The Washington times., 1911-01-27
GREAT FALLS PLAN
GOOD INVESTMENT
Potomac River Power Would
Save Government Money,
Leighton Says.
GET ALL THE ENERGY
AT THE LOWEST COST
United States Able TO Develop
Project for Less Than Any
Private Concern.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

can be developed by any other plan
ever proposed for developing Great
Falls power
The peculiar and interesting feature
of the situation is that the United
States happens, because of its real es-
tate holdings on the Maryland side, 20
be in such position. that ii can develop
the Great Falls power economically.
Nobody else could do so, because every
other possible power development plan
would neceSState- an overflow OF so
much property that the expenses for
damages would make the project too
dam. Anybody else would have to build
a dam, submerge the canal and the
surrounding country, and find himself
confronted by a prohibitive expense.
Get Every Horsepower.
A further interesting feature is that
no other plan would produce as much
power, according TO the Leighton re-
port After going TO the expense of de-
VelOpment by the more costly method,
others would find their amount of horse
power small. The new plan would pro-
duce absolutely all the horsepower that
exists between Great Falls and the DIS
trict without flooding an acre Of ground.
Mr. Leighton does not discuss the
question OF the rights of the Great FaIIs
Power Company further than to point
out that southern Power Company, which
controls practically all the power proJ-
ectS of the South, makes il rule 10
pay SO per horsepower for undeVeloped
power, or what is called primary power.
That IS if the people who now nave prl-
Vate water rights at Great Falls wanted
TO sell to the Southern, and if their
power was capable of development the
Southern would give them SO per horse
power for it.
Statement Significant.
This feature of Mr.. Leightons report
is particularly significant, in view of the
fact that the greatest energy the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
ever estimated it could produce with
Great Falls power was 6,5OU-hOrsepower,
ana in view OF the further tact that the
company declined to try To use the pow
er after three thorough Investigations,
because it found the project too eXpen-
sive.
The conclusion. from the Leigton re-
port is tnat the TaIlWay-eleCtTIC COM
pany's right to damages may not be as
great as anticipated If the Gevornment
decides to develop the water supply
power scheme. AT $40 per horsepower
the company would be entitled to but
$G5 co., When its refusal to use the
power on the ground that it could not
be economically developed is consid-
cred, il seems reasonable to suppose
the damages would be even less.
The Federated Citizens Association
will consider the Great Falls project
at its regular February meeting, a
week from tomorrow night Presi
dent William Nick Clayton, of the
association, said today that after con-
ferring with members of the society
he had decided not to call a special
meeting. The reason for this is that
the Chamber of Commerce will not
begin it's work for the Great Falls
appropriation until the latter part of
next week. This, in Mr.. Clayton's s
opinion, makes it unnecessary for his
association to take up the Great Falls
scheme before next Saturday.