STATE OF MAINE. IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE. AN ACT to provide for the erection of a Dam across Ayer's Falls on the Penobscot river. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives in Legislature assembled-as follows: 3 That John N. Gossler and Samuel D. Dakin, their 4 successors and assigns, be and they hereby are au5 thorized and empowered to erect and maintain across 6 the head of Ayer's Falls on the Penobscot river, in 7 Orono and Bradley, a dam or dams extending across 8 said river from the eastern shore thereof to a ledge 9 near the west channel thereof, and such other dam or 10 dams on the west side of said channel as the commit11 tee hereinafter named may authorize, for the purpose 12 of raising a head of water for the use of their mills at 13 the foot of Ayer's island. 14 Provided, that the said Gossler and Dakin, their suc15 cessors or assigns and at their expense shall before 16 they commence the erection of said dam, shall give 17 notice of one week at least to the selectmen of the 18 towns of Orono, Oldtown and Milford, specifying the 19 time at which they intend to commence said erection. 20 And the selectmen of each of said towns, on receiving 21 such notice, shall appoint two disinterested and com22 petent persons, inhabitants of said towns respectively, 23 who shall constitute a committee of direction and 24 superintendance to regulate all doings and proceed25 ings by virtue of this act. And no authority is given 26 by this act for any proceedings under the same which 27 shall not conform to the directions of a majority of 28 said committee who are hereby authorized to regu29 late the erection of said dam or dams in such manner 30 as to protect the interests of the public and of mill 31 owners on the Penobscot river. 32 Provided further, that any person aggrieved or in33 jured by the erection of said dam may make applica34 tion in writing at any time hereafter to the selectmen 35 of the several towns aforesaid, setting forth his cause 36 of complaint, and it shall be the duty of said selectmen 37 to appoint a committee as above provided, to examine 38 at the expense of said applicant, the erections which 39 may be made by virtue of this act. And if a majority 40 of said committee shall determine that any alteration 41 in the same is necessary, they shall give notice of the 42 same to the owners of said mills and dam. And if 43 said owners shall not within a reasonable time make 44 such alteration in conformity with said notice, they 45 shall forfeit all rights conferred by virtue of this act. 19 time at which they intend to commence said erection. 20 And the selectmen of each of said towns, on receiving 21 such notice, shall appoint two disinterested and com22 petent persons, inhabitants of said towns respectively, 23 who shall constitute a committee of direction and 24 superintendance to regulate all doings and proceed25 ings by virtue of this act. And no authority is given 26 by this act for any proceedings under the same which 27 shall not conform to the directions of a majority of 28 said committee who are hereby authorized to regu29 late the erection of said dam or dams in such manner 30 as to protect the interests of the public and of mill 31 owners on the Penobscot river. 32 Provided further, that any person aggrieved or in33 jured by the erection of said dam may make applica34 tion in writing at any time hereafter to the selectmen 35 of the several towns aforesaid, setting forth his cause 36 of complaint, and it shall be the duty of said selectmen 37 to appoint a committee as above provided, to examine 38 at the expense of said applicant, the erections which 39 may be made by virtue of this act. And if a majority 40 of said committee shall determine that any alteration 41 in the same is necessary, they shall give notice of the 42 same to the owners of said mills and dam. And if 43 said owners shall not within a reasonable time make 44 such alteration in conformity with said notice, they 45 shall forfeit all rights conferred by virtue of this act. |