Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-14


at Quoddy Bay. but suggester that
Maine should take steps to control
it's power. He started on tribute
to the work Of Ex-Governor Baxter
in blocking the Dead River storage
development two years ago, but the
matter was ruled out by Chairman
Hinckley of the committee as irrel-
evant.
II have no feeling of hostility
against the project declared Repre-
sentative Cummings Of Portland. I'm
fact, | feel very favorable towards it.
Ii there is power in the bay and it
can be utilized l want to see it done"
rs there anything in the charter
which would prevent the purchasing
Of hydro electric power purchased
from fresh waters?" asked Represen-
tative Cummings of Mr.. Cooper.
Representative Cummings asked
that if the concern had the right to
purchase power, if that would not do
away with the provision Of the stat
utes preventing the expectation of
power outside Of the state.
I'VE have no thought OF purchas-
ing power" replied Mr.. Cooper, who
tionT of the bill. which reads: 1T
shaH not be lawful for said corpora
ton to transmit electric current gen.
Grated in any other manner than by
tide power beyond the limits of the
State"
Attorney Andrews then called upon
Councillor Robert j. Peacock of Luz
bee, who expressed the opinion that
the county of Washington has been
slipping back in population and in
dustry during the past few years
and is now naturally looking around
for new industries to locate there.
lie spoke of the high transmission
rates and high cost of power in that
county, and said that the bill under
consideration, if the charter is grant
cd and the power can be developed,
will solde the questions. lie de-
clared that with this project the
county would have as cheap power
to interest manufacturers to- come,
as any part of the State or any part
of the country.
Il believe if we can develop this
project we can also interest water
transportation SO that we will be In a
position to compete with any place in
Maine or even with Massachusetts or
Rhode Island asserted Councillor
Peacock.
business and the fertilizer business
as industries that might be attracted
to Washington county. He pointed
out that it would mean an increase in
property valuation and the employ
ment of more people. He stated that
he understood that the Maine Central
railroad engineers are studying the
question of electrifying the road, so
that if the proposed "ower project
was developed it might be possible to
help the railroad.
The fact that many companies In
the state have been short of power
during the past few years was spoken
of by Mr.. Peacock. who asserted that
the project would be of assistance to
those companies.
Mr.. Cooper answering question
by Senator Carter. said
that power could be delivered to in
dustries in the Industrial centers bor-
dering on New Hampshire and Bos-
ton for less than one cent per kilo-
watt hour. He pointed out that the
more power put into the transmission
lines the less power will be lost.
Replying to a question by Repre-
sentative Wing of Auburn, Mr.. Coo
per said that in order to deliver pow
er in Massachusetts it would be ne
cessary to procure permission from
Nassa chusetts.
Senator Miner of Washington coun-
ty spoke of the advantages of the
plan in helping navigation at Calais
and identifying the surroundings by
covering the mud ats with water.
Alfred K. Ames of Machias, former
state senator, spoke of the need of
like this project to help in
dustrial and commercial conditions
in Washington county.
Ex-senator Roscoe c. Emery of
Eastport said that the people Of
Washington county were behind Mr..
Cooper and his project.
This will mean lot to the people
of Washington county" continued Mr..
Emery. TT will mean the expenditure
of one seventh of the total valuation
of the state, and the erection of num-
erous factories. We were skeptical at
first down our way but on complete
information and becoming better &C
quainted with Mr.. Cooped and his ac-
complishmentS. we are convinced that
his scheme Is feasible. 1t is the COM
mon subject Of conversation down
our way and we are anxious to have
the matter go through without inter-
ruption.
1--WE wanted to have a large dele
cation come here from Washington
county but Mr.. Cooper objected. say
ing that he did not want to tire the
members of the committee with too
much repetition.
II believe that this is a forward
step in the movement to boom
Maine"
The Opposition
Senator Charles B. Carter Of An
droscoggin stated that he did not OPP
pose the bill in it's entirety.
II certainly do not want to stop
the development of Maine" he said,
I'VE need payrolls in Maine. But this
brings up the policy of the state
which was adopted in 1909 against
shipping electricity out of the state"
Senator Carter stated that he had
received a telegram from United
States Senator Bert NJ. Fernald, who
was governor of Maine in 1909 when
the law forbidding the shipment Of
electricity out of the state was pass
ed requesting the committee to hold
the matter open, Senator Fernald
stating that he had written him.
Chairman Hinckley stated that the
committee would certainly not pass
upon the question until the letter
from Senator Fernald was received.
"The question at issue is the chang
ing the policy of the state in ship
ping electricity from the state, and
this matter evidently appeals to Sem