The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-02-14
F. l.. Ames on the Power situation
dependent-Reporter Co,
Skowhegan, Maine.
Gnnflpman.

ohoHhE6dils hoihS'
Gentlemen:
Dr.. George Otis Smith, director of
the United States Geological Survey
has discussed the power situation
very fully in his open letters to Mr..
Gnrney, chairman of the Public Uti-
lities Commission.
However. there seems TO be much
more which may be aptly said upon
this important subject.
The Mill Act, law of the legisla-
ture of Maine. permits the owner of
the opposite banks of river or
stream, AT a waterfall, 10 build and
maintain dam and 10 flow land, by
paying damage for the flowage; under
This law, the present dams in Maine
have been built and are owned by
the builders and the grantees of the
builders.
Hence the state of Maine does not
own The dams or the power created
thereby Furthermore, no sensible
person ever made any claim to that
effect
But times have changed since the
passage of the Mill Act. The owners
of dams up and down our important
rivers have been bought out compe-
tition no longer exists to any consid-
cradle degree; the policy of the law
might reasonably be changed.
In Chapter 12S OF the Revised Sta
tutes Of Maine, it is made unlawful
to form Il monopoly. This has long
been the law of the state; yet by the
the Public Utilities act which became
the law when Wnl~ T. Hanes was
Governor, three men are permitted to
give license to certain corporations
to buN up others and this monopoly
law, in direct conflict with the old
monopoly law, has been now exer-
cised so extensively that the control
of light and power by waterfalls, is
in the hands of a few and these few
constitute a virtual monopoly.
More than forty years ago. | saw
arc lights hanging over the counters
of the stores in Skowhegan village;
and now forty years later, | see but
a very small fraction Of the farm
buildings in Maine lighted and equip
ped with electric power.
And now when DR.. Smith wants to
wire this power out of Maine, we need
to protest; we need to light and cleo
trify the machinery of the farm. This
must be done before any current
moves out of our. borders.
Maine waterpowers are the product
of the joint action of the sun. the
two hundred miles of Atlantic Ocean
off our coast line, the air as an eva
poration agency and as carrier of
moisture in the shape of clouds and
Of the cooling surfaces Of our lands
which bring about the condensation
Of that moisture in the shape of rain.
This wonderful agency of nature
which brings water to the crest of
SkoWhegan dam, does ii abundantly
and without expense to the owners of
the dam. To haul that vast quanti-
ty Of water annually by train, truck
or otherwise from the shore of the
Atlantic, would cost our power own
ers vast sums of mlonny. Hence the
velvet in a water power.
The state does not own and never
did in recent years own, any of these
great natural means of making money
but the time is already at hand when
The true interests Of the state may
make il an important issue, in view
of the monopoly which has been
formed, just what the respective
rights of the public and what the
rights Of the corporations are in the
premises.
The article herewith submitted is
calculated TO approach the subject, as
we find it; to propose a definite. prac-
teal plan for farm development
without undertaking to upset anyone
The power companies do not seem to
find farm development profitable; this
plan would enable any
farming town in Maine, but would
not compel it, to obtain immediate
light and power
Article-To see if the town will
vote to instruct its next representa-
tive to the legislature and the next .
to work in behalf of con-
and statute law to enable |
towns and cities TO construct light
and power lines to farmhouses and F
to contract with existing power com
panies for electric current: said lines
to be built, when voted by any town
or city. by bond issue, payable on /
a sound amortization plan.
Yours truly.
FRANK L. AMES
Me Feb. Il. 1924. +
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