Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-08
MONEY FOR SURVEY ASKED
Urged by Chamber of Commerce and
Citizens Associations.
PROMISE OF CONSIDERATION
Not Much Time, However, Before
Appropriation Bill Is Reported,
Senator Gallinger Says.

! iHt project TO ugHI w ~
means of the Great Falls water power
| was discussed at a hearing before the
Senate subcommittee of the commit &c
on appropriations this morning. Repre-
sentatives of the Chamber of Commerce
and the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tlons appeared before the subcommittee
and request ed that the District appropria
tion bill be amended SO as to carry an
| appropriation of $4,000 for making a
survey of the project and to investigate
the plan from every standpoint.
Senator Gallinger chairman of the sub
/ committee, promises that the matter
would be given the careful consideration
of the committee and declared that, speak
ing for himself and other members OF
the committee, their minds were still
open In regard to the project.
Senator Galinger added, however. that
he regretted the matter had come to the
committee late, as the committee
might not be able to obtain all the in
formation in regard to the project neces-
sary for it to give its approval to the
proposed item for the appropriation bill.
The bill. he said, probably would he re-
ported to the Senate for passage within
the next two days.
MI. Peyser First Speaker.
julius l. Peyser. as chairman of the
Chamber of Commerce committee ap-
pointed to take the Great Falls project
before the Senate committee, was the
first speaker. Mr.. Peyser declared that
his committee asked for an appropriation
merely to make a survey and to investi-
gate the feasibility of the project from
question of using the Great Falls power
to light Washington had been agitated
for years and that the citizens of the
District believed that the time was now
ripe to settle the matter once for all.
Mr.. Peyser said that the benefits from
the installation of a municipal power
plant at Great Falls would be two-fold-
the government would save money on it's
street lighting and on the lighting of the
public buildings and parks in Washington
and the new conduit which would be
built in connection with the power plant
would increase the water supply of the
city.
THE government paid $4,000 for cleo
trio lighting of the streets and parks dur
ing the past year." said Mr.. Peyser IF
the Great Falls plant were established
the government would save a large
amount of money each year. The gen
Grafton of electricity by water power is
much cheaper process than by steam
Cost Nearly Million.
Senator Curtis of Kansas. member
of the committee. interrupted Mr.. Peyser
to ask what it would cost. to install the
proposed power plant and system Of
lighting Mr.. Peyser replied that 1t had
been estimated it would cost about
SG7J, 600.
In answer to a question from Senator
CoIl Mr. baf he
ernment would have to purchase tracts
of land in both Maryland and Virginia.
He said that the government could con-
denim the land and the Court of Claims
decide upon a fair price for it.
Senator Gallinger suggested that the
government could not operate lighting
plant as cheaply as such a plant is oper-
ated by a private company, as had been
proved in the past. Mr.. Peyser said.
however that the saving to the govern
ment would lie in the fact that the cleo
tricity was developed from water power
and not from the more costly steam
power.
IT have been to Great Falls in the
enough water there to float a canoe"
said Senator Gallinger. You do not be-
Neve that the water power could be used
the year round do your"
Mr.. Peyser replied that it would prob
ably be necessary to have an auxiliary
plant to operate in times OF drought.
Questioned by Mr.. Gallinger.
II understand that the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company. which lights the
streets of Washington at present, prac-
tically controls the water power situa-
ton at Great Falls said Senator Gal
linger. why does it not use the power
to light the city If 1t would be more
economicai?'
Mr.. Peyser said that the company con-
trolled only a part Of the land which
the plant, and also that possibly the
company did not wish to compete with
itself by establishing another power
plant.
William NJ. Cromwell, representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations told
the committee that his Organization rep
resented some 10000 citizens of the Dis
trict and that they were anxious to have
an investigation into the feasibility Of
the Great Falls project
The initial cost of such q project might
be large. but II would be a great saving
In the end. said Mr.. Cromwell "All
that we ask for now is that an appro-
priation be made for an investigation II
the investigation should prove that the
project was not feasible the matter would
be settled once for all. If it proved that
the project would be Of benefit the build
ing should be begun which would save
Ine sONcl
Leighton Plans Approved.
Mr. Peyser and Mr.. Cromwell informed
the committee that a plan for bringing
electric power from Great Falls to WASH
ington had been devised by M. o. Leigh
ton, chief photographer of the geological
survey. and that his plan had received
approval of the District Commissioners
Lieut. Col w. c. Langfitt. army engineer
In charge of the Washington aqueduct,
and c. Edward Wright. assistant to the
Attorney General for the Interior De-
partment.
The Leighton project proposes to lay a
new open conduit along the Conduit road
from Great Falls to the Dalecarlia reser-
yoir. and to drop the water through pipes
from the reservoir directly on to the
turbine wheels in a power house on the
river bank. 135 feet below.
Mr. Peyser left with the committee
copies OF the report made by Mr.. Leigh
ton and by Mr.. Wright.
Texas Strawberries in Market.
HOUSTON. Tex. February s.-Texas