Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-04

port which has been filed with the
Governor and Council, declares that
any policy tending TO promote the de-
velopmcnt Of Names water power
must have a far-reaching effect on the
industrial development of the State.
considering power development
(as distinct from storage), it is not
believed that sufficient knowledge is
available, either of our resources. Or
of the effect on Maine of the federal
power law, for the State to commit it
self to a course which if in error would
be difficult to retrace,' said Major
Danforth.
Further information should be OBJ
and the possibility of their improve
ment," continued Major Danfofth.
1.-THE location, extent and relation to
possible market of undeveloped power
sites should also be investigated. OF
even greater importance is the present
uncertainty in regard to the effect of
the federal power law of 1920 on de-
velopments III the State. At the time
of the pas sage of this law it was felt
that certain of its provisions were
dangerous for Maine and an unsuccess-
full attempt was made to have them
changed. As it is probable that GER
tain amendments will be made during
this year. Maine should have an OPP
portunity to be heard. and every eff
fort possible should be made to re-
tain within our own borders the con-
troll of our own resources.
1T is also probable that the policy
of the federal commission (at the
present time unannounced and prob
ably informed will be SO classified
during the present year as to enable
recommendations to be made as TO a
State policy which will not lie at vari-
ance with the federal law.
'Tne one outstanding fact in regard
to the countrys increasing power
needs is the necessity for conserving
it's eXnaus tible resources such as coal
and oil. and using it's inexhaustible re-
water. With the present
methods of developing isolated water
power PLANTS the full power of the
river cannot get into the system be-
cause at times there is more power
than the system can absorb.
with suitable inter connectiol
there will always be an available
reservoir for this surplus power and
an enormous source of waste elimi-
mated.
"W. S. Murray, chairman of the
Superpower Survey GU. S. Geological
Survey, has estimated that the load
factor of New England (the ratio be-
tween the average load carried and the
maximum load) can be increased by
means of inter-connection and high
tension trunk lines from 10 per cent
to about so per cent. He states that
the average capacity of a central sta
ton in the zone surveyed is only $500
kilowatts. and that the coal consump-
ton is At lbs. per lilowatt hour The
proposed stations Will produce one
kilowatt hour for about two lbs. of
coal 1t is also Of interest to note
that the average steam locomotive
uses about nine lbs. per kilowatt hour
and that the average factory is using
more, some of them more than 20 lbs.
And the average Maine water power
is probably more inefficient devel-
opment than Mr.. Murray's average
factory.
"A further point to consider is the
railroad Identification which Should
follow the development of the central
station inter-connectcd system. Due
to the greater efficiency of the cleo
trio locomotive two-thirds of the coal
now used on our railroads would be
saved. Nearly as important is the
consequent conservation of transpor-
tation facilities. Forty per cent. of
railroad tonnage today is coal, large
amount of which is carried by the
road for it's own use. Mr.. Murray
also estimated that in elcctrifying 90