Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-21

| York and Morheau of Lewiston; on the
part of the House, Representatives
Granville of Parsonsfield, Maher OF Au-
gusta. Phillips of Orrington. Gilmour
Of Westbrook and Stitham Of Pitts
field.
Subsequently, Mr.. Buzzell from the
! committee reported that he had deliv-
cred the message with which he was
charged and~that the Governor will
attend forthwith.
| The report was accepted.
The Governor and suite then entered
the Hall Of the House Of Representa-
tives. amid applause. the convention
rising. and delivered the following COM
munication:
Mr.. President, Senators and Repre-
sentativeS:-
There has been placed before me for
my approval or disapproval an act
that has passed both branches Of this
Legislature by overwhelming MAORI
ties. This act deals with a subject Of
| vital importance to the State of Maine,
one in which l have taken a very ac-
tive interest during the past seven
years. AS / shall later give you my
formal disapproval of this act l desire
in person to present to you my reasons
for so doing and consequently have
asked that this joint session of the
Senate and House be convened.
| The document before me is entitled
| An Act to create the Kennebec
Reservoir Company and define the
powers thereof.
Under this bill private corporation
is given one of the few remaining
great undeveioped water storage reser-
loirs Of the State of Maine. This
Storage is located in the Dead River
country and it's development is des-
tined to take place in the near future.
The question before this Legislature
is, shall great storage reservoir of
incstimable value be decided to a pri-
waite corpora ton to be used for private
gain. or shall the people of the State
of Maine retain it for themselves un-
til they are given the opportunity to de-
eide whether or not it shall be deveI-
oped by the people in the interests Of
the people.
TO give YOU an idea Of the value and
extent of the proposed storage system
| call your attention to the fact that
the drainage area involved covers a
territory of 500 square miles, an area
larger than Androscoggin county, and
twice as large as SagaGahoc county.
The artificial lake to be created will be
"a miles in length and will cover an
area of 81 square miles. The cost of
the development has been carefully
figured at $l.200.000. and 14600 addi-
tional water II. =. will be supplied to
seven companies now developing power
on the kennebec river If this II. i.
! is figured in kilowatt hours it appea RS
that 10,950 kilowatt hours will be fur
nished these companies at the small
cost of Is of n cent per kilowatt hour.
The value of the franchise which the
| kennebec Storage Reservoir Compa ny
seeks to obtain from the State is enor-
nous. Moreover tho act before you
provides that this franchise be granted
for all time to come. 1t is true that
a clause in this charter provides that
the state may take over the fran
chise On certain conditions. Such a
clause is of but little or no value,
however, in view of the opinion of the
Supreme Judicial Court rendered in
1919. which holds that the state has no
power TO develop storage until an
amendment TO the Constitution shall
Lave been adopted. From this it will
be seen that the reservation referred to
furnishes no adequate protection to the
peoples rights. and once this charter
is given away it can safely be assumed
that the power companies will do their
best to prevent the passage of any
such Constitutional anne ndment by this
or any succeeding Legislatures.
This act presents to the S1st Legis-
laturc a clcan-cut issue: shall private
corporation> be given the remaining
rights that the people have in a great
natural resource? Shall this and other
valuable storage systems be given
away forever, or shall the people them
selves retain them:
There is but one answer. The peo-
pie of the State of Maine never should
part with any more of their inherent
rights in the States natural re-
sources. These shoult. be held in per-
retuity for the benefit Of the present
and future generations
The Dead River storage system to-
day. in its undeveloped state. at q
conservative estimate, is worth sew
eral million dollars. AS the value of
and uses for water power increase in
! the coming years. it is difficult TO
over estimate the future value of this
great system. l do not hesitate to
, say that should my signature be af-
fixed to this bill the paper on which
it is written Immediately would be
worth far in excess of one million
dollars il cash to the gentlemen
whose names appear therein.
1t should not be overlooked that if
| the seven companies now operating
| on the kennebec River will obtain
! 1860 IT. J.. from this storage system.
every undevcloped water power on
| the kennebec River. the noblest river
in the State of Maine, Immediately
will be greatly enhanced in value on
! account of this charter.
There is another phase of this
question that should not be over
| looked. and that is the tremendous
but vet unknown value that will ac-
| crue to a water storage project in
veIopment of electrical science. Ger
! tainly this value has not been over
| looked by the far-sighted owners of
electrical developments. and that be-
ing so the representatives of the peo-
! pie also thould take this into con-
sideration before they part with
something that they never can re-
| call No man can safely predict the
great progress that is sure to be
made in electrical development or the
countless new uses to which it will
be put. If water storage and water
powers are of real value today what
will they be worth tomorrow, if
science advances as rapidly in the
next 25 years as it has in the past
twenty-five. What will this value be
in so years when your grandchildren
are on the stage Of life. No doubt
YOU will all agree with me that the
world has not begun to appreciate
For Colds,