The Washington times., 1910-12-29
Present Owners of Rights
Expected to Demand
Fancy Prices.
BIG LEGAL BATTLE
LIKELY TO FOLLOW
Project, If Carried Out, Would Be
One of Worldwide
Note.
Continued from First Page)

CONTINUED from First Page)
twenty engineers has been at work, IN
der ass gnment by the Geological Sur
Tey, CyinE to determine what engi-
neering plan should be adopted The
cold weather and snow have made the
work very difficult but il is expected
that a pretty satisfactory preliminary
report VIII be placed IN the hands OF
the District Commissioners BY January
Litigation Is expected
AS soon as the engineering estimates
have been prepared with sufficient final
ity to warrant further steps. the ques-
ton Of getting authority TO develop the
falls VIII be taken up This viii likely
require long negotiation and litigation
The Washington Raiway and Electric
Company owns the Virginia side Of the
river, and an undivided One-haIf interest
on the Maryland side. but there are
complications which add TO the diff
Guilty Of direct negotiations Years ago
the company wanted million dollars
for its rights and now II Is expected
considerably 10 raise the price
The General Electric interest is indi-
rect. and the extent TO which It's tnfiu-
ence viii be exerted is problematicaL
The washington Railway and Electric
Company IS one OF the concerns Of its
class which are commonly set down,
among engineers and electrical promo
ters, as q General Electric fnstitu-
ton that IS. II IS considered 70 be
under General Electric influence. buys
its electrical machinery FROM the Gen
eraI Electric, and Is credited with AT
least a mOTKanaIiC financial relation
ship.
influence Of the Past
Stories are told Of how General
Electric influence has been employed
IN the past to discourage efforts at
development OF the Great Falls pro-
5ect by the National Government
A most romantic history could be
woven about tie various efforts. in
two or three centuries, 20 monopoIize
Great Falls and develop its POSSIBLE
tiles.
In the first place. under the royal
grants 70 the founders Of Maryland.
The State Of Maryland owns the wat
ers Of the Potomac river The Ordi-
nary rule in this country is that in
case OF a boundary river, the middle
81 the channel is the boundary line.
Not SO in this case Maryland owns
10 low water line on the Virginia
side and this fact will prove high
y important IN proceedings which
sooner or later VIII be required 10
determine how the property may be
George Washington was president
OF the first company that got TighEs
looking 20 the development Of this
DONEE- ne company talQ some cana
building, but in time its rights and
property passed to successors. and
many years ago Gen Benjamin F.
Butler became the chief figure II q
project to set control OF the power
posi- biIitfes-
A remarkable chain OF CORPORATIONS
some chartered by MARYLAND and
some by Virginia. have had interests
n the falls, the power and the ada
cent lands which would be needed
fCT power purposes
various grants and charters is the ZACH
Of Limitation on powers, and the ap-
parent willingness OF the Legislature
10 grant perpetual franchises without
though Of a public interest or future
necessity for regulation
The Governments Rights.
The Federal Government holds somf
modest rights on the Maryland side Of
the river; an undivided one-haIf inter
est IN certain property, which, how
ever, gives 1t no riparian rights which
It could enforce If the owner Of TIT
other undivided one-half interest should
object
Il happens that that other one-haI
interest Is now IN the hands Of the yer.
interest most certain 70 place obstacle
in the way OF deveIODment-namely TIT
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany- In the past, when water supply
aCueduCL rights. etc. nave Deen needles
FOR Washington, these various com
Dan5eS AOlding perpetual charters an
unlimited powers have regularly HEX
I'd Uncle sam for excessive prices an
in future, unless anticipatiCns are gOinl
10 be greatly disappointed, the sue
cessOr to thee companies, the Wash
Incton Railway ard Electric, may b
expected TO be quite as thrifty in It
dealings with the Government
Ben Butler AZ one time figured him
self the owner Of a good substantial
claim to 100000 because the Gov
eminent was taking away his watei
fer washington folks 10 dTI X and &
the same tine the Chesapeake aDs
Ohio Canal Company wanted 100000
The Government didn't pay suci
preposterous claims, but II is YER
well understood that the pr9Sen
holders Of the water and riparian
rights are planning to get as much a
possible for them and the effort Z
untanCIe the legal situation and as
certain the force Of ancient charters
and colonial and royal grants, vii
carry investigators back 10 docu
ments bearing the seals Of the roya
Stuarts the signature of Washing
ton. and the fmpTimatures Of tn
earliest provincial assemblies
New Peruvian Cabinet.
INA Da--r Dao "a Tho uar- Ea-r