Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-05
WATER POWER POLICY
ENG. lee PRESENTS
FACTS AND FIGURES

Pittsfield, he, March 4:-(SpeciaD
speaking before a large an enthu-
siastic gathering Of the Pittsfield
Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Ed
ward G. Lee Of Watervile, chief de-
signing engineer for the Central
Maine Water Company, gave talk
on the water power policy of Maine.
Mr.. Lee told his listeners that many
thinking citizens of the state, IL they
have not already concluded that the
non export of water power policy is
not wise, are beginning to wonder
why 1t has not produced the desired
results"
Mr.. Lees talk was full of facts
and figures to substantiate his be-
lief. He said the subject Of water
power policy is one which at the
present time is receiving more
though from the thinking people of
Maine than almost any other tojic.
you have all heard or read state
ments," continued Mr.. Lee, "such as
Maine has water power enough to
turn all the wheels of industry of
New England and as soon as the
coal supply is exhaused the indus
tries will be compelled to come to
Maine for its water power"
Actually the amount of water
power available in this state is linn
tied. A little over 100000 horse
power has already been developed
and the actual total primary 24hour
power available in the state is less
than 100000 horsepower. The New
England state are now using over
5,00O,00 horsepower and the state of
Massachusetts alone uses over 5000
600 horsepower, while both Rhode
Island and Connecticut use over a
half-m million. Just think of the little
state of ERODE Island now using an
amount more than half of the actual
total primary power available in this
state.
This completely disposes of the
first statment that Maine has power
enough for all New England; it GER
tainly has not and never will have
from the water power of it's rivers
and lakes.
Now regarding forcing the in
dustrials to come here when the coal
supply is exhausted. The eXhaus-
ton of the soft coal supply is so
many generations in the future that
our grandchildren grandchildren
will not need to be disturbed about 1t
SO the less thought we waste on it
the better. All we need to say is
that there is absolutely no argument
there on which the enthusiasts for
the industrial expansion of Maine can
base any hope of forcing industries
to come here.
at is 16 years since there has been
q very considerable expansion of in
dustries in our neighboring states,
but hardly single industry has come
to Maine, and l have not been able
to discover one single new industry
that came here in that time, prima-
rily because of power possibilities.
Do we need any stronger proof of the
futility of this law"
In closing the speaker gave very
logical summing up of his views on
the present water power policy or
the state. Concluding he said: Il
wish to repeat what to me appear as
the points to be remembered when we
consider this power question. first,
the present nom export power law
has failed utterly of accomplishing
its intended purpose, and second, we
must repeal this non-eXport law if
we nope 10 esGdpe nun IhS Nicio"
circle that is now surrounding and
holding us, that is, cheap hydro-e
trio power can only be produced now
by developing on large scale; de-
velopment on a large scale can only
be carried through when sure
market for all their power is availa-
BILE: the state of Maine alone does not
have and has no prospect of having
a large enough demand for new pow
err to warrant a single real large de-
velopment. There is only one rea-
sonable way to escape from this cir
Gle, let us get together and work to
attain it."