The Washington times., 1912-07-27
POWER PLANT WILL
AFFECT BEAUTY OF
]IIA:THE GREAT FALLS
Material Decrease In Flow OF
Water Predicted If Tur-
bine Is Installed.

p The extent to which Great Falls will
be damaged by the utilization of the
water Of the upper Potomac for power
purposes can be ascertained only after
the survey is completed on which q
beginning has been made by the en-
gineering force under Lieut.. Col. w. C..
Langfitt, engineer in charge Of the Dis
trict water supply system. That there
Will be a material decrease in the
amount of water going over the rocks
Is certain.
The survey, for which Congress has
made appropriation, will be made from
the mechanical and commercial view
point, the survey ordered by Congress
not contemplating the preservation Of
The falls. However, the report of Liel-
tenant Colonel Langfitt's Office will lshow
tenant Colonel Langitt's office will show
pc done to the picturesque parts OF the
river.
Big Power Available.
II water is diverted from above the
Falls to a point near the Delacarlia res
frvoir. plan frequently suggested,
although not vet adopted by the survey
ing corps. the water applied to tur-
pine would have head Of over 100 feet
hnd possibly 140 feet. The value Of this
from power standpoint is appreciated
by comparison with Niagara Falls, the
greatest of natural power sources. There
the fall is approximately 200 feet. The
Great Falls hydro-electric plant would
have half and possibly two-thirds Of
such head.
There is little to be said about the
work now" said Colonel Langfitt today.
THE engineers who will do the detail
work have not been appointed and we
are only making a beginning. There
can be little of interest in the work un-
fil the report is made. That report will
snow the. value of the proposition from
z commercial standpoint and Its effect
on existing conditions"
Colonel Langfitt's office has recently
peen moved to the Southern building,
where Accommodations will be available
for the increased force under him during
the ume the survey Is being made. The
is $50, 900.
Authority for Work.
In this plan to utilize the power of
the falls Colonel Langfitt is acting
under the direction of the Secretary of
War; who, In turn, is directed by the
District of Columbia appropriation act,
approved June Is, last, to investigate
and report to Congress at the beginning
Of the next session on this question.
"The sufficiency of its source at the
Great Falls OF the Potomac river to
supply the present and future needs Of
the District Of Columbia for water, also
the availability Of the water power at
the said Great Falls or vicinity, or be-
tween Great Falls and the District OF
Columbia, for the purpose of supplying
light and power for uses of the United
States and the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia ...
Must Prepare Maps.
The act also requires Colonel Langfitt
to prepare complete plans, maps, speci-
fications. and estimates for the produc-
tion. distribution. and utilization of the
maximum electrical power that can be
economically created and employed for
such uses, including street lighting in
the District of Columbia. The plans,
maps, and specifications are to be suf-
ficient In detail to form the basis of a
contract or contracts for the execution
of the work. and the map, supplement-
ed, II necessary, by a report, shall in
dicate all of the lands that are required
to be taken or flowed. and the water
and the water tights that are required
to be taken for the execution of the
coutrac