Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-07
INTERIOR WATERS
Six Matters Relative to the Use of
Streams for the Driving of Logs

Six matters of proposed legislation
were before the COMMITTEES on Interior
Waters Tuesday afternoon, practically
all of them relating in one way or an
other to the use of streams for the
driving of logs. In none of the mat
ters did any opposition develop, and
for most of the measures but one per-
son appeared as prepayment of the pro-
posed legislation.
Former Speaker George C. Weeks Of
the House of Representatives, appeared
for the proponents of an act authoriz-
ing the American Realty Co., a sub
sidiary of the International Paper Co,
to erect and maintain piers and booms
in the St John river in Aroostook
County, within the town of Frenchville
and in the plantation of st. John. The
proponents asked for a change in the
bill as drawn up so that it would give
to the petitioning company the right
to erect piers and booms within the
st. John and st. Francis plantations,
but not in Frenchvilie as in the orig
inal draft of the bill. Mr.. Weeks
pointed out that in the course of a
year something like twenty-five million
feet of logs Is driven down the ST.
JOill TlNSF, anu tIdI Tie company plans
to erect a cutting-up mill at a point
on the river, and to ship from that
point over the Bangor & Aroostook rail-
road.
Alexis O. Robbins of Fort Kent, rresi-
dent of the Fort Kent Electric Co.. ap-
peared and spoke in support of two
matters of legislation which the COM
mittee has before it. One of these was
an act to authorize the Fort Kent Elec-
trio Co.. to erect and maintain a dam
across the Wallagrass stream at Walla-
grass Plantation, Aroostook County, at
the point where it's power station is
now located. He stated that the water
in the river is sufficient for driving
up to June LIST. but that after that time
when there is not a sufficient flow of
water certain parties want to drive logs
down the stream. The company asks
the right to build and maintain its own
dam in order to correct this
Former Speaker Weeks also spoke
on this measure, explaining as a rep
resentative of company which uses
the river that the bill makes provision
for the natural flow of the stream, this
explanation being made in answer to
a question by member of the COM
mittee.
The other measure In the interests of
which Mr.. Robbins appeared was an
act authorizing Ward & Bradbury, In
corporated, to erect and maintain piers,
piles and booms in the st. John and
st. Francis rivers. He asked that the
bill be changed so as to provide for
this on the st. John river only, strik-
ing out the portion of the bill relating
to the ST. Francis river.
Robert E. Hall of Dover appeared for
the House bill No. 1871 extending the
rights given the Guilford Manufacture
ing Co.. by the Legislature of 1909 to
erect piers and booIns on the Piscat-
aquis river for sorting logs. Mr.. Board
man, the president of the company, al
so spoke briefly in support Of the pro-
posed measure.
Another bill which Mr.. Hall appear
ed in support of was Senate bill pro-
viding for an amendment to law
passed by the Legislature of 1883 Gre
ating the Shirley Dam Co, by which
the company has the right to collect
tolls, the legislation asked for provid-
ing a change in the compensation that
may be asked in cases of reimburse
ment
Herbert T. Powers of Fort Fairfield
was heard in support Of a bill intro
duced in the House authorizing Allen
e. Hammond and others associated
with MIN to erect piers and booms in