Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-31
GOVERNOR MAKES REPLY
TO CRITICISM HIS STAND
ON States WATER POWER

than ever. There now is imminent
danger of our losing our water
powers and having them transmitted
TO other states. Certain forces,
backed by unlimited wealth. by large
business interests, by some news
papers and politicians, are making a
determined drive against this law.
In fact. powerful influences center
ing IN Boston, New York, Washing
ton and Maine seek &c break down
Names TRANSMISSION policy.
Goveror Baxter stated that the So
called super power line" is a pro-
ject that seeks to bring into one
great system all the principal power
resources of the North Atlantic
States.
1T is argued that Maine could
recall the power from those states
to which it is TO be shipped. but this
would not be so, beca,-e there never
would be any demand for such re
cal:.' The industries that would
use this power would be located far
away from Maine. and there they
would remain, draining US for all
time. Factories built at the end of
a power line running from Moose
head Lake to Connecticut never will
be moved to Maine. Although | ia
vor development l prefer to have
some OF our water power remain idle
for a few years longer, until such
time as we ourselves need ie: on the
other hand an Intra- Maine Super
Power line is much to be desired
and progress already has been made
on it.
A Recent Attack
"Recently. at Bangor. a man for
merly with the Department of Com
merce, bitterly attacked our nom
transmission policy. He called
Names policy provincial and selfish
and told of the great income :hat
would flow into the State treasury
by reason of the construction of
water power dams in the back woods
of Maine from which power would
be shipped TO other states. The
figures of Mr.. Clarence 5. Stetson
were manufactured for the occasion
ard are not worth of serious dis
cussion. No doubt some of his aud
fence were in sympathy with his
/ ideas, because waite power ana
cumberland interests often work to-
eether and what benefits one hcnc-
fits the other, but the rank and file
of the people Of this State. in my
opinion, have very decided opinions
upon this question and viii not be
moved by the pleas of special inter
ests.
"NIr. Stctson is not hopeful of
Names future He said. chat Maine
will become in the reasonably near
future, n really great industrial and
manufacturing State is fiction" and
then proceeded &c argue that we
should develop our water power and
allow other states to get the benefit
Of it. The ncighboring New Eng
land States are in need of power"
and ut is time that this Doctrine
(non- transmission is cast to the
winds" he continued. | admit that
this is true if we want to build UP
our neighbOrs at our own expense.
1T is true that if power is develop
ell for outside use n considerable
sum Of ! Grey would be spent in
construction work in Maine. 1t.
however, is spent but once and the
taxes levied. upon tho Development
would he nominal as most of the
dams would be located in the wild
land townships whore taxes are
about onc-fifth what they are in
towns and cities. The income and
the real profit from Il change in
Names policy all would go into The
treasury Of the great electric trust,
and not into the State treasury or
the pockets of Maine People.
George Ots Smith Attacks Our
Policy
''Thc super power attack has dcNol-
oped from another angle and the plans
were laid in 1890. Mir. George otis
smith. director of the L. S. Geological
Survey. writes that he made an AZ
rangcmcnt with Governor-elect Park
!.
open letters the purpose Of which was
to break down Names policy. Gov
ernor parkhurst. agreed. Mir Smith
says. to receive these letters and pub
Lefty was to be given them Some
months ago | was surprised to tsarn
of this arrangement and ii now appears
that the plan has not been abandoned.
Under date of Dec. II. 1928. Director
Smith asks if / would allow him 10
address his open letters to M. and
says: 1 am taking the liberty of ask
ing Your opinion whether there is any
better method for me to treat the cues
ton than by addressing you an onen
letter or two, method which had
been agreed upon by Governor Park
hurst
Il replied to Director Smith on Jan
uary ?. 1924, in part. as follows:
1T is probably true that I am as
much responsible for Names non
transmission law as as any other cit
izen and | believe it is vital for
the state to insist upon this policy
.. I do not want to do anything
that would tend to break down our
policy and prefer that you
would not address any open letters to
me. | do not want to he used as a
vehicle for the transmission of ideas
which believe If put into effect would
prove detrimental TO the people and in
dustres Of Maine
Since the above CORE spondence. Di-
rector Smith has addressed his open
letters to Hon. Charles i. Quincy.
chairman of our Public Utilities Com
mission. Instead of giving Chairman
Quincy time to read the letters and
decide whether or not he cared to be
used for the transmission Of Dr.
Smiths views. Mr.. Smith forwarded
his letters to the daily papers with
the result that they now arc being
given the widest publicity. Evidently
he did not wish to receive from Chair
man Quincy a letter similar TO the one
that came from me. II is unworthy
Of him to say our policy is not even