The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-26
MUST CLEAR THE FOREST
GROMTH


MUST CLEAR THE FOREST
GROWTH
Under the plan which was prom
ulgated for tho construction OF this
storage basin the company was re-
CURED TO clear the basin OF all for
est growth. This was a job OF con
siderable magnitude as all who
know about such work will agree
The growth OF the IS square miles
embraced In the reservoir basin. Ia
both hard and soft wood Consider
able spruce and fir and some poplar
could be taken out for pulp wood
and there is much white birch.
Whether this could be advantageous
ly handled is one Of the problems
There Is a grace doubt whether
more than a small quantity Of it
could be marketed.
White birch. OF course. Is a yalu-
able resource 10 Maine, but II must
be used very quickly after # is cut,
else 1t spoils. There are large hard
wood mills In the Kennebec river
valley, but they would be swamped
II required to use in a single season
what would come of the tract.
or course, much OF this hard
wood would make good hrewood II
It could be landed In the large cen
ters at a reasonable price. but this
is impossible and so for the most
part this must be wasted However
1t practically. has no potential value
today. Whether the dam is built or
not will have no bearing on this
phase of the situation This wood
cannot be marketed at a reasonable
price.
ROAD PROBLEMS PRESENTED
Among the other problems which
those behind the project had TO
work out. was that of the highways.
A considerable mileage viii be un-
der water when the new dam Is
built. as without question It even
tually viii be. Those who want to
create this additional storage are
prepared 10 rebuild these flooded
highways at such places as best pub
lie convenience suggests.
Several propositions as to how
this should be done have been con-
sldered and. Of course. they cannot
be worked ont and definitely decld-
ed, until authority has been granted
10 establish the basin
This however. does not help the
county commissioners Of Somerset
county As result of the present
situation they are all at sea A new
bridge is necessary at Flagstaff. The
plans call for a structure which will
cost $4,000. II the dam is built.
this bridge Will be flooded ont. OBJ
Yiously. IL Is waste of money to
construct such a bridge IL this is to
be the result within the next two or
three years The commissioners II
assured that tho reservoir is to be
would content themselves with patch
ing up the present structure and
making II do uutl the flood comes
This as they figure H. would save
1000 for the tax payers OF their
county But they don't know and
they aren't at an sure which way to
turn
POWER POSSIBILITIES
Another phase Of this project
which has been talked at length Is
the Long Falls power possibilities
The dam which creates the reservoir
ia at The head Of these falls Without
rho dam and storage the power Is OF
no account with these improve
mcnls ,he fails have potential OF
perhaps more correctly periodical
potential 5000 horse power
This power Is not available the
year around. H. is only usablc AZ
HBca periods As The stored water OF
Che reservoir above should De re-
leased ~ meet The requirements OF
Industries Iu Inc kennebee river be-
low AT so.oa Bingham. Madison,
skoNheEaH MaterNllc aad Augusta.
Al other times. when all water was
being held back of the dam. the
power plant On Long Falls could not
less
A. result M this condition this
power has the same relation to any
permanent year around hydro -elec
lric plant ar steam auxiliary. II
would he a resource in times OF
Emergency. low water at the perms
nont station 10 would. In this In
stance. however lack much OF the
value of the steam plant because Of
this reason A steam plant can be
started mp Al any moment the emer
gency exists. Net 50 this power
plant Il would make no difference
how grave the situation at Augusta,
Lewiston or anywhere from an cleo
eric nght and power standpoint, the
power plant on Long Falls could not
be pat iato operation TO help out I'M