question of denuded. burnt over or
barren lands in the State. their extent
and value with a view to their purchase
by the State for reforestation."
1t is quite evident that the legislature
in creating the Water Storage Commits
sion had in mind the necessity on the
part of the State of securing, for the pur-
pose of the State and for the purpose Of
reforestation, by purchase, some of the
so called hard-cut wild lands.
so far as we are informed no action
has been taken or investigation made up
to this time in relation to the carrying out
Of the order of the legislature in this
regard
1T will be the effort of this commission
in its next annual report to give to the
people whatever knowledge it may be
able to obtain in relation to such lands
as are referred to. where they are locat-
ed their value, adaptability for the pur-
poses to which they are to be put, and
the cost of same.
THAT the State has much wealth in
the shape of minerals within it's surface
is becoming more and more apparent. and
while this subject has in a manner been
neglected for the past several years. the
commission hopes to be able in it's next
annual report to give to the public some.
thing Of available and definite nature in
relation to our geological resources
''It is believed by many that the great
peat deposits of Maine are sometime to
be Of great value. and the commission.
has already taken up the investigation of
this material, but as vet the results OF
our research are not sufficiently COM
plete for publication.
ION the whole the commission feels
that it's first year has not been wasted.
but it hopes to make the coming year ono
of great interest and usefulness to the
people of our State. and to that end it
asks the cooperation Of every citizen
with the hope that we. by working to-
gether. may get better acquainted, and
obtain a greater knowledge OF the re-
sources of our great commonwealth"
Fish and Game