The Washington herald., 1911-02-09

Arguments in favor Of the project to
light Washington by means Of the Great
Falls water power were presented by
representatives of the Chamber of Com
merce and the Federation OF Citizens
Associations at a hearing before the sub
committee of the Senate Committee on
Appropriations yesterday morning. The
subcommittee was requested to ,ameni
the District appropriation bill SO as to
carry an amount of $4,000 to be used
in making survey of the Falls and to
investigate the proposed plan from every
standpoint.
Senator Gallinger. chairman Of the sub
committee, promised that the matter
would receive the careful consideration of
himself and colleagues, and gave assur-
ance that he was still open to conviction
on the subject Of Harvesting the historic
Great Falls.
Peyser First Speaker.
Julius I. Peyser. as chairman Of the
Chamber of Commerce committee ap-
pointed to carry the Great Falls matter
to the Senate committee. was the first
speaker. He said that an appropriation
was necessary so that a survey could
be made and the feasibility of the plan
considered from every angle. He said
further that the question of using the
Falls power to light the Capital had
been agitated for years and that the
citizens of the District thought it was
high time to investigate.
The benefits from the installation of a
municipal power plant at Great Falls
Would be twofod. Mr.. Peyser said. in
aSMuch as the government could save
money on its street lighting and on the
lighting of its public buildings and parks.
and the new conduit that would be built
in connection with the power plant would
increase the water supply of the city.
Cut Expenses One-third.
During the past year the government
has paid s425.Oco for electric lighting Of
its streets and parks" Mr.. Peyser said
IF the Great Falls plant was established
this amount could be cut down a third,
as the generation of electricity by water
is much cheaper than by steam"
In reply to a question by Senator Cur
tis, Of Kansas. Mr.. Peyser said it had
been estimated that the cost Of the pro-
posed plant would approximate S,5.'.n.
Replying TO Senator GallinGer. Mr.. Pey-
ser said that the government would have
to purchase tracts OF land in Virginia AMI
which could be easily done by
the condemnation method and calling up
on the Court Of Claims TO set fair price
on it.
Il have been TO Great Fails in the
months, when there was hardly
enough water to float a canoe" said Sen
ator Gallinger. You do not believe that
water power could be used the year
around, do you
Mr. Peyser replied that an auxiliary
plant might have to be built for use in
time of drought.
Asserts Citizens Want 1t.
William NJ. Cromwell, representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations. told
he committee that his organization rep
-eSented more than 1000 citizens of the
District. who were anxious to have the
project investigated in the near future.
''All that We ask now is an appropria-
ion for an investigation. and II the plan
proves unfeasible the matter can be
lropped once and for ALL" Mr.. Cromwell
'aid Continuing. he remarked that the
initial cost might be considerable but
t would be a great saving in the end.
The subcommittee was informed by Mr.,
neyser and Mr.. Cromwell that a plan
or bringing electric power from Great
Falls to Washington had been devised
W NJ O. Leighton. chief hydrographer
# the Geological Survey. and that his
,lan had received the approval of the
District Commissioners.
In conclusion. Mr.. Cromwell said that
his Great Falls project was one in
which the people of Washington are
Ieeply interested. and that the majority |
we're heartily in favor of it being car
led through