The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-03-31
MAINE WATER POWERS

AS long ago as 1867 the people wanted
10 know something definite about the
water powers of Maine. Governor Cham
berlain acting under the authority of a
legislative resolve appointed three COM
Inissioners to have charge of hydro
graphic survey. The commissioners
were authorized "to employ competent
engineers to make thorough hydro
graphic survey of such of our rivers as
They shall deem most advisable, and
make a report to the governor and coun-
ell of the fall and volume of water of
SAID rivers, the supply and constancy of
the water, the lake reservoirs and their
accessibility, and such other facts as will
lend to show their advantages for the
employment of manufacturing industry"
The first report of the commissioners
was issued in book of 327 pages and the
second report in book of $40 pages.
There is nothing in these reports which
indicates that State control or State
ownership was then thought of by any,
body. A study of legislative proceedings
Turing more than thirty subsequent
years reveals no advocacy of State own
srship or control of a part or of the
whole of our State water powers. 1t is
Cnly few years since State control was
Arst suggested. But the recent message
Of Governor Baxter to the legislature has
brought the matter into State wide dis
russlon, and tbs people, either through
action by the legislature or at the polls,
must make a decision. The message to
The legislature has elected adverse criti-
ism from most of the daily papers of
State. We confess that it is a disap-
pojntment to us. In the first place the
message does not make it Ientirely clear
whether the governor wishes the Safe
10 take control of all the w5ter powers or
only the undeveloped powers.
He did not tell US what the State would
probably have to pay for these powers.
He did cot tell US where an b how money
could be obtained for this purpose, and
ne left US entirely uninfoImed as to what
prof table use he thought the State could
make of them. These are the quest on
winch the people, the men; and women
VINO work hard and pay taxds, are asking
each other.
IN 1909 State water commission WIS
created. 1t was abolished inI 1913 and it's
maps, data and duties were turned over
TO the Public Utilities Comm| ssion. Ap-
preparations were not made in sufficient
amount to do very much work till 1917,
when it became evident that great
many people wanted to know! more about
The water powers of the State, the uses
10 which they were being put and wheth-
eY they could be further prffitably de-
yeloped. Authority was given the Pub
'ic Utilities Commission to make surveys
and estimates. The best photographic
engineers in New England we're employ
I'd and at the end of two years. work they
made report to the GovernoHand Coun-
eli The work done was confihed to the
Presumpscot, Union, kenneDet, Andros-
eoeein, P-nobscot and Saco ri ters The
engineers reported that the cost of the
developed powers on these rivers was
S44, 1875, 900. They also reported that the
cost of developing the undeveloped pow
ers on these rivers would be ssl, go, 600,
total of S76, 745, 600 With these figures
before US it seems to be safe to say that
The cost of acquiring and deva oping all
The water powers of Maine woald mount
close up to 500, 100000. Theiquestion,
what will it cost? has been answered, and
IT would be a waste of time to speculate
as to how the money could be raised or
by what means it could be replaced in the
pockets of those who loaned it Because it
cannot be done.