The Washington times., 1911-01-16
EASY TO HARNESS
THE GREAT FALLS
illumination and Water for
Capital Can Be Procured
for 100000.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

possibility Of using land and rights OF
way already in Government ownership
for the combined purpose of water power
and water supply. =
The plan contemplates the utilization
| OF the falls, not only at Great Falls. but
also at Little Falls, together with all
the rails Of the river lying between. 1t
PROVIDES Tor the construction Of an
dque1uct large enough to provide water
Tor both power and municipal supply
along the Conduit road.
According to the scheme, the Delecar-
lia receiving reservoir will be used as
forebay for the power plant. Water
will be taken therefrom by six-foot
steel pipes down over the bank of the
river and discharged on suitable power
wheels located on the Maryland shore,
at the foot of Little Falls.
An average fall of 143 feet will be
developed in this way. and a minimum
Of 1880 horsepower will be developed,
which. it is estimated, will be sufficient
to light streets and municipal buildings
IN the District UP to the year 1855, at
which time the District can afford to
construct reservoirs in the Potomac
basin to increase the supply of water
for low seasons.
Power Night and Day.
Not only. 1t is said, will the proposed
plant provide for lighting at night, but
ample power will be developed for day
use for lighting Federal buildings.
Such plant. II is estimated. can be
constructed at a cost we'll within the
cost of the present street lighting, so !
that at the end OF q twenty-five-year
period the District will be in possess
sion of plant, the ultimate cost of |
which will be less than the aggregate |
rental now being paid. |
One of the remarkable features of the |
whole proposition is that the Govern |
nent Is now in possession of the rights |
or way over which such a plant could !
be constructed
At present the District Is entitled to !
5S,OOO,OO gallons of water daily from |
the river. The other owners of the
water rights are the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Company and the Great
Fails Power Company.
The Leighton plan makes a full al
loWance for the needs of of the canal
company, but It necessitates buying wa
Ter rlghts from the Great Falls Com
pany. The report speaks only in general
TERMS OF this feature of the cost.
A Remarkable Report.
In many respects the report of the
chlet photographer is one of the most
ever prepared in the water
resources branch. Not only does II con-
tain what Is believed to be the most |
plan ever suggested for har-
Messing the water power at Great Falls,
put the quick time in which the in
formation on which it is based was
report.
The request Of the Commissioners for
The report was made to the Interior De-
partment on November 4, 1910. and |
.hree days later was referred to the
geological Survey, after which 1t was
.urned over to the chief photographer.
In the little more than two months
which have elapsed, much OF which
lime there was inclement weather, the
;hief photographer has not only worked
Iut practical plan for municipal light
ng purposes, but has investigated vari-
'us other plans suggested, presenting a
wealth Of detailed information tending
o show wherein they would be imprac-
icable.
The work of the topographic branch,
lnder the direction of Frank Sutton,
constituted probably a
worlds record in mapping, under condi-
ions OF snow. rain, and cold. Two-of
lis men fell IN the river, and one was
aved only with the greatest difficulty
The report covers more than sixty
pages, in addition to maps,
harts. and tables.
Attached to the photographers re-
ort is a copy of a special report SUBJ
nitted to Assistant Attorney General Y
George w. Woodruff by c. Edward
ating to the rights of the United States
o the waters of the Potomac river and I
he power privileges at Great Falls.