Ellsworth American

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
COMMISSIONER PARSONS SAYS
FISHWAY NOT FEASIBLE.
Would Cost
Thirty-five to Forty
Thousand Dollars, and Might
Not be Effective
The hopes of Ellsworth that a fishway for alewives and salmon might be constructed over the power dam, were dashed at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last Thursday evening, when Hon. Willis E. Parsons, commissioner of inland fisheries and game, said he felt obliged to report that a fishway in this dam was not feasible.
This followed reports by H. E. Green, a prominent engineer who has built many fishways, and Frank E. Perkins, State inspector of fishways and an authority on the subject. These two, with Commissioner Parsons, had spent the afternoon at the dam, looking over the situation with the view of ascertaining the most practical way to build a fishway.
The reports followed the supper of the Chamber of Commerce, served at the Unitarian vestry by the ladies of that society. It was an excellent supper, delightfully served, and enjoyed by about sixty-five people.
Mr. Perkins was the first speaker called upon by President Robinson of the Chamber. He said a fishway in the dam, seventy-two feet in height, was a difficult proposition. He expressed the opinion that it was impractical; the fishway, if built, might not serve its purpose.
Mr. Green, who followed him, gave the result of his investigation and estimates. He spoke of two or three ways in which a fishway might be constructed. The estimate for a fishway of concrete and blasted pools, utilizing the ledge up the eastern side of the dam, was $35,000 to $40,000. A wooden fishway could be constructed for about half that sum, but of course would not be permanent. A fishway could be constructed, he said, but that the fish would use it, or could use it, could not be assured.
Commissioner Parsons quoted from the State laws, which provide that the commissioner, "if he finds a fishway expedient," may order the owner of a dam to construct the same. The owner of the dam has the right of appeal from this order to the supreme court. Commissioner Parsons then said that, in view of the report of the engineer and fishway expert, he felt forced to report that a fishway in this seventy-two foot dam would not be expedient. He said the highest fishway in the State today was forty-eight feet, which is higher than most states consider feasible. The fisheries department of the Canadian government considers fifty feet the greatest height to which a fishway is practicable. In view of these facts, he does not consider it necessary to order a hearing.
Commissioner Parsons then delivered an eloquent tribute to the beauties of Maine. "People are looking to Maine as never before," he said, "You here in Hancock county, the most beautiful county in Maine, should advertise what you have and reap your share in Maine development." He cited facts and figures to show the great increase in the number of summer visitors to Maine this year, leaving, at a modest estimate, $100,000,000.

COOPERATION.
Senator-elect J. Sherman Douglas was then called upon, and delivered a shoulder punch for cooperation. He told of an incident when he was in another town, and a man came in selling tickets to the business organization banquet. The first man approached said "No: I don't want any banquet ticket. I want to see results first." The second man had the same answer. Mr. Douglas happened to know that these two business men would be among the first to benefit by development of the town, and yet they were willing to sit on the side-lines and wait for others to do something, regardless of the fact that nothing could be done without cooperation.
Mr. Douglas drew no parallels. He said that nothing but good could come from cooperation. "When men get together," he said, "even if there are no brilliant minds among them, some ideas are sure to develop."
The Chamber of Commerce is helping Ellsworth by cultivating cooperation. What helps Ellsworth helps Lamoine, and helps Hancock county. "You can never accomplish anything if you stay away from meetings. Cooperation will put the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce over the top. You can never get any public service, never accomplish anything, without cooperation."

CIVIC YARDSTICK
Secretary H. C. Stratton read extracts from a report of the recent State meeting of chamber of commerce secretaries. Col. Frank Knox of Manchester, N. H., held up a "civic yardstick" for towns to measure themselves by.
The test of a town is the way its citizens talk about it. Do your own people speak well of your town? Do they say "Ours is a good town to live in," or do they complain that taxes are high, streets and sidewalks are neglected, schools are expensive and none too good, and the public officials are only in it for what they can get out of it?
Do your own people boost your own town?
If yours is a really good town to live in, its people will register that fact. Do they? If they don't, then there's something wrong.
Try that yardstick on your own town, and then you will know, not guess, how good your town is to live in, and what right you have to expect that new industries will want to come there. Then you can set about making it better. Improvement does not happen. It's made to happen by someone who takes thought and goes about it intelligently.
If Maine is to grow industrially in a healthy and permanent way, it will