Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-02

of thousands of square miles of ter
ritory within the State OF Maine:
and an application Is now pending
calculated to lay a firm foundation
for carrying out the plan.
Grand Falls on the st. John Riv-
er three miles beyond our boundary
is a waterp power of the first magni-
tude, and its development by the
Provincial government is now plan
ned. According to the report of
three per cent of the storage essen
tial to the economical development
of this water-power Is located with
in the State of Maine. Over four
thousand five hundred square miles
Of territory in Maine is affected by
this project, with a drainage area
furnishing over fifty billion cubic
feet of water capable of storage and
appropriate release. Several addi-
tional billion cubic feet of water
would also be stored jointly by the
boundaries of the Province and the
State of Maine.
With the storage available upon
the Canadian side of the line Grand
thousand electrical horsepower for
commercial use. With the storage
available in the State of Maine, and
no alteration in the generati ting ma
chinery or additional investment of
any kind other than the development
Of storage facilities, Grand Falls
would develop over one hundred and
twenty thousand electrical horsepow-
er for commercial use. Thus the
Maine reservoirs would double the
effectiveness of this power and have
its productive cost, assuming the
storage costs on each side of the
line to be approximately the same,
although it is probable that the ad-
vantage in this respect is in favor
Of Maine.
The Provincial Government Is pro-
posing to develop this power, in
spired by the example of Ontario, be-
cause it believes that very great in
dustrial expansion and commercial
development will come as the result
OF available power of this character.
The international Commission on
the uses of the st. John river ten
years ago. examined this territory
exhaustively and all the commission
ers representing both countries
agreed in the following statement:
THE utilization of this immense
power that nature has placed at
their disposal would unquestionably
greatly stimulate the prosperity of
the people of both countries. The
storage afforded in both countries is
a necessary factor. for the use Of
which harmonious action by both
Governments is requisite. With
great natural advantages, unusual
nit b,,r
dance of forest products available,
there would seem to be every reason
for believing that, with proper de-
velopment Of this power. aided by
such conservation OF water as the
evidence shows to be feasible, this
section would witness a remarkable
increase in wealth and population.
appropriate legislation would
safeguard the interests Of the people
OF both countries and insure to each
a proper measure of enjoyment"
- -
I'm the opinion of the commission
ers both Governments will be amply
repaid for the expense of the work.
Its results demonstrate that the i'm
mense conservation possibilities, for
water purposes as we'll as log -driv-
ing, both in the United States and in
Canada. which is practicable and
feasible, need but development to
add to both countries extensive in
dustries, to multiply the wealth and
largely increase the population on
both sides of the international boun-
dairy"
Nothing has been done to carry out
the recommendations Of this COM
mission and cooperative action or
even legislative sanction by the
State Of Maine does not now seem to
be necessary for our neighbors to
reap for themselves the full bene-
fits of the development Of this great
water shed.
The existing laws of the State of
Maine, apparently leave us absolute
ly unprotected. If the Provincial gov
eminent shall decide to carry this
project to completion before a
change in our laws is made. The
course is astonishingly simple, and
the initial step has already been
taken, and it is further clearly evil
dent that all of the steps in the Sc
Quence are already known to the
authorities that are concerned.
Application for the development of
Grand Falls is now pending with the
international Joint Commission. The
initial dam at Grand Falls will flow
back water for thirty-two miles,
twenty nine OF which are along the
international boundary. raising the
level Of the river sixteen feet above
low water, and flowing out approx
mately four hundred acres Of land in
the State of Maine. besides possibly
over-fiowing certain lines of the
Bangor and Aroostook Railway. This
Is of course important and we are TAX
Ing steps to protect our rights, but
this is of negligible Importance COM
pared with what lies just beyond.
Assuming that tho Tpforro