Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-04
Water Powers
In Maine

Attention Is called to the s;a.i.
nent in a former issue Of hi,
paper that during the past s,v.r
years many Of tho most no.s.
worthy enterprises involy;n.
power and storage devslopm.nt
to the extent Of more than eoo0a
horse power and an expenditur.
Of large sums Of money have bean
made.
But the Lewiston Journal IN,
sists that there is a combinatio,
Of corporations that is hostile Ia
the welfare Of Maine and it call,
this supposed combination 9TH.
Octopus" 1t infers that sixtes,
corporations control nearly ali
the water powers in Maine and
constitute the Octopus. Let u,
examine into the component
parts Of the Octopus. The own.
ers Of tho developed water pow.
ers Of Maine are we'll known.
Tho list includes:
The Union Water Power Com.
pany Of Lewiston and it's allied
interests, the Union Electro
Company and the Androscoeam |
Reservoir Company. the source.
Of power for operating the srea.
Cotton Mills Of Lewiston.
Tho Androscoggin Electric
Company, which supplies Lewis.
ton and Auburn with light and
power, and furnishes tho motive
power to the Street Railroad and
to tho Portland and Lewiston
interurban Railroad.
Tho Rumford Falls Power
Company, which has developed
the thriving town of Rumford
Falls and tho prosperous manu-.
featuring enterprises therein in.
Guiding the Oxford Paper Com.
pany.
The International Paper Com.
pany with its paper and pulp
mills located in seven communi.
ties Of the State.
The Great Northern Paper
Company with it's record Of re-
markable achievement Of build
ing towns and creating business.
The Central Maine Power Com.
pany supplying power and light
to sixty cities and towns of the
central portion of the State.
The ST. Croix Paper Company
which has created a new con-
munity and added millions to tn,
valuation Of the State.
The HoIIingsworth & Whitney
Company Of Madison, Winslow
and Gardiner, whose bro mind.
ed policies are acknowledged
everywhere.
The Pejepscot Paper Company
with its allied companies, the
Bowdoin Paper Company and the
Lisbon Falls Fibre Company
whose activities are so important
factor to the towns of Bruins.
wick, Topsham and Lisbon Falls.
The Cumberland County Power
& Light Company which has con.
verted tho Saco River into
power house for supplying the
City Of Portland with light,
power and transportation.
The Bangor Railway and Elec.
trio Company that is to Bangor
and Penobscot County tho source
OF many and vital activities.
The Peppereli Manufacturing
Company Of Biddeford, without
which that thriving city would
become a village.
The s. D. Warren Company
which has made the Presumpseot
River the most highly developed
water power river in the United
States.
Tho orono Pulp and Paper
Company of Orono.
The Edwards Manufacturing
Company Of Augusta.
Tho Lockwood Manufacturing
company Of WaterviIIe.
Is It a scandal that the above
corporations own a
large percentage Of the water
powers of Maine?
Are not practically all the de-
veiopments, not only Of water
bowers but Of every kind Of en-
terpriss of magnitude, made by
corporations?
How could il be otherwise?
Has Maine individuals Of suf.
7eisnt wealth to conduct these
important industries without 4
charter
" these corporations are in.
micaI to the interssts Of the
'eopis, why does the State char.
er them and allow them to prey
Ipon the public?
What would be the business
ondition Of Hains without
hem7