Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-04
First Report of the Maine
Water Power Commission


The Maine Water Power Commits.
sion. consisting Of Edward p. Kicker
of Poland. Arthur Chaplin Of Bangor
Senator Alfred X. Ames of Washing.
ton, Representative Charles Fl. Han
son If Saco. Representative Artemus
Weatherbee of Lincoln, Charles r.
Flagg of Portland Edward Evans of
Belfast, J. Frank Partridge of Water
vile and William J. Crawshaw of Au-
burn, in it's report which has been filed
with the Governor and Council. says
that while the commission has in fact
devoted no small amount of time and
labor to the consideration and formu-
lation of a definite plan for State de-
velopment and control OF reservoirs
and water powers, it has deemed it
unwise to undertake to make recon-
mendations in the nature of any
definite plan which in the present
state of the Constitution and laws as
judiciaIy construed could not be put
in practical operation.
IF the Constitution could be so
amended as to make possible such con-
troll. 1t has seemed to the commission
that such control could be best applied
and most effectively worked out by the
creation of certain River Regulating
should include at least the whole or
definite constituent part of the drain
age area of one of the principal rivers
OF TIL" state" says the report.
The conditions affecting each of
the separate drainage areas would thus
be more effectively dealt with and
much confusion and conflict of inter-
est which would arise under State
wide control would be avoided 1t is
the opinion, however of the commits
sion that any reasonable or practical
attempt to adopt a plan must await a
removal OF the legal obstacles with
which the project is at present con-
fronted. Such a plan has been pre-
pared and it is our intention to sub
nit this plan to the Legislature should
the necessary constitutional amend
inent be presented.
Tie duties derolving upon this
commission by the act creating It are
largely of technical character, pre-
senting intricate legal questions and
engineering problems. The interests
involved are of great magnitude and
scope, and If the commission is to JUS
tify its existence it must be made a
more compact working body, acting
under competent and continuous legal
direction.
70 1T seems plain to this commission
that Maine Water Power Commits
sion should be continued for the fur
ther investigation and study OF the
questions committed to this commits
sion by the act creating it. A CON-
mission constituted and directed as we
have suggested we feel confident would
justify its creation and the expense of
its maintenance. The subject is too
large and too intricate to he dealt with
by a more or less perfunctory COM
mission improperly organized and di-
rected and whose labors are neither
wholly in the. nature of competent
philosophical gratuity or of an ade-
quate service adequately paid for.
THE interests Of the State are
greater than those Of any person or
corporation within it. Why then
should it be expected that these great
er interests of the State can be prop
erly and effectively administered by
methods whic, private interests would
consider wholly inadequate for sue
cessful management of their lesser in
terests.