Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-17
Harvesting the Potomac.

In discussing the various ways in which
the water Of the Potomac can be harness.
ed Mr.. Leighton passes over the Little
Falls project by saying it always fails
Of practicabiIity when closely examined.
The horsepower at that point measures
UP to about $500. This. however. is in
cluded in large scheme for developing
the entire river from Little Falls to Great
Falls.
The Great Falls-Dalecarlia project is
the one which appears to be the most
practicable in the report and one reason
given is that the United States owns n
dam with appurtepant land at the crest
Of Great Falls and a right of way from
the crest to the Dalecarlia reservoir at
the northwest peak of the District of Co
lumbia. Along this right OF way runs
the present water supply conduit Mr..
Leighton considers that if the present
government property can be utilized in
the project outlined. it should be favor
ably considered by all means.
1t has been foretold that the Dis
trict will have to hustle around for
few years. anyhow. and with this in
mind the report hints that it might
be a good thing to use the same con-
duit. when built. for both the in
municipal lighting plants water
power.
Much of this section of the report is
devoted to a statement OF the hydrau-
IICS VI tile UuI IL Is ClcdI that
even on the longest nights. when the
city requires light for perhaps thirteen
hours, there will be eleven hours of
the twenty-four when the river will
have nothing to do but replenish the
storage reservoirs of the District.
Use Conduits for Power.
The entire capacity of the conduit
will not be needed for this purpose for
ha
port. Therefore, part of the con
duit capacity can be devoted during
these eleven hours to other federal
power purposes.
complete estimate of the various
features of a big water power scheme
is given in the report. the total being
81 427 300 which, as has been shown,
falls 100000 short of the amount
which the District could afford to pay,
based on its present needs and ex-
whether the remainder of the light
ing system can be acquired at or below
this margin can readily be determined
by the District Commissioners. says the
report.
"AlI of the foregoing cost should not
be charged against water power A large
part Of 1t must be de5ited against mu-
nicipal water supply.
Leighton Expects Objections.
Mr.. Leighton anticipates objections be-
ing raised to This scheme of his. One Of
these objections. he says, will be that
| those now interested in the supply of
water power for present District needs
and who have the riparian rights will
set 80 high value on their property
that the ultimate cost will be prohibi-
tive.
Mr.. Leighton says he Is in possession of
information which will be or use in
uua shinR that argument.
Legislation has already been proposed
| by the Commissioners for the acquiring
| OF the riparian rights needed for the
esta blishment of municipal plant az
Great Falls. In the hearings before the
| House appropriations committee. Com
| missioner Judson presented a bill which
would appoint commission to appraise
the value OF the land and other rights.
In making the valuations the commits
sion would be authorized merely to APP
praise the value OF the land At Its pres
/ ent worth. regardless of it value IS
water power or electric light plant situo-
] ton.