Evening star., 1897-02-03
A Sufficient Water SuppIy.

A Sufficient Water Supply,
III is believed TO be very desirable that
'he united states should acquire this en-
tire water right, and thereby secure for all
time a sufficient water supply for the Dis
trict of Columbia, and use the surplus
water as power to generate electricity for
hshting the government buildings and the
streets of the District of Columbia, and for
power to run the elevators, printing
presses and other machinery in the gov.
eminent buildings and at the navy yard.
The water supply for the District of
rioIs acts and appropriations prior to 1Ss2
the maximum supply being about twenty
five million gallons Of water daily In the
year 1852 the dam was extended across
conn 8 Island to the Virginia shore and
thereby the maximum quantity of water
provided for was increased twenty-five
million gallons per day; and in 1895 provis-
ion was made to increase the height of the
Gam about three feet, thereby making the
present maximum amount of water avail
able for domestic use seventy-iye million
gallons per day, as above stated 1t is es-
timated In the report compiled by Col
Geo. H. Elliott upon the subject that other
increases OF the amount of water required
for the supply of Washington will be neces-
sary from time to time, and 1t is estimated
that not less than two hundred million gal
Ions per day will ultimately be required
Already suits for the value of the wafer
diverted by the increase in the length of
the dam and the height of the dam are
pending in the Court of Claims, the claims
aggregating s773,0oO. These claims are
based upon the theory that the permanent
diversion of the water above the falls r..
duces the available water power at the
rails, and thereby Injuries the property
rights OF the Great Falls Power Company.
An Economical Policy.
II can readily be seen that, figuring up-
on such basis. and We believe this to be
the rule adopted in similar cases, the dam
ages for the diversion of the water under
the present improvement, and the further
diversion which will be necessary in the
future, estimated by Col. Elliott, will
amount to very large sums of money more
possibly. If private developments of the
water power are proceeded with, than 1t
will now require to condemn the whole
water right. 1t is. threfore. wise aid
economical policy to condemn all the water
rights at the Great Falls, thereby giving
the United States the entire control of ali
the water, rather than to pay for the water
diverted from time to time, as 1t shall be
taken.
IF the entire right to the water Ia &C.
cured the surplus wa.e- can De used by the
government in generating and transmitting
to the District OF Columbia electricity to be
used for Illuminating and power purpose
A very careful estimate has been made by
the government engineers of the cost Of
putting up plant sufficient TO utilize the
public buildings, the streets Of the District
and furnish power for the government
buildings. These estimates, together with
the estimate for maintenance, show that
the lighting and power can be furnished by
using the surplus water at the Great Falls,
at much less than can be done by the use
of steam power, and a much more desira-
BILE result obtained. The use Of electricity
for power purposes will also dispose of the
smoke caused by the increased use of coal
already subject of complaint, and threat
ening injury to the beauty of public build
ings and works Of art in this District
"As stated it is believed that all the
water rights and land necessary to carry
out this plan can be condemned for a sum
much less than The claims already made
and which will be made, for the diversion
of water for domestic purposes, leaving
the surplus water for use as power in gem
Grating electricity; and by the cond emma
ton of the whole the government will be
rid of the litigation and claims for dam
ages for the water diverted. and will own
and control for all time the entire water
rights at the Great Falls. The Improve
ments outlined can be made whenever II
shall be deemed best.
What the Present Bill Provides.
1.-The bill presented does not provide for
any present appropriation OF money. but
does provide for the immediate condemna-
ton OF the entire water rights and lands re-
Quired. the amount to be taken to be as
ceftaineu WITHIN tnIee months by the Sec
retary of War and Attorney General. II
also provides for the ascertainment of the
value Of these water rights and lands. to-
gether with the settlement of all existing
claims. by the Secretary Of War and Al.
torney General. these officers being given
the power to appoin. three disintereste6
persons to ascertain and advise them in
reference to the values. II the Secretary
and Attorney General cannot egree with
the owners, then the Attorney General
shall. within six months. bring suit in the
Supreme Court Of the District Of Columbia
and have the value ascertafned Inv the