Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-06-29
MAINE WATER POWER
COMMISSION MAKES
ITS LAST REPORT

The foiiowins ID the flnai report
Of the Maine Water Power Commits.
sion which terminates BY order Of
Governor Baxter on June 30, 1925
To the Honorable Governor no al and
Council:
In our final report we wish to place
on record our regret that any act or
acts should prevent proper and
reasonable development Of our water
power. To bring about such develop
rnent the State should adopt q policy
relatively permanent and stable
which will encourage instead of dis
couraging development and eliminate
fear of confiscatory action by the
State either in the form of State
operation or of taxation.
The Importance of the data COL
lected by the Commission may not
appear SO long as a reasonable de-
velopment Is prevented by the poll
teal situation. We wish to state,
however. that, in connection with
future development, 1t is of great i'm
portance that certain definite and ac-
curate information concerning our
power should be given wide publicity.
That such information must be &C
curate goes without saying. Poor
records are worse than none in that
they may induce confidence not
justified by the facts. 1t is also de-
sirable that a State agency should act
as a clearing house for such informa-
ton as it may collect.
Whether or not work in studying
Maine resources be done under this
Commission is of little importance
beside the fact that the work should
be done and by men with proper
training and experience. Instead of
saving large amounts by discontin-
uing any or all Of the work, the State,
in our opinion, could obtain for more
in value received by doubling the ap-
preparations previously granted.
Finally, we desire to express our
satisfaction at having employed Mr..
Danforth as our chief engineer our
appreciation of the faithfulness with
which he has performed his duties
and the great ability and initiative
he has shown. and to express our
good will toward him and our belief
in his future and regret that the
State is to lose his services.
Respectfully submitted,
Maine Water Power Commission.
(Signed) EDWARD p. KICKER
Chairman
Extracts from the final report of
the chief engineer.
Augusta, Me-. June %, 1928
Hon. E. p. Kicker, Chairman.
Maine Water Power Commission.
Sir:
The work of the Commission Is
covered in it's 1920 and 1922 reports.
Mention may possibly be made Of
many letters received from engineers
from all sections of the United
States in regard to the value OF the
data in the 1920 report and many
letters have also been received re-
GREETING the lack of foresight shown
BY the State in the Governors re
fusal to permit the publication of
similar data in it's 1929 report. APP
proximately $1,000 wexe reserved
from the funds appropriated by the
legislature to pay for this work.
funds have been expended and will
lapse to the contingent fund.
In the closing days Of the 1923 leg
islature an act was passed to contln-
ue the Commission. This act was
similar to the 1919 act except in a
reduction of the number of commits
sioners from ten to five. and provid-
ed that appointments should be made
in a similar manner. presumably in
represent more than one point of
view This act failed to receive the