Evening star., 1901-03-13
Rumored Establishment of One at the
Great Falls.
TO FURNISH CURRENT FOR RAILROADS
Some Current Gossip in Regard
to This Enterprise.
NEW PHASES OF THE MATTER

1t is understood that the commencement
of the work of enlarging the United States
Electric Lighting Company's plant at 18th
and b streets into a central power station
for the Washington Electric and Traction
Company is delayed for reasons which are
Of considerable public consequence. Ac-
cording to current rumor the plans for the
proposed extension have been modified, IL is
stated, but they are still to be carried out
and a substantial addition is to be made to
the present station, which will enable the
company to abandon the separate power
houses originally built for the individual
railroads
The reason given for the rumored abridg-
ment of the plans recently approved for
this Improvement is that there will be no
need for such an extensive steam power
plant, as the obstacles that have been IN
the way of utilizing the force OF the Po-
tomac river at the Great Falls have been
removed. According to the general under
standing it is now the intention Of those In
control of the rights and property of the
Great Falls Company to proceed with the
work of establishing at that point a sys-
TEN for utilizing the power of the river for
the production of electricity.
1t will be recalled that more than year
ago-in fact, almost Immediately following
the completion OF the series of purchases
Of street railroads and electric lighting
companies now controlled by the Washing
ton Traction Company-the stock of the
Great Falls Company was purchased by
Messrs o. I. Crosby and G. A. Leib Th8se
gentlemen were largely instrumental In ;he
purchase of the properties referred to and
in furtherance OF a general scheme to sup
ply the electric current that would be need
ed by the new system. The control of the
power at Great Falls held by the company
named was acquired, as above stated. Since
that date no steps have been taken TO cs-
tablish water plant at that point except
the making of the necessary surveys aIid
some preliminary examination.
Alleged DfmcuItIes.
1t was explained that this was due to
some complications which had arisen and
which was based on property claims ad-
vanced by the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company and by parties that acquired wa
ter rights along the lower falls and for
some distance up the river. Legal proceed
ings were begun and the prospect was that
the Great Falls water rights would remain
a disputed question in the courts for many
Now. however according to rumors In
local financial circles, but which have not
official sanction. all causes for further de-
lay have been removed and the work OF
carrying out the long talked-of enterprise
making use of the Great Falls to pro-
duce power for this city is to be begun and
pushed forward to completion. While 1t is
not understood that the interests control
ling the Washington Traction Company and
those owning the Great Falls company are
identical, il is said that understanding
has been reached by which the power thus
produced will find purchaser in the Trac-
tion company.
In view of these developments it is ex-
planned that it will not be necessary for
the Traction company to provide such an
extensive steam power plant I'm this city
as otherwise might have been necessary.
Hence, it is stated, change has been
made in the character of the proposed en-
largement of what is to be the central sta
tion of the new system.
Need of Steam station.
1t is declared by some that owing to the
reduction in the volume of water in the
river during a certain period OF the sum
mer season a station deriving its power
exclusively from the river could not pro-
duce at all times a sufficient amount of
electricity to supply the estimated de-
mand 1t is said that the projectors of
this enterprise fully understand the situa-
ton in this respect, and that they pro-
pose to supplement the water station by
a steam station, the latter to be located
at the Great Falls. When this great work
of utilizing the Great Falls power. which,
it is estimated, will require an expenditure
of about two millions of dollars, is COM
pleted the Washington Traction Company.
while taking its current from the Great
Falls company, will also keep In readiness
its steam power plant In this city, so that
they will have In effect duplicate power
stations.