The Washington times., 1911-02-07
URGE HEARING ON
GREAT FALLS PLAN
Cnseaber of Commerce Com
mittee Asks That Feasibil-
ity Be Tested.
Continued from First Page.)

directly onto the turbine wheels in a
power house on the river bank $50 1eet
''The apparent superiority Of this plan
over previous pens lies in the TACT that
no property would be HOODED by pacs
water, such as would be the case II
water were taken from the river on the
Virginia side at any point between Great
Falls and the District line. In the opln-
ion of Mr.. Leighton, any method OF utll-
ization except that proposed by MIN
would necessitate the payment OF heavy
damages for overflow and would make
the initial cost prOhibitive.
Investigation Only Urged.
This feature of Mr.. Leighton's plan
alone we believe makes it worthy of a
most thorough investigation, and jusu-
fies the preparation of estimates Of its
cost. We do not urge at this time that
Congress make an appropriation for the
actual development and use of the pow
er, but only for the purpose of ascer-
tanning definitely whether, by the Leigh
ton method, the development and use
of the power is economically possible.
We feel that the people of the District
of Columbia are entitled to have this
question determined and that the pos
sibilities are sufficiently reasonable to
justify an appropriation for this pur-
pose.
the fact that the Senate, in 1885, passed
bill for the requirement of all water
rights at Great Falls by the Government
and providing that the water should be
used for water supply for Washington
and for hydrO-electric power for public
lighting. We believe your committee VIII
find, upon investigation of the army en-
gineer reports made at that time, that
the projects then under consideration
were far less practicable than the pres
ent Leighton plan. The Great Falls bill
was favorably reported to the House
by the District Committee, in 1898, but
failed to reach vote.
Again we urgently recommend that
your committee obtain Mr.. Leighton'S
Information and that it give particular
consideration to his estimate of expense.
In his report he shows what seems to
us to be conclusive evidence of the
practicabilty, advisability, and feasi-
bility of utilizing Great Falls power.
Light Bill Should Be Reduced.
For the fiscal year 1910, the District
of Columbia spent $i25,0OO for public
lighting There is no reason to believe
that the Districts light bill, even at re-
duced rates, will ever be materially less,
while there is every reason to anticipate
that II will gradually increase. If, by
the installation of a municipal. hydro
electric plant for public lighting, the
District can reduce its lighting expense,
.
against doing so. The only way we can
determine whether such saving can
be made is for Congress to make TINS
appropriation for the complete lnVesu-
CATION of the Great Falls project.
There has been considerable discus
sion for many years as to the Govern
ment's rights at Great Falls. 1t Is hard-
ly necessary to call the attention OF
your committee to the fact that, if it
is deemed necessary to the public in
terests for the Government to use the
water of the Potomac river and to ac-
ouire real estate adjacent thereto, the
Government may do so by making pro-
vision for the just compensation Tor
all property taken for public uses, as
held in the case of Great Falls Manu-
featuring Company VS.. Garland, report
ed in vol. 124, United States reports, 5S3
THE extent of the damages which
would have TO be paid for the acquire
ment of the water rights and real estate
is a question which we believe your
committee should consider in connec-
ton with this proposed appropriation.
We recommend that your committee
either obtain information from c. Ed
ward Wright, Assistant Attorney for
the Interior Department, or read his
opinion on this subject.
Damage Would Not Be Prohibitive.
Both Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Leighton
are of the opinion that the damages
would not be prohibitive. They both
recommend Iudl 4OI purposes VI
economy these rights be acquired, and
that the water-power development be
accomplished.
1--WE also desire to call your atten-
ton to Senate Document 790, third ses-
sion, Sixty-first Congress, known as
Great Falls of the Potomac, an article
giving a history of the Great Falls
water rights, which article was ordered
printed on January q, 1911; also Senate
Document 154, second session, Fifty
third Congress, Letter from the Secre-
tarv of War in response to the Senate
resolution of March l, 1894, inclosing a
letter from the Chief of the Engineers,
with Enclosures, relative to the feasl-
bility and advisa bility of using water
power of the Great Falls Of the Potp-
mac or other water power in the neigh
borhood Of Washington, D. c., for the
purpose of lighting by electricity the
public buildings, grounds, and streets OF
fhe District of Columbia, etc
1--WE direct your attention to the tact
that our committee represents SOO OF the
most progressive business and profes-
sional men of Washington, who con-
slider the practical development and
use of Great Falls power subject
which demands the most serious attenr
ton in the interest of the people Oh
Washington. .o5
nv the Great Falls committee or the
Federation of Citizens Associations
representing about 10000 of the perma.
nent resident citizens Of the District OF
Columbia ,
JULIUS 1. PEYSER, Chairman.