Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-08
SETTLED POLICY"
SAYS BREWSTER
OF WATER POWERS

Danville Junction, May 7--Senator
Ralph o. Brewster speaking before
Androscoggin Pomona Grange this
| afternoon expressed his views OF the
water power question. He COM
mented on the policy of the State OF
Maine with relation to it's water-re-
| sources, that it has been prolific of
| controversy for a generation. He
| said all are agreed that a settled pol
| icy is desirable. cit seems to me
that we are very much nearer to a
solution of this problem than is gen.
orally realized. 1t is not here profit
able to undertake to assess the re-
spcnsibility for the difficulties of the
| past, nor to cast aspersions on the
motives of any of those VINO have
| interested themselves in this ques-
ton.
| During the past year I have
| talked of this situation with many
Of those most active on both sides
! of the regrettable conflicts which have
| ragged and the views which l here
express have met with the suhstan-
tial approval of all parties in interest.
! There is now definite movement
| developing to transmit our hydro
electric power outside the boundar-
les of the State. The policy of for
was established fifteen years ago I'M
der Governor Fernald and has been
measurably strengthened since that
| time by the Baxter amendment to
| the power charters. We are told that
| our policy is unconstitutional and
unneighborly, and that we should
| permit the development and eXpor-
| tation at any time there shall be a
local demand. 1t is urged that in this
way we shall have available very
| great quantities of cheap power and
also that we shall derive ia; reven-
ues from the developments which
will take place.
eff our non transmission statute is
unconstitutional, it's critics know e%-
actly how to proceed to have this es-
tablished and the statute nuHlneu
Certainly there is no such unanimlty
of opinion among attorneys as to re-
auire the State to modify its policy
on this ACCOUNT.
1--WE have maintained the nom
transmission policy throughout the
infancy of hydro electric develop
ments and now as we seem on the
dawn of a new era of vast expansion
of hydro electric energy because of
the gradual depletion of other sources
! of power, it seems to me that 1t is
much better judgment to adhere TO
our established policy when it seems
possible that 1t may be coming to
fruition.
"If great transmission lines are
established. taking this power out OF
the State, we are likely to be faced
with the argument of unconstitu-
tionality in very vigorous form when
we undertake its recapture because
of the vast vested interests that
would then be involved. There will
also be very much less likelihood OF
industries coming to Maine If they
can tap our electric energy in south
g., ern New England. 1t will soon be
true. if it is not already true. that 1t
is cheaper to transport electricity
than merchandise and this will mean
that industries will not come here II
they can get the necessary power
nearer to their markets.
"The development of our water
TRANSFORMATION coupled with the grad
ual strangulation of the rail facilities
of the country offers hope that Maine
may still, with combination oil
water-power and water transporta-
ton, secure healthy development IN
a modest way.
1.-THE tax argument Is of less I'M
rortance than might at first appear
as the developments will be located
almost entirely upon wild lands ana
so subject only to the state tax OF
approximately seven mills.
1T is the almost unanimous
opinion of those with whom | have
| discussed this question during the
! rast year, representing all shades OF
| opinion, that Maine should adhere
to it's non transmission policy. Inc
more earnestly we are urged by
those outside the State to make a
change in this respect. the more
| Eeenly we I shall realize the i'm
portance of the position which we
occupy, with two billion to three
| billion kiloWatt hours per year of
power undeveloped, according TO the
I latest estimates.
/ ct is also to be remembered that
huge developments and transmission
lines serving southern New England
will not be established unless some
permanence of service is assured
This is indicated by the recent re-
port of the Associated Industries of
! Massachusetts upon the power stu
alton, with particular reference to
! Canadian powers, where it says:
THE question whether Canadian
and Provincial government will give
assurance that this amount of power
will be allowed to be transmitted
for a sufficiently long term of years
| cannot be answered until the prob
| lem is specifically presented to the
! Canadian and Quebec Parliament
and action taken by them"
Insofar as the. remaining rights
! within the control of the State are
concerned, either to water powers
| or to water storage sites, I believe
| the policy of lease rather than sale
| of these rights Is clearly advisable
and | have not heard this policy
| seriously questioned. These rights
will be of inestimable value in an
other generation as must be recog-
+ niZed by anyone surveying the
| POWER situation in the country to-
| day. A long-term lease along the
| lines provided for under the Federal
! Water Power Act, drawn under the
| leadership of Theodore Roosevelt,
/ protects the interests of the State
| and the people and also of the de-
/ veloping companies, assuring them
| adequate protection for their invest
/ ments.
1T was such a sutton that was
| proposed in the Dead River Reser-
| voir Bill as it was called, a COM
| promise measure covering the
storage situation in the Dead River
| region, drafted jointly by William
b. Shelton, legislative counsel of
, record for the Power Companies de-
string this storage development and
myself. This bill was formulated
under the leadership of Governor