Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-07-02
Water Powers
in Maine

citizen payer owning shares the stock water
power company Maine (Which however he afford to o sub
m the following propositions the discussion of water ques
hon.
Individuals corporations whe resident who have
qed the ownership of powers Maine under and in accord
with the laws of Man have the rights therein the
of other real estate Maine whether farms slate and granite
quar timber and wood lands other and much entitled
protection those rights Their ownership more discredlt-
able than that of the farmer and injustice to the
people.
T. The owners water powers like the of other kinds
property be presumed have the desire and to de-
their property and to that end will invest their
money its development when and so tar as they feel assured an
income return theom that Will emuneate them for the COST ot
construction upeep operations and and for the use and risk OF
the money invested
Further they should be expected much less required to
make such expenditure and until they do feel assured
should they be penazed for their hesitation by any
than should owners OF other property
Whether water power be developed thus pro6taby
depends hand the of the necessary plant ana
its upkeep and operation and the other hand upon the market
demand for the product That market demand the number con-
able and willing for the product prices which snan De
remuneratve as above stated
A. powers yet mdeveloped or only par
developed because the have not yet been assured Oh
such market demand for the product of those powers
Anv LEGISLATION threatening the security of title of
powers the continuance OF remuneratve income nom
the investment dcourages the investment OF capital the aiea
development Even mere advocacy Oh SUCH s"
ton has the same tendency
the State BY constitutional amendment should acquire the
authority and should exercise authority take to itself water
power would thereby market demand not before
existing.
The development by the State of power taken
from the owner would the market de-
mand for its product
The State could not lease power developed or
undeveoped upon would the state and the tax
PAYERS for the use and risk money such acquisition
and DEVELOPMENT there should be such market demand or
the product would induce lessee to and pay tna remun
Grafton.
For the state develop and operate such water power
would burden the tax payers with the cost Oh anu
en unless there should existing market demand for its prod
net sufficient to them for the risk and use Oh tne
money so invested ownership and operation would not Oh
themselves create that demand
TO- There is no ground assuming that the State could
eveon and onerate water powers less than could private
Any reduction price the product below what would DC
and of the money invested wouo @
the and there many more tax payers ah
consumers of water power product
H. Users of light heat power will not that generated by
water mower unless can be furnished them price as low OF
as low that obtainabe from other sources AS TO neat e
cost of that by water declared by experts " oe Id
in excess of that obanabe from coal and wood even at present
prices.
=, In view of the large necessary for the acquisition OF
water in the first and the larger sums necessary for
Their DEVELOPMENT which must be raised by taxes OF
loans or both at expense the tax payers and In view o @
present least uncertainty OF remuneratVe III |
product it would seem such policy should not now De aooP
Sbo, e time when the demand at remunerae prices
60 GREAT that pryate will not supply It, then per
hans the State may without budenng the tax payers
should not intervene till then.