Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-07
Nater-Power of the District OF Co.
Inn. bia

The earnest minds of this community seeming
AT this moment well disposed to entertain propo-
>itiOns on this subject, with a view to the
practical solution Of The problem of making the
most OF our natural advantages, il may be
acceptable to them, to state in a condensed form
the conclusions arrived at by one Of their fellow
citizens Of ripe experience, and who has long
familiarized himself with the practical hydrau-
lies of this District. he proposes, according to
the information furnished US, the construction
OF a canal from the level of the Great Falls to
Georgetown, thence by a distributed system of
locks, to be lowered to such level as would meet
and harmonic with the interest of Washington
city for purposes OF power and navigation. The
descent from Georgetown to point ofoutlet near
the maynard must be provided for in four dis
tnet levels, ON the more eligible sides of which,
and in some cases, on both sides, the mill-sites
would find their proper locations. Each level
could supply head and fall OF about thirty-six
feet. the tail waters OF each respectively to be
conducted to the next succeeding level for
further use. In addition to the application OF
this immense power for manufacturing pur-
poses, il might also be utilized with great effect
a. a sanitary agent. IL is well known that the
fan in many of the existing sewers Of this city is
20 slight that they sometimes choke at their out
lets to such an extent as to cause them to burst
after heavy shower. Now at night and during
the suspension OF work on Sundays and holi-
days-suPpOsing the above plan in operation
there would be a large accumulation of surplus
water in the canal, and nothing could be better
than TO turn the superintendent supply into the
sewers, cleansing and washing them out thor
Oughly.
Could this magnificent scheme be fostered TO
completion, this District might indeed claim the
possession Of the grandest system of utilized
wateT-power in the whole country, second only
in volume to the famed Niagara, which, at this
moment, a company in New York is seeking TO
utilize and apply Through the medium of con-
densed air. TO motive purposes. From the fact
that our port il, and VIII continue to be, the
main entrepOt for the receipt and interchange
of the most valuable Goals in America, and con-
sidering our central position, we may justly lay
claim to advantages of situation superior to any
around the Falls Of Niagara. Ii should also be
borne in mind that a large part of the State OF
Maryland and all the mountain slope OF Viz
GINA consist of lands peculiarly adapted to wool
culture, whAe our proximity and easy approach
10 the cotton producing region would insure
the supply Of that staple in abundance.
Although the contamination Of the project here
Indicated may seem to involve large figures, IL
Il the earnest conviction Of the protector that
hts examination By competent engineers win
demonstrate that the advantages to result to the
national as well as the local governments and
people would fully justify the expenditure. And
II may not be considered superfiuou to advance
that the usefulness Of such a water power TO the
national government, at the last level, In It's
workshops, could not but be readily recognized
and aDDrpcfated nv the Federal Authorities