Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-06
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paper on which it is written imme-
dlately would be worth far in excess
Of "A million dollars. l also i-ccited
the history of the water power ques-
ton in Maine. and maintained that
the people own the lakes and natural
storage reservoirs of the State.
Notwithstanding my message, both
branches of this Legislature passed
the kennebeC Reservoir charter over
my veto by overwhelming majorities,
and it became law on March %, 1928.
AS | was not satisfied with this policy
of deciding away the rights of the
people of the State, 1 issued on March
23rd an official proclamation calling
upon our citizens to support a refer
| endum upon this charter. There is
not a town. city or plantation in the
! state that has not received a cefer-
endum petition. Signatures are
| pouring into my Office daily and |
have reason to believe that the peo-
! pie of Maine have been aroused by
J this issue, and that they desire an
! opportunity to express themselves
! thereon.
! Since the passage of the act by the
Legislature | have given worry careful
consideration to the situation that has
! arisen. Realizing that honest differ
| enccS of opinion exist. even in matters
as important as the one before MS. |
| felt that there might be some common
ground on which those VINO hold d.
verse views could meet Entirely
without sugse from outside
| sources, I invited one of the men inter
| osted in the kennebec charter to n con-
| ference, at which We're present two
! disintere stcd citizens of wide expert
/ ,, all (N.t.
onccs were held at which the senator
| from Cumberland county, Mr.. Brew
stcr. was present. These conferences
| We're not in any way secret, and a L. par
! ties expressed themselves without res
! crvation. 1t was encoura ging to see
! that spirit of Cancellation was man.
! lfestcd on the part of all. AS A result
| [ am prose- ntinG to YOU what appears
! to me- and to the gentlemen who have
! been over the matter with me. Solu
! tiOn of tho kcnnebcc Reservoir charter
! solution that furnishes adequate pro-
! lection to the people of the State.
| objected to the first charter because
1T DECIDED away forever an important
j portion Of tho water resources that now
! are the property of the state. t.ans-
| fcrred them to private corporation
and placed in its control the head
waters of the kennebec river. In my
! opinion another undesirable feature of
| that charter was that no adequate pro-
i vision was made for the rcmoNal of
! the trees included in the proposed res
erVoir. If the forest growth were not
| removed an unsightly waste and for
est graveyard would have resulted.
| The charter that l present to YOU
! is entitled AN Act to create the Dead
| River Reservoir Company" Under it
tc TO nj m ~ ~ - n
either to it's land or to its water re-
! sources, but leases its land and water
| resources to the corporation for Pc
rod of 40 Years. This corporation is
| to pay tho State the total sum of one
| million dollars as rental for the right
| to use this land and these resources;
! said payment to be made in 40 annual
| installmcnts of $4,000 each. The cor
| poration not only agrees to completely
| remove all the dead wood and other
material that will result from the crca-
| ton of the reservoir. SO that it Will be-
| come beautiful lake in harmony with
| the states natural scenic beauties of
which We are 50 Justly proud. but also
/, the state reserves the risht to use
| such portion of this timber AS it may
| desire. Considerable additional revenue
may be derived by the State from this
| source.
| At tho end Of the 4n-ycar period tho
| lease may terminate and at that time
! tho state has the expressed right to
take over tho property at not more
| than onc-half the net cost of the i'm
provements thereon. AS a matter of
fact the state probably will acquire
The property at very nominal figure.
due to the fact that it will be almost
| completely amortzed by the end of
| the lease.
f, The State also reserves the tight
( to take over the property at any
time during the term of the lease.
! by paving proper compensation
| thereafter which comnenSation shall