Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-06
THE GREAT FALLS WATER.POwER
Capt. Sym0n's Plan fer Utflixinsr A n
the Proposed EXpositiOm.

tAe Proposed Exposition.
Capt. Thomas W. symons, q. & A., assistant
engineer Of the Washington aqueduet, has ad.
dressed an interesting letter to Commissioners
webb, as chairman of the committee appointed
TO prepare plan for the proposed international
exposition to be held In this city in 1892. This
letter, which Mr.. Webb has laid before the
committee, after expressing the writer's ap.
prevail OF the plan Of the exposition as outlined
In the newspapers, said az desire to do all that
can towards its accomplishment and to this
end beg to submit the following plan for furnish
Ing all the motive power required for the pur-
poses OF the exposition. The plan appears to me
TO offer advantages over any other that can be
scale and permanent success. The plan pro-
posed is 70 utilize the water power Of the Great
Falls Of the Potomac and transmit it to the
CITY. About fifteen miles above Washington ut
the Great Falls the entire river descends in a
very short distance over seventy feet OF verti-
power available for use ct the lowest stages Of
by building canal on the Virginia SHORE, put.
pressure Of SO to ioop'e ponnd slf at pea
i iSaa os s,a aoeh n,. 70 the city xronhs
then be used for all the purposes required. for
running s5u machinery and models on Exhibition,
yentatnes nt mfacnlnes elevators, cars, pumps,
me advantages OF compressed air over
steam as q source of motive power for the pur-
could be used in nearly all steam engines in place
OF steam, with little or no alteration to the
machinery By its use all the dirty and disa-
would be banished; there would be no great
nres boilers, piles Of coal and ashes, smoke, es-
be to s~s all; b s Power
part OF q building in the most perfect
manner without heat or loss and wherever
ventilation. f0.-oO'
~ Taking everything into consideration I be-
m i 1t would be not only the best, but the
because while the first cost of its Introduction
would be considerable, the subsequent expense
insignificant when compared with The cost Sf
generating steam.
:: The lay q the land on the Virginia shore is
m me has, has already built dam across
c coe r1xe5 a ab9ve the Great Falls
TINS could be utilized. under such restrictions as
asa 0e aeemed necessary to protect the citys
through the canal to the turbines.
.. Ine mel Is nothing about the plan proposed that
Is NOT perfectly practicable; the only question
tnat might arise being in regard to the trans
mission OF the compressed air from the falls to
the city. The pipe proposed for this purpose is
WORKS of l as nsed an. III the great hydraulic
sheet iron or steel, SO to AZ inches in diam
eter ana N made at the mandatory in
VIC ~ AooS anu CApbUle U sustaining
with safety pressure OF at least 300
pounds to the square inch. Provision Tor ex-
pansion and contraction would have to be
made, and the pipe could be laid along the line
OF the Aqueduct road for the greater part of the
distance, where it would be easily accessible
and readily inspected and guarded.
The feasibility of transmitting this COM
pressed air has been demonstrated in driving
the aqueduct tunnel; in doing which air ut 60
to SO pounds pressure has been conveyed fully
ten miles, most of the way through ordinary
lead-caulked cast-iron pipes Natural gas at \
pressure OF 200 to $50 pounds per SQUARE inch
mas Deen transmitted many miles in pipes in
the vicinity OF Pittsburg. and a project
has been discussed for conveying this
gas to Philadelphia and New York, distance
OF fully 200 miles. Another argument in favor
OF the plan is that If the exposition does NOT
need all the power generated by the Great
Falls 1t could be used with advantage by the
other departments of the government and
when the exposition ceases to exist II it ever
Qoes the power can very readily all lie utilized
1or running the machinery at the navy yard,
the elevator and ventiiators at the Capitol and
0ther pubic buildings the model rooms of the
Patent y ffice, the pumping works OF the Dis
trlct LOT water supply and sewerage purposes
electric lighting, DC, &C. In fact, the existence
OF this great and unimproved water power
within an available distance OF WASHINGTON is
very strong argument In favor OF the selection
OF this city AS the place for holding q grand
permanent industrial exposition where can be
eXnioited In operation ali the varied forms of
tue labor saving machinery of the word.'
AT the meeting of the committee Tuesday
night, when the letter was read, Mr. John A.
Baker said that he thought the plan proposed
by Capt. Symons was practicable. not only in
connection with this exposition but would be
OF permanent value to the city ii carried out.