Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

spondence, and many times all Of
| these. Its offices at the State House
are open to the public from eight
! o'clock in the forenoon to five o'clocI
in the afternoon.
The duties Of the Commission are
numerous, and the work varied
Each day involves hearings or vari-
Gus conferences with utility operators
or the public. The commissioners
and their staff devote their entire
time to the position waich each occu-
pies.
The S1st legislature enacted Chap
ter 149 of the Public Laws of 1928
being an act providing for inspection
/ registration and safety of vessels en-
gagged in inland navigation under the
jurisdiction Of the Public Utilities
Commission. Previous to 1928 the
inspection and regulation of steam
boats was performed by the Steam
boat Inspectors. The practical appli-
cation Of the law of 1928 places upon
the Commission many additional
duties.
WATER RESOURCES DIVISION
Maine began early the investiga-
tion of it's water resources. In ac-
cordance with the recommendation
of Governor Chamberlain an eXplor-
alton of the water powers of the
State was ordered by the legislatur
of 1867 and was entered upon under
the general supervision Of q commits
sion consisting Of Honorables John A.
Poor, A. d. Lockwood and Hannibal
Hamlin. The resulting report of Mr..
Walter Wells is considered as au-
thority even to the present day.
10 f,rr Of
law creating what was known as the
Topographic Commission. Hon.
Leslie A. Lee, Hon. William Engle
and Hon. c. S. Hichborn were ap-
pointed commissioners by Governor
Hill. Later the enlargement of the
scope of work of this commission
rendered this name inappropriate and
the legislature of 1906 by act ordered
that it should be known as the State
Survey Commission. From its incep-
ton it cooperated with the U. s.
Geological Survey in Ill branches of
it's work. While this commission
existed much work was done on
topographic mapping, plans and pro-
files of most of the principal rivers,
geological investigations, and the col
lection of river discharge data.
In 1909 law was passed authoriZ-
ing the appointment Of another COM
mission known as the State Water
Storage Commission. Hon. e. p
Kicker. Hon. ]. NJ. McNulty ard Hon
L. c. Jordan were appointed to serve
with the State Land Agent, Hon. D.
E. Ring, on the commission, of which
Governor Fernald was the chairman
This organization. with Mr.. Cyrus c.
Babb as chief engineer. published four
very valuable annual reports on the
water power resources Of the state
and submitted a bill to the legislature
providing for extensive control by the
state of the construction OF dams
the taxation of water powers and the
regulations of storage reservoirs on
the great ponds of The state. The
bill was not pa ssed by the 18th legis-
lature. That legislature, by section
II of the act creating the Public
Utilities Commission, repealed the
law creating the State Water Storage
Commission and gave the Public
Utilities Commission "All powers
vested in said Board water Storage
Commission) together with the duties
and privileges now conferred upon
said Board by law"
Reports were published in 1915 and
1916 by the Public Utilities Commits
sion showing the progress Of work or
topographic mapping, collection OF
river discharge data and geological
Investigations. There were presented
to the 18th iegislatur several pro-
posed acts none of which became law
but it was evident hat a very large
number of our people were becoming
interested in the water powers OF the
state. AS result plans were made
for as full an investigation as could
be made with the funds available and
special report on water powers was
published in 1918.
Another change was made in 1918
when the legislature passed a law to
create the Maine Water Power Com
mission and directed 1t to take over
the work of investigating the water
resources of the state. Two reports
were published by the Water Power
Commission showing the progress on
topography, geologic, and hydro
graphic work, and among other
things suggested legislation for river
regulations.
The Water Power Commission was
abolished on June 80, 1928. Since
then no legislative authority has
existed for the continuation of worl;
on water resources and topographic
mapping, but the mapping and collec-
ton of data egarding river flow, pre-
cipitation and evaporation have been
continued under the Public Utilities
Commission by direction Of the Chief
Executive. from funds set aside by
Council Order from The Governor S
contingent fund.