Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1921-01-12
Advocates HYDE. Electric De.
veIopment Of Water Powers
Under State Control
RECOMMENDS ABSENTEE VOTING"
Should Observe Liberal Attitude
Toward New Road Construction
AGRICULTURAL, Manufacturing and
Business Interests Suffering From
Shrinking Values.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and OF the
House Of Representatives:

Gentlemen Of the Senate and Of the
House Of Representatives.:
BY solemn oath we have accepted
the responsibility of performing the
duties imposed upon us by the cleo
torate of Maine.
This obligation is personal. Its
fufhflment requires from each Of US
earnest, individual effort. Our con-
duct should be actuated by the single
purpose of serving we'll the State Of
Maine.
Maine, recovering from the stress
and turmoil of war faces with conf
dence future pregnant with bright
possibilities that may be made GER
tainties by the united action of her
patriotic citizens.
Inspired by consciousness OF the
greatness of their State and devoted
to a common purpose, the people Of
Maine are developing her resources.
The tide of emigration that' for
seventy years past has set so strong
away from Maine, is now | believe,
turning toward Maine, and justifies
the expectation of a marked increase
in population in the present decade.
Believing in the future of Maine
and prepared to evidence that belief
by faithful service, we may, while
solving the difficult problems incident
to reconstruction, find the open road
to growth and development.
Some of Our Problems
More than seventy-five percent of
the power now used in the United
States is produced from coal; more
than seventy percent o6 all coal mined
Is used in making power. and coal
furnishes more than a third Of the
freight tonnage carried on our rail-
roads. The economic difficulties, ex-
parienced in obtaining and transport
ing coal and of producing from it low
cost power constitutes a serious han
.dicap that is being overcome to q
great degree in Maine by hydro
electric development Of our water
powers. Such development by private
capital under State regulation, should
be encouraged by conservative legis-
Ation protecting caC1&2l in its in
vestment as to principal and interest,
but always subject to the provision
that power developed must be used
In Maine. for power must be made
available before we can attract manu-
featuring and Agricultural growth to
utilize It. The difhcn&ties mentioned
are forcing large users OF power in
manufacturing or in transportation to
seek hydro electric power and Names
ability to furnish this power will
bring many industries into the State
and assure the growth Of existing
industries provided we can guarantee
manufacturing and agricultural in
tarests, transportation Of needed raw
materials and Of their finished prod
ucts.
Transportation Difficulties
The problem OF railroad operation
resulting from the disruptive manage
ment during federal control are
serious everywhere, but, owing to
local conditions, doubly so In Maine
During the period when the owners
of Maine railroads were denied con-
troll Of their property the expenses
OF operation were increased more than
were the returns from advances in
passenger and freight rates. The
Government controlled, absolutely,
wages, operating costs and earnings.
On the termination Of governmental
control last August the owners of
Maine railroads received from the
Government crippled roads operating
under fixed charges that equalled and
in some instances exceeded revenues
and are today without power to re-
duce their fixed charges or increase
their revenue.
Although the electric rrlroads of
Maine were not under government
control they have suffered indirectly.
It is our duty to investigate carefully
the conditions surrounding the opera
ton Of railroads in Maine, and to
provide such relief as the existing
circumstances demand. 1t is vital to
the development of our State that the
present transportation facilities be
made more effective and that they be
so increased that we may have in
Maine our adequate share Of this
controlling factor in modern CONNER
eial life.
Agriculture and Roads
For the service of short haul trans
portation. particularly Of the bulky
agricultural products, and of pleasure
travel into and throughout the State,
sooA roads are an absolute necessity.