Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-26
Maine Expects Unprecedented Boom
From Passamaquoddy Power Project

anyway, "and anything can happen
in that time"
The commission appointed by Gov.
Brann at the suggestion OF the Presi-
dent is headed by President Stills OF
Bowdoin College. Its report was en-
| Enthusiastically favorable. 1t stated
that the War Department had already
accepted the project as practicable
from an engineering standpoint. The
reason for its earlier rejection as a
P w. A. project, according to the
Stills commission, was the uncertainty
of market for the power.
Future Market Expected.
None of the other large Federal
power projects has been built with a
definite market in sight" the Stills re-
port states There is possibility OF
the development in Maine of several
new industries that would otherwise
not be built and would not directly
compete with present local plants.
The Quoddy project would furnish
constant power for that section Of the
State and provide for rural electrifl-
cation on large scale"
The social values" of the Quoddy
project are emphasized by the Stills
Commission. They picture Names
population declining at each census.
Eastport, at the Quoddy power site,
has lost more than third of its pop
ulation since 1900. dropping to $1,000
Its sardine industry has been hard
hit. The six counties adjacent have
$4,000 persons listed with the Ma
tional Unemployment Service. One
third would be employed on this
project. the commission anticipates.
1t sees the influence of the Quoddy
project spreading over a 100-mile ra-
dius from PASSPORT. In that area are
142 Maine towns and $4,000 people,
one-third the population of Maine.
The Quoddy Commission states the
situation: Consideration must be
given to the advantages of developing
in the Eastport area smaller indus
tries in preference to a few larger
ones. Past experience shows that
whenever electric power has been
available at low prices industries
have followed"
The commission finds that Maine
folks pay more for electricity than the
average of the country Her farms
are only about half as widely provided
with electricity as New HampShire's.
War Delays Recalled.
The potential worth of water-power
developments in war time. because
of their independence of fuel supply
and their minimum need for man
power was also evidently in the mind
of the Government board that ap-
proved the Passamaquoddy project.
Shortage of power caused serious pro-
duction delays in the World War.
"Water-power developments should
be started now to forestall a war
time shortage Of power" the Power
Commission reported.
Need for new power sources in
Maine is suggested by the recent ma
tional power survey by the Federal
Power Commission, which found THE
State of Maine may require additional
| facilities, while there is a surplus in
the other New England States"
The Quoddy power project would
make an immense source or power
in corner of Maine that is thinly
populated, with no towns over 5000.
The Stills Commission emphasizes the
number Of farms and woodworking
industries, the numbering and the
small villages in the region
The whole aspect of the scene which
centers on Eastport suggests strongly
that conception President Roosevelt
has stated before, of the Importance
to American life Of a redistribution
of population, a restoration of rural
institutions through decentralizing the
energies of the Nation. Passama-
quoddy, like Muscle Shoals, would
conceivably be factor to give new
industrial strength to rural area.
(Copyright. 1895 by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc.)