The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-06-27
Water Powers
in Maine

citizen payer owning but shares of the stock of
water company in Maine (Which however he can
afford ose submits the following propositions in the dis
clSsion Of the water power question.
l. individuals corporations wherever resident who have
acquired ownership of water Maine under and i'll
accordance with laws of Maine have the rights therein
as the owners real Maine whether farms, slate
and granite qWrr timber and wood lands other and are
as much entitled to protection in rights Their ownership
is dsccdiae than that of the farmer and is
injustice to the people.
3 The of water powers like the of other
kinds of property be presumed to have the desire and
pose derive income from their property and to that end
will their money its development when and far
they feel assured of AN income return herefrom that will
them for the cost Of construction npkeep operations
taxes and for the and risk of the money invested
Further they should moi be expected much less required to
make such expenditure unless and until they do feel SO assured
ton any than should owners of other property.
3 Whether a water power be developed thus profit
ably depends the hand upon the cost of the necessary
plant and its upkep and operations and on the other hand
upon demand for the product That market demand
the number OF consumers able and willing to for the prod
prices which shall be remunerave above stated.
T. That some water powers are yet undeveopcd or only
partially developed is because the have Yet been
assured Of such market demand for the product Of those
powers.
s. Any legislation threatening the security of the title of
income from their investment dscourages the investment of
capital the desired development of water powers Even mere
advocacy of such legislation has the same tendency
If the State by constitutional amendment should acquire
authority and should exercise the authority take itself
power would thereby market de-
the product any market demand before
existing
The development by the State of a power taken
the owner would of itself the market
demand for its product.
g. The State could not lease such power developed
undeveoed upon that would the State
for the and risk of their money invested
in such acquisition and development unless there should be such
market demand for the product would induce lessee to
and pay that remuneration.
g. For the State itself develop and operate such water
power would burden the tax with the cost of acquisition
and development unless there should be existing market de-
mand for product sufficient emunerae them for the risk
their money invested State ownership and opera
ton would not of themselves create that demand.
10 There ground for assuming that the State could
develop operate less than could
Any reduction of price of the product below what
would for the risk and of the money invest
ed would the expense of the and there
taxpayers than consumers of water power product
H. Users of light heat power will not that
aed by power unless it be furnished to them at
price nearly low that obtanabe from other
the of that generated by water
declared by experts to be far of that obalnabe
from coal and wood at present prices
the large necessary for the acquisition
of powers the first instance and the larger
sary for their efficient Development which must be raised
by both the OF the tax and
of the lack least uncertainty of
tive market for the product it would that such policy
should be adopted Should the time when
cannot will supply it, then perhaps the State in
ervene without burdeng the tax payers 1t should not inter
till then
(signed) WIN NJ. PENNELL, Publicity Agent