Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-28
Editors Letter Box
WaterpOwer Sites
Owned by State
The Proper Policy
The Kennebec Journal

The kennebeC Journal
In an editorial some time ago, you
indicated that much had been said
about Names water power, and our
very valuable interests therein, but
that little or no information had
been given us as to where they are
located, their extent, feasibility of
their development. or possible
value. the general opinion is that
the water power sites over which
the State has control are situated
on the public lots. These sites are
comparatively few. The following
are the most important. The
Steepslde (The Forks, site of which
the State controls the East bank,
has d. A. drainage area), of some
1870 square miles, and an estimated
$4,000 horse power three fifths of
the time. The West bank is owned
by private parties, who of course
have equal rights with the State.
The next in importance is the Long
Falls, or famous Dead River site.
Here can be developed a fall of
some 70 feet. The u. A. is some
500 square miles, capable of a $500
II. L. development 5000 of the time,
and with an expenditure of about
million dollars the flow can be
kept up 5000 of the time. The pub
/ lie lots on both sides of the river
are owned by Township Three, r
of which the State is trustee.
Indian Pond site, IL foot head, d. A.
1850, Fl. Z. LAO. Public Lot on East
tank but the logical site is said to
be over 2 miles down stream. In
Township ], r 3, st. Croix river,
public lot on West bank, 80 foot
head. d. A. 400 S. M. Fl. P. 1860 500
of the time. But as the logical site
is said to be some two miles below,
it is doubtful if the State would
have control. In Township 1, r Z,
East Branch Penobscot, 1,101 II. l..
both banks mot logical site"
Seboomook Falls, both banks II
foot fall. 500 D. A. 1000 H. p.
There are few others where the
State controls one or both banks,
with H. p. ranging from 500 to IT'S
II. =. AS far as surveyed. it ap-
pears that there are about $4,000
H. P. capable of development
adjacent to the public lots. of
these the State controls both banks,
adjacent to about 5000 H. p. and
but one bank of the remainder. OF
the 1,135,000 H. p. located in the
State, some 475,000 have been de-
veloped. How much control the
State has over the remainder is a
matter of conjecture. AT the Dead
River site which caused so much
friction in the last Legislature the
public lots occupy both banks of the
streamsa Much ado was made over
the claim in regard to the great
benefit that would accrue to the
State by the development Of this
power. The fact is that the State
does not own the public lots con-
trolling the site. Massachusetts had
set apart certain lots in every I'M
organized township for school and
other purposes and we assumed the
same trust when we became a state.
so II that power should be develop
ed as indicated and valuable re-
turns be received, they would not
accrue to the State, but would have
to be held in trust by the State for
the benefit of the unorganized
Township Three, r 4 as those lots
were set aside for school purposes
Tor the benefit of that township. and
the State would have to paw 4eb
interest on the amount received.
AS that township is of such
character that there is not much
prospect of. it being settled. that
money would be an increasing ia
bility on the State l asked the
best lawyers If under the circun-
stances the courts would not
vacate the trust for the benefit of
the State. and the opinion was that
the courts would be very cffary Of
doing so. The courts are not
anxious to make important pre-
cedents. In regard to the value of
undeyeloped water power of course