Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26

nection with its decision. recently an
nounced. to ask Congress at the next
session for an appropriation with which
to begin work on the proposed harness.
ing of the water power at Great Falls
on the Potomac river.
Calling for total expenditure of ap-
proxlmately s15O0O.OOO. this big en-
cheering project, according to its de-
signers, will accomplish two immediate
results. First, it will provide an in
creased water supply, and, second. it will
enable the city to light its streets, parks
and public buildings at reduced cost.
But there are ultimate advantages
those affecting directly the taxpayer and
consumer-which the Commissioners be-
leye may be derived and which they
took into account when they decided to
recommend an initial appropriation with
which to get the scheme under way.
These are:
First the possibility of sufficient power
being developed to enable the municipal
ity to distribute current to private con-
sumers at cheaper rates than those now
in effect: second, the utilization of this
power. provided it can be generated in
sufficient quantity. in the operation by
the municipality of the local street rail-
ways on a three-cent fare basis
The Great Falls development which
the Commissioners favor is the one that
was recently prepared under the direc-
zion of Col W. G. Langfitt OF the Corps
of Engineers. United States Army. While
i. contemplates only providing the I'M
mediate benefits which have been refer
ieu TO, the District heads have made a
thorough study OF the data presented.
ana az convinced that enough power
can be developed at Great Falls to
justify serious consideration OF the ad,
visibility of the city taking over and
operating the electric lighting and rail-
way plants.
Here is what Commissioner Newman
has to say of the municipal ownership
possibilities of the project as they have
been considered by the board:
''The whole theory upon which the de-
velopment and use of electrical power
from Great Falls Is based is that it will
enable the rank and file of the people of
the city OF Washington to live more
cheaply and to derive more happiness
from their lives. 1t has been clearly
demonstrated by a series of investiga-
tons. OF which that made by Col Lang
fit Is the most complete. that the Great
Falls project is a practical project-that
is, that the investment required to put
the project upon an operating basis is
sufficiently small 10 enable the plant To
nc d HHdDtidi SUNLESS.
we have before W. therefore. the
established fact of the practicabilty oil
the project. We know that at Great Fails
there is power which can be used to light
the city of Washington and run its street
railway lines and provide all the power
which 1t now requires. We know that it
ro Oh,
electricity now consumed for power, light
ing and transportation purposes Obvious
ly. 1t Is no more than common sense to
take the Great Falls power and use it.
II say that the theory of the project
IS the betterment of. the people of the
city. because the establishment of Ii
means cheaper electricity for consumers
the opportunity and ability to use more
electric lights in the homes of consum-
ers and reduction in the cost of trans
portation to those who ride. which must
inevitably follow a reduction. in the cost
cilities
1t Is equally obvious that il the United.
states government or the District of CO.
umoia effects the economy in the cost
OF producing power by the development
or the Great Falls project, it ought 10
continue the economy by distributing that
power in Just the same manner that II
now provides the people of Washington
Another element in the Great Fails
project which enpha sizes its desira bilitv
ana pracficability is the ease and sim
plicity with which the cost OF the project
can oe taken care OF. From study OF
Col. Langftt's report and from Information
furnished me by the superintendent of
the water department. find that the en-
tire ultimate cost Of the project can be
wiped out from it's net earnings as a
going concern. Col Langatt estimates
that the portion of the entire fifteen-
million-doliar expenditure which is prop
eriy chargeable to the District water
supply will be about $2.5O0.OOO
am assured BY the superint endent OF
the District water department that the
water revenues could easily take care
OF interest and sinking fund on 100000
which could be raised by a bond issue or
advanced by the United States govern
ment, and hau.dated n the coatse of .