“What is the voting strength of organized labor in Maine?” is a question frequently asked and discussed. The Sun has made a careful investigation and from the reports of the State organizers, the leading officials of the State Branch American Federation of Labor and especially the local labor organizations in the Second Congressional district, and this morning presents what is believed to be a pretty complete canvass. The lowest estimate made is 15,000, the highest is 24,000 for the whole State.

50 Years Ago, 1956

Dr. Walter A. Lawrence, court appointed Androscoggin River master, said the daily amount of sodium nitrate has been increased about five tons a day. His crew was using about 10 tons a day but over recently the amount has been boosted to 15 tons a day. He said pulp production in many of the mills on the river’s shores has been cut back and waste discharge is at a minimum. He said the main problem now is the lack of rainfall. Dr. Lawrence said the flow of water from streams into the river is slight and rain is needed to help. More than 70 tons of sodium nitrate were dumped into the river. The job usually continues through September.

25 Years Ago, 1981

Maine’s muck could be worth millions in fuel by the mid-1980s, according to a businessman who is pushing a plan to mine the state’s vast peat bogs. Work aimed at turning Maine’s bogs into an energy source is continuing, according to John W. Rohrer, vice president of Wheelabrator-Rye Inc., an energy and manufacturing company based in Hampton, N.H. Rorer said there is enough peat to provide fuel for all of Maine’s homes, businesses, vehicles and electrical plants for more than 50 years. His firm wants to build a plant to turn muck from a half-million acres of Maine swamps into a coal-like fuel.