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

les not less than the entire N,-.,
west One Quarter 90 of Tovr.saa'
8, Range 8, Piscataquis Countr
which are located Monument
South Peak, The Chimney. ~
Edge, Pomola Peak. Middle. ssas,l
and North Table Lands so-csua.
North Peak and North and Sa,..S
and Little North Basins, all on ~
Katahdin, and Dry Pond. P.s
Ponds, and Chimney Pond toes,s .a
with such additional land contirnons
to said Northwest Quarter Of To~s
ship 3, Range 9 as can be acou;,a.
for the sum of $4,000 availabls -
the purpose; third, that the nphS.
body to be created be given fun nov
er to develop the acquired land n,
public park and forest reserve nm.
poses, and to extend the boundarI.,
thereof, whenever funds are mad.
available therefor either by succesS'
ing legislatures or through the gift al
individuals or corporations. / hav.
had q map prepared to show what Il
want the State to acquire as the nm,
cleus or beginnings of the State n,
Maine Mt. Katahdin Park and For.
est Reserve"
1t is interesting to remember tb.t
the Great Northern Paper Company
in 1921 through it's lobby intimats
that it might donate to the State h,
undivided interest in some of the
land in question. 1t was gesture
only, and nothing more ever wal
heard from it. Whatever it wanted
as concessions in other direction,
evidently was not Forthcoming. NJ
is we'll in the future to bear this lai.
ter thought in mind.
Water Powers
I am deeply interested in the watr
power question. Whether or not u.
State gives away all it's water pru.
leges means nothing to me person.
ally but I am concerned with the n.
ture of Maine and want the right
of our people protected.
There has been widespread discus.
sion of this subject in the newspaper
and elsewhere, and vast amount d
mis- information, inspired by selhsh
interest, has been spread abroad
With few exceptions the press stand,
with the water power owners and
has failed to give proper presentaticul
of the peoples side. From out Of an
this mass of discussion and arm.
ment, however, there has grown nj
a healthy public sentiment in favw
of the States retaining ownership ID
all it's natural resources, which sen.
timent, though at times inexpressiys
is strong and well defined. As one
writer has said. 1.-The time CONS
when through the very discussioa
that has been aroused the trun
emergeS."
There are two fundamental prin.
ciples as to Maine water powedr
First, the retention in Maine Of ths
hydro electric energy generated with.
in the State; and Second, the reten.
ton by the State Of its ownershb
of its few remaining water resources
The development of our water pow.
ers should be and always has been
encouraged and notwithstanding
newspapers comment to the contrsf5
the only check ever placed upon d.
velopment in Maine was in 1914
when the Kennebec Reservoir char.
ter was defeated. Up to that time
the corporations had been giva
everything they asked for. When tn
bill referred to came before me BE-.
lieved it was better to stop that par.
ticular development than for tn
State to deed away its most valuabh
water resource. A public calamity
was prevented by my veto of the bin
referred to. If Maine holds fast to
the two principles above mentioned
succeeding generations will be CRATE.
full to those responsible for it.
The Interests Not Consistent
The water power corporations are
carrying on extensive propaganda y
their own interest. They gradualI
have obtained a strong influence over
business and politics throughout TIE
State and have become exceedingr
powerful. Constant attacks an
made against every form of pubm
ownership. and the advantages that
accrue from private ownership an
emphasized upon every occasion. y
is interesting to note the opposition
to public ownership on the part q
certain groups who are not averse q
unloading on the State unproftabk
ventures such as piers and ferries
while those that promise rich returrs
are closely held for private profit
Without entering upon a discussion
of the broad question of public own.
ership, ] believe that the State itsel
should develop water storage in oul
lakes and great reservoir basins, al
Of which belong to the people, ana
.SnlI In, Ia, Ilnnf-- ~ diet rihllting
companies such hydro electric enerss
as may be generated on public powe'
sites. This can be done safely, pro-
titably and without bringing politic'
into competition with BUSINESS. u
however pubic sentiment has not az
vanced to my point of view the star
should retain ownership OF all IL
water resources. permitting them %
be developed under leases that thor
oughly safeguard the public interesa
A Probability?
am apprehensive that some I'd.
certain power companies along o ~
New Hampshire border arbitrarlI
may take matters into their owi
hands. hurriedly construct transhis
sion lines across the State bounoar!
turn on the electric current and tnei
appeal to the United States Supren'
Court for protection under the ln'e.'
state Commerce Law. What inc ~
suit would be if this happened ! sn
not prepared to say. 1t would ue
pend upon the attitude OF the uo os,
ernor. the Attorney General ana u,
Legislature of that period. L zee,
however that the time yet VIII cum n,
when, through sllilful manipuauu,.,
of public sentiment, the Legislatul....
of future years will yield to press.usl' '
and once and for all deed away y. .S'
pitifullv small inheritance in tn'
Continued on Page 9. Col. "