Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-21
CENTRAL MAINE POWER
CONSIDERS PROJECTS
FOR development

consideration Of the Central Maine
Power Company.
One of these, as stated by w. S.
Wyman. head Of the concern, Is a
dam 80 feet high on the Kenne-
bee river above Bingham, which, 1t
is said, could develop about $1,000
horse power and store nearly q bill
lion cubic feet Of water.
Another project has for its OBJ
ject the erection Of a huge dam on
the Androscoggin river above Lewis
ton where about $4,000 horse power
would be developed and more than
1000. 100000 cubic feet of water
stored.
According to the statement theresis
prospect OF these being undertaken
another year. .....
"At the rate the use of electricity
is increasing in this State" contin-
ues the statement, they will both be
needed within the next ten years,
and even sooner than that If Maine
is to keep pace with her sister
states in having reasonable mar
gin OF cheap power developed and
ready to offer to new industries.
"F'rom a selfish viewpoint, desir-
ing large and immediate profits for
the common stockholders. the COM
pany would do better to wait. A cor
poration of this kind always makes
more money when all its f. cilities are
taxed to their utmost, than when 1t
has power to spare. This is not the
way to permanent prosperity, how
ever. Sitting still and carefully ex-
tracing the last dollar from the
public in return for inadequate SER
vice will neither develop the re-
sources of the State nor fulfill our
duty as a public service corporation.
1.-The people of Maine must secure
all the power that they can profit
ably use from the waterfalls on their
own rivers as fast as it can be safe
ly developed.
ITO the extent that it is possible
they must stop sending money to
Pennsylvania for coal and Mexico
for oil. Our railroads must be re-
lieved of hauling this useless freight
and enabled to devote their energies
in other lines.
During the past twelve years the
Central Maine Power company have
done much along this line. Eleven
years ago the great dam at ShaW-
NUT was built largely on the strength
of a contract to supply power to Us
16 900 horse power was added at
Skowhegan; 1900 horse power on the
Messalonskee stream has been re-
placed with 10000. In all we have
placed at the disposal of Maine peo-
pie in that time more than $4,000
horse power.
-Four years ago when the develop
ment at Skowhegan was begun we
expected that it would satisfy the
needs of our customers as far as
hydro electricity went unfil 1875.
Now three years before that 1t has
all been used and more than 10000
horse power of additional power has
been installed which will all be sold
by the end of 1924.
1.-THE Development on the Andres
coggin would be a magnificent one
and it's location in the very industrial
heart of the State would be great
advantage The water stored by this
dam would not only help us over
the dry periods but also do much for
the mills in Lewiston and down
stream.
"Eithe: of these Developments with
it's transmission lines, sub stations
and other essentials will cost about
SIS, 100000 to build and provide en-
ploymcnt to several hundred men for
"a period of two years or more dur
ing the construction period. II the
power which either Of these develop
clusively for manufacturing purposes
it would provide employment for as
many persons as are now employed
in the mills and factories of Lewis
ton and Auburn.
"Power developments have been
objected to at times because it has
been claimed that the beauty of ma
ture has been destroyed. In this
case beauty will be added and not
taken away. If we build this great
dam, the most painstaking care will
be exercised to see that all trees
are removed from the flowed area.
leaving a most picturesque lake set
in surroundings of surprising beau
ty.
Much of the property is not owned
by us and real engineering investi-
cations have only just started.
When the results. OF the drilling
that we are now doing in the bed
of the river are known and when we
get together all the property costs,
the project may be found impossi-
BILE at the present timc.
at Bingham the property belongs
to US. The preliminary engineering
work has been done. Careful bor-
inGs were made years ago. Most OF
the fiowage has been bought. The
cost of this development is fairly
we'll known. 1t would be a splendid
piece of work and is financially pos
sible. BY this dam a great lake
nearly nine miles long would be:
created, stretching away among the
rugged hills that line the upper
Kennebec. adding a new lustre to
one of the beauty spots of Maine"