Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-03-25
OUODDY POWER PL.E.
Eastern Maine Greatly Interested in
= Proposed Development.

IIdStcGH oICdtly lHtCICStCu
4 Proposed Development.
Washington county, all eastern
Maine, in fact, is deeply interested
in the plan advanced by Dexter P.
Cooper, a hydro-electric engineer of
national standing, in the proposed
development of an immense hydro
electric plant at Eastport, utilizing
the tides ait CObsecook and Passama-
quoddy bays for initial power
Mr.. Cooper says his plans were
based on sound facts which have been
tried and proven in the past. AS a
result of twelve years of study of the
tidal possibilities of this section, he
has come to the conclusion that the
project if developed, would cost in
the neighborhood of from seventy-five
to one hundred million dollars. In
return, he said, it would develop
between 5000 and 100000 horse
power, depending on the range of
the tides Five thousand men would
be employed four years in construc-
ton work
IF all of the energy could be con-
sumed by the filling and draining of
the Cobsecook and PCssamaquoddy
Bays. in accordance with my idea"
says Mr. Cooper, "a tremendous
amount of power could be developed.
This idea, so to speak, means
nothing more than the applying OF
Well-tested and practical plans of the
modern hydro-electric plants.
1T is not my intention to go into
bo hucinacc Of rot limo I1owar in N o
State of Maine if my proposal is met
with favor. l wish to avoid having
the idea circulated that it is my in
tention to sell power, to retail it as
such, and undermine the present
business of any local distributing
company
For the purpose of insuring the re-
ceiving and industrial plants for the
absorption of power, at the power
generating plant, Mr. Cooper has
asked that a neutral zone be estab-
lished within radius of fifty miles
of the generating station, where he
may have the privilege of selling
large blocks of power to prospective
industrial users.
Mr.. Cooper in discussing the build
ing of dams, stated that the diff
Guilty would not be as great as that
involved in the construction of the
dam across the Mississippi river at
Keokuk, which was built under his
direction.
"You can figure the exact height of
the tide here for a hundred years
ahead if necessary" he said, "but
you could never tell from one week
to another what the Mississippi river
would do"
The Keokuk dam, which was built
at cost of $25, 900, required
thirty months for construction. 1t
was built in water forty or more feet
deep in places, over typical river
bed of sand and sediment, and with
nothing like the building material
offered in abundance in this vicinity.
"A portion of the power would
have to be sold at the plant said
Mr.. Cooper, land another portion
would have to be exported. This
would mean that large electro-chemi-
cal plants would be brought to this
section and local electro-che mical
plants built up. The other portion
would be sold in a market which
could absorb it.
More power could be developed
here in six weeks or two months
than was developed in the entire
State in 1928, and this statement is
made as the result of absolute
figures.
81 feel sure that the development
of this proposition would benefit this
vicinity not only in doing its share
in boosting the State in accordance
with the Maine publicity plans for
an industrial boom, but likewise in
bringing thousands of additional
tourists into Maine each year.
Furthermore, this plan, if carried
out, would benefit the shipping Of
this immediate vicinity, as there