San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-14
WALTER S. WYMAN, Of Augusta,
Me.

In these free days of motoring, the
tourist is impressed with the vast
water power he sees running merrily
away in many sections of this coun-
try.
Walter s. Wyman was graduate
in electrical engineering from Tufts
College. and found employment as as
sistant superintendent of small light
and power company at Waterville,
Me-, and soon was advanced TO the
position of superintendent. Mr.. Wy
man had observed the undeveloped
water power that lay about him. and
he proposed to the owners of the
Waterville plant that certain power
activities be undertaken.
There seems to be a certain trait
in some men which we call the "go-
getter" spirit. Sometimes other men
holding positions superior TO these
younger go-getters foolishly fail 10
recognize the reaching-out character
istic. They even attempt to kill it
not approaching the fact that adven-
turers have been the makers of this
country. 1t was so in Mr.. Wyman's
case.
"You have enough TO do. Winding
your own affairs" they said.
The true spirit of go-do-it cannot
be killed with a club. Mr.. Wyman
had no money himself. but with the
backing of Harvey ID. Eaton. up there
in Maine. small light and power
development was purchased at. the
village of Oakland. pretty well in the
heart of Maine. The price paid was
five thousand dollars. and the electri-
cal current was obtained through
lease made with little concern
which owned n dam not far away.
Meanwhile Mr.. Wyman continued
for time in his job at Waterville.
Then came freshet and the little
dam was completely washed away,
leaving the Wyman-Eaton enterprise
at Oakland with no light or power
TO sell.
They attempted TO purchase cleo
trical current of small defunct
water-pOwer factory at Oakland; and
this had almost been accomplished. at
a price of five thousand dollars. when
other interests got in the way. and
after running the price up to twenty
thousand dollars, bought it themselves
The activities of Mr.. Nyman and
his associates seemed blocked. but
they finally got temporary rights in
another little factory water power.
and meanwhile went out to purchase
bigger water-power possibility on
creek that fed the Kennebec River.
The owner agreed to sell for 22,OOO
which 10 the little Oakland CON
Germ seemed indeed fantastic. But
Wyman said, We'll take it,"
Before the deal was closed, COM
peting interests again got in the way.
Only through promissory note for
S350O written hurriedly on the back
of an old envelope. out on the street,
was the purchase sealed by the young
err men.
BY this agreement two weeks were
given TO pay in full for the water
rights. On the day before this period
expired a man who had promised to
become the chief financial hacker
changed his. mind. ,,,,,. 'r,c..,s., .-,
says Mr.. Wyman. 1--WE decided to
put the whole issue I'M to the bank;
We hired the local hack and gathered
up all the bank directors at their
homes or places of business. Then
we laid before them our dilemma and
what the outcome might mean TO the
town. We got the money"
Today this enterprise is expanded
into the Central Maine Power COM
pany. with 125 stations and even in
tcrurban lines. Mr.. Wyman is treas
urer and Mr.. Eaton president.
So go-getting did il.