Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-16
CUR WATER POWER
WHAT DO WITH IT
AN OPEN LETTER
Washington, D. c.,
January Is, 1924.

January Is, 1924.
Hon. Charles f. Quincy. Chairman,
Public Utilities Commission Of Maine.
My Dear Chairman Quincy:
Just before the late Governor Park
hurst assumed office l made an in
formal arrangement to write him a
series of short open letters on the
water power of Maine. but his I'M
timely death prevented these letters
being written. AS explained to him,
my professional life has been spent
In the service, of Federal scientific
bureau that is investigating the nat
ural resources of the United States,
and during the last Is years my off,
cial duties have brought me into
close touch with water-power devel-
opment the country over. But 1t is as
citizen Of Maine-one Of its many
citizens who are interested in the
w1sest use OF its resources--that l
wish to address you on this subject
Of the water power of Maine.
You realize, as / do, that the use
OF all our sources of energy to
strengthen the arm of human labor
is becoming more and more impera-
tive as we develop our industries.
Our civilization is largely machine
made. and the problem of finding how
we can turn more wheels with the
now embarrassed power of our rivers
Is not political issue, It Is distinctly
a business problem. Whatever may
be our political faith we need to get
together as business men and study
the practical economics of water
power development.
A cardinal point in the present
water-power policy. as enunciated
by Names Chief Executive, Is that
"Maine's water powers must be kept
In Maine for the benefit OF Maine
people and Maine industries" yet I
must suggest that the reasoning back
of that declaration is open to debate.
In fact. 1t is this very question "NVhat
will most benefit Maine people and
Maine industries?" that I wish to
discuss with you as a State official
whose duties lie somewhat close to
this subject OF State control OF utili-
ties. OF course. i do not overlook
Governor Baxter's assertions that the
monopolization of Names water
power for Names use IL n principle
established beyond recall" and that
the policy Of non-tr transmission be-
yond the confines Of the State" Is
fixed" but II is the teaching of eco
nomic and political history that no
economic principle Is beyond recall
unless that principle is correct. and
that no public policy is fixed until It.
is fixed right.
The real issue that demands imme-
date consideration nv every citizen
interested in Names future is how to
bring about the larger use OF the en-
ergy In the flowing water Of Names
rivers. The figures published by
your commission show that regula-
ton by means Of storage reservoirs
would add only $4,000 horsepower TO
the sites already developed. yet on
the three western rivers-the Saco.
Androscoggin md Kennebec-there
are unused sites that would yield
$4,000 horsepower without storage
while we are waiting for a State
storage-reservoir plan. Full regula-
ton of Maine rivers by storage seems
to me a necessary but later step, for
we must remember that Nature has
already blessed our State with q
fairly good system of river regula-
ton by chains of innumerable ponds
and lakes. and that we have not yet
taken full advantage Of the water
power privileges thus created by
natural law. Surely It is we'll for
man 10 profit by the laws that Ma
ture long ago put on her statute
books before he enacts new legisla-
ton Of his own, which at its best IN
never an Improvement on the old
fashioned kind that Mother Nature
made. In a word. let US first use
what we already have.
Unfortunately, Maine Is not lead
ing the thought of the Nation In this
matter Of making wisest use Of the
natural sources OF energy. United
and concerted action by the states
that constitute the northeastern Sec
ton of the country. which has been
aptly termed the Finishing shop Of
the nation" II under way. and the
fact that our State Is recognized a.
an outsider in relation to this action
impels me to urge upon my fellow
citizens some consideration of the
super-power program. regret that
many in Maine seem both to misun-
dcrstand this power policy to which
much thought has been given by