Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-16
Central Maine Power Company
Head Gives Arguments For
Change in Present Law At
Augusta Meeting of Central
Maine Textile Association

That expectation of hydro electric
power from the state of Maine to
other places would react to the bene-
fit of the state through decrease in
the cost of the electric energy used
in Maine, and that it would result
in the construction of power plants,
which would be able to generate suf-
f1cient horsepower so that they would
attract industries to the state be-
cause of the already available power,
was the statement of Walter s. Wy
man at q meeting of the Central
Maine Textile Association which was
held Tuesday evening at the Augusta
House.
Mr.. Wyman pointed out that the
cost of construction of a power plant
Is not the only one, but that there IS
a certain fixed cost of maintenance
which must be met and that this does
not vary with the amount Of power
produced. Therefore If the power
plant is run at it's maximum capacity,
the cost per horse power is Of course
much less than it would be if only
a fraction of the entire capacity of
the plant were being used.
AT the present time he declared.
there is plenty of power going to
waste over the dams of the company
in this state, which if it could be ex-
ported would result in, saving to
the people of Maine through the add
ed income which would be derived
without added cost
He told of an instance where one
manufacturer had been found who
was willing to build a plant in Maine
which would use 10000 horsepower if
it could be secured. This of course
would be but small part of the total
amount of power which would be de-
veloped by a power station of 100000
horsepower, and the overhead" costs
of the plant would be SO high that
the 10000 horsepower would not be
sufficient to enable a power company
to undertake the big station. If, how
ever. the surplus power could, be sold
at a sufficient price to permit the
building of a large plant, that woulo
be a magnet that would draw indus
tries to the state. but they will not
come until they are assured of i'm
mediate power, they can't wait three
or four years while such plant is
being erected.
He said that the Central Maine
Power Company has been accused of
having no regard for the state Of
Maine, but that they were simply af-
ter q market where they could sell
their product with more profit to
themselves. In answer to that pro-
position he pointed out that the COM
pany has $30,00O,000 of property in
this state, much of which is not and
could not be of use in the selling of
power outside the state. but which is
used only for distribution within the
state, If Maine should begin to slip
back, industrially, the company woulu
sustain heavy loss. therefore it is
to their advantage that Maine shall
continue to prosper
He also stated that the Interchange
of power between two states would
be of aid, through the ability to meet
sudden temporary demands for more
power, just as is done now in Maine,
one district sending its surplus power
to another district where there is a
need for it. Mr.. Wyman pointed out
that statistics show that where a
state does exchange power in this
way the state prospers to a consid-
cradle degree indusrially.
The meeting was attended by about
SIS members of the association from
the various cities of Central Maine,
who enjoyed the address very much.
This address came as a part of the
program which followed a very eX-
cellent inner, served in the banquet
hall of the hotel.
At the opening OF the program,
President Ernest Upton of Water
vile turned the meeting over to Vice
President Charles +. Chase of this
city, who headed the local committee
which had charge of the evenings
entertainment. Ken Haskell and
Farmer" Burke the Cony High
school comedians who appeared at
the B. r. Keith theatre while on the
Cony High trip to Washington. d.
c.. presented their excellent dialogue
n:':"ber entitled "Yiddish Yokels."
which made big hit with the MEM
bcrs of the Association.
TIC members were urged to get
re- for the joint meeting Of the
Cc-,tral Maine Textile Association
ar the Androscoggin Textile Asso-
CT, IN. which is to be held June 26
at Tacoma Lake and at which there
will he keen rivalry in athletics. Mu-
sic for the meeting at the Augusta
House was furnished by the Cotton
Mill Melodians." composed of six