Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-22
ELECTRIC POWER
SUBJECT SPEECH
AT k|WANIS CLUB

Eeorge d. Hegarty, local manager Of
the Central Maine Power Co., spoke to
the members of the Waterville XII
wants Club at its meeting at the Elm
wood Hotel last evening in very in
teresting way on electric power, its
early history and its present applica-
lions.
At the opening Of his address he
SAID: The brief space of As years can
pc said to cover practically the whole
history of the utility industry, but
during these as years the development
Of the utilities has materially changed
the physical aspect Of our civilization.
1T is safe to say that the tremen-
dous growth of our cities during the
last half century both was made pos
sible by and has rendered indispens-
able the service Of the utilities.
In thousands of different ways
these services have become an integral
part Of the daily lives of every indi-
v1dual Inc the settled sections of the
country"
Mr.. Hegarty devoted some time to q
discussion of the rapid rise of the cleo
trical industry and in telling of the
history of electricity in Maine he said:
Several of you will distinctly resnem-
Der James G. Blaine's triumphal home
coming to Augusta in 1889 and the
wonderful street lighting demonstra-
ton which consisted of 10 open type
arc lamps starting at the railroad sta
ton and going UP over Rines hill"
The speaker drew a comparison be-
tween the infancy of the industry and
its present magnitude and he said that
while % years ago there was but one
power station exceeding 5000 horse
power there are today at least 100 sta
tons of 100000 horsepower
America has more electricity at
work than all the other nations of the
world combined. In the ranking order
they are Germany, Japan, Great Bril-
tain, ireland. France and Canada.
These are the five ranking countries
following the United States, the devel-
opment of this country being six times
that Of Germany"
Mr.. Hegarty pointed out that despite
the diminished purchasing power of
the dollar the department Of labor re-
ports decrease in the price of cleo
trfcity to the consumer during the Pc
Rod from 1918 to 1924 of 8 ITO per
cent, while in the same period the av-
erage cost of living increased 20 per
cent. He went on: THE cost to pro-
duce a given amount of light now is
v PCA NCHt. VI ItS COSL III 1851. IOQay
dollar will buy $4,000 candlepower
as against HOO in 1887 and TOO in
1909"
Extends Invitation
In speaking of the building pro-
gram of the Central Maine Power
Co., Mr.. Hegarty said: "In our own
company we have under way a n.y.
dro-electric development Of $1,000
horse power on the Androscoggin
river, four miles above Lewiston. We
welcome visitors and in behalf of
the management extend to you
cordial invitation to visit this con-
struction job with your family and
friends any time during the year
1925"
Mr.. Hegary. explained that the law
forbidding the expectation Of power
developed within the state out Of
Maine and he said that at that time
there was no realization to what
great magnitude the industry would
in the future attain. He expressed
the firm belief that the law should
be repealed, arguing that this law
has been in force for Is years with