Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-05

the citizens of Maine might elect, and
the geat transmission lines them
selves be made useless and this in
Vetment be thrown away or earnings
thereon be paid by the citizens of
Maine
That this is very important
consideration is shown by the care
full report of the power investigating
committee of the Associated Indus
tries of Massachusetts on the power
situation in New England, made pub
lie on April %. 1924. This is a COM
prehensive survey by the leading ex-
perts upon this question in New Eng
land, and associated with them in
this survey was George c. Danforth,
formerly chief engineer of the Maine
Water Power Commission. This
committee goes exhaustively into the
water power of Maine and of New
England and of Canada as well,
amount of undeveloped water power
available. in New England is about
four billion eight hundred and thirty
thousand kilowatt hours in an aver
age year, and of this total it Is esti-
mated that nearly three billion kilo-
watt hours would be generated in
Maine and could be delivered to in
duStrles at cost of approximately
one cent per kilowatt hour.
1t would clearly appear, however,
that any transmission must depend
upon long-term contract to pro-
vide proper protection to the indus
tries concerned. Considering possible
Canadian development the committee
says: The question whether Cana.
dian and provincial governments will
give assurance that this amount of
power will be allowed to be trans
mitted for sufficiently long term of
years cannot be answered until the
problem is specifically presented to
the Canadian and Quebec parliaments
and action taken by Them
I'VE are in a revolutionary period
in the electrical world. Two years
ago we were told by proponents of
export here in Maine that our water
powers were of negligible value and
mat Canadian power would soon be
moving into New England and then
all chances for development of Maine
powers would be lost.
The Canadian provinces most
concerned have now resolved any
doubts as to their attitude by entire-
ly prohibiting the export Of power
for exactly the same considerations
that have. influenced the citizens of
Maine.
Connecticut electrical companies
have definitely and voluntarily
adopted the policy of not crossing
the state line in order to avoid any
possibility of federal interference and
they have advertised this fact In
connection with their bond issues
within the past week as one of their
most attractive features.
Inc chairman of the Massachu-
setts public utilities commission has
just recommended to their general
court that very stringent restrictions
De put upon any export of electrical
power in order to avoid the possibil-
lty or serious injury to the interests
OF their commonwealth.
In this period of economic and
legal hux in the electrical world II
seems to me that it would be very
unwise for Maine now to change the
policy which 1t has upheld for six
teen years. In the next two wears
We seem likely to learn a very great
deal regarding this subject and il il
certainIy the part of wisdom to 70
SLOW; once the barn door of exporta-
ton Is open it may be extremely dif.
hcult again to unlock.
My conclusions have been fornnaA
as result of conversations on tia
subject during the last few months
with owen D. Young, Of the General
Electric Company. Martin insult Of
Chicago, Archibald r. Graustein.
president Of the International Paper
Company, and Harry M. verriii.
ESQ, Of Portland and q careful con.
sideration of such factors as Il A
practicable for q layman to compxs-
bend.