The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-04-07
TWO VALUABLE REPORTS.

TWO VALUABLE REPORTS.
During 1917 and 1918 the Public Utlli-
ties Commission made special investi-
cation of the most important water pow
ers of this State, employing several en-
Rineers whose competency is unquestion-
ed. In January, 1919, report OF the
work done and the conclusions reached
was made. This report fills book OF
more than 600 pages. The Maine Water
Power Commission was created by legis-
iative act approved March 29. 1919, and
this commission, continued the work of
investigations, formerly in charge of the
Public Utilities Commission, making
report at the end of last year to the gov
sernor and council, which fills book OF
about $50 pages. In these two reports
we find information about the water pow
ters of Maine which is we'll worth the
cost, and is reliable. There are, however,
mapy developed powers, many undevel-
oped powers and many storage basins
which have had little attention, II any,
Several years of engineering work must
he done before complete photographic
and topographic survey of this State can
Re given accurately and in detail, but the
work done during the last four years Is
nm the right lines, and if continued the
people of the State will know the loca-
ton, the potential service which they are
capable of giving and approximate cost
of developing each and all of them to
their economic capacity. The work OF
investigation should 60 on every year till
a complete survey is made, but, fortu-
nately, there is no need for haste. De-
veIopments by individuals and corpora
tons are more than keeping pace with
demand for electric po|er and we believe
1T will continue to do So
The report of the Public Utilities Com
mission 1913 tells us that on the Pre-
sumpscot, Union, Kennebec, Androscog-
gin, Penobscot and Saco there are water
powers now furnishing 1913, 600 horse pow
er, and that on these rivers there are I'M
developed powers capable of giving, if
fully developed, 1923, 900 horse power
more. Here is a total of 1860 horse
power, developed and undeveloped on six
rivers. 1t is reasonably safe to conclude
that an investigation of all the other de-
veloped and undeveloped water powers
in the State would show that in all we
6 olo
400, 900 horse power, of which about
600, 900 h. p. is not developed. If this
vast power should be developed by the
State or by private enterprise how and
where can it be profitably used? This is
a question of the first and highest impor
lance. One school-boy economist says:
t'Use it for warming our houses, offices
and stores, thus saving coal" The re-
port of the Public Utilities Commission
says: "Actual experiments on the con-
sumption of electricity in heating houses
have been made. Six operatives dwell
ling houses were operated The temper
ature of the houses was maintained at
about 10 degrees. The maximum range
of temperature outside was 48 degrees
and the minimum was 6 degrees" The
average cost of heating these houses by
electricity, iper month, was $50 SO for
each one of them. Other data is given,
showing that the actual cost of electri-
city is cents per kilowatt hour, but if it
could be supplied for cent per klowatt
hour it's use for warming dwellings would
be as expen,ive as coal at ,$45 80 ton.
Anuther economist says: "Electrify our
steam railroads" All authorities agree
that short lines of steam railroads cannot
be successfully operated by electricity.
In tact there is no we'll grounded belief
that any of the railroads in this State
will ever change their motor power from
steam to electricity and the Commission
states: 1--WE do not feel warranted in in
cluding them as possible customers"
"A market for any product can only
exist when there is demand for it's use.
The needs for electric lighting and cleo
trlc power for other household utilities,
for trolley lines and small units for man
nfacturing purposes are not only we'll
supplied, but there is considerable sur
plus of power for which there is little
present demand. There being no hope of
ats coming into use for heating and no
probability of selling it to the steam rail-
road corporations, the manufacturing