The Washington times., 1913-02-01
AGAIN, THE GREAT FALLS POWER.

| Two years ago publicity was given to pa
worked out by the photographic division of the Get
logical Survey, for developing the water power
Great Falls and using it to light Washington. Ths
project served the agreeable purpose of prying tn
top layers off the excessive price the town pay
ing to private monopoly for electric light. AppaI
emily, if served no other immediate purpose.
But now comes an interesting development tha
mas not, heretofore, been confded to the public.
appears that the project then outlined convinced tn
Engineer Commissioner and other authorities s
much that they decided on further investigation o
the operation Accordingly an appropriation o
$4,000 secured for further investigation of tn
whole subject of utilizing the falls The army engi
neering corps was put at work, and is about read
to present report. ...
Of this communication nothing is yet known of
fcially, but it is understood that a much more am
bilious project is contemplated than the one frs
proposed. This latter scheme looks to an expendi
trre of possibly $l0000,000, and to production of
horsepower that at maximum, under high-water con
ditions, would reach perhaps 0,0O0-horsepower.
Right at the door of Washington lies this magnif
cent opportunity. There is practically no difference
of opinion to its availability for economic develop
ment. 1t could light Washington and run its stree
cars most of the time, though an auxiliary steam
plant would have to be maintained for seasons o
lowest water flow. In any case there is little eng
neering uncertainty as to the economic value Of the
plan. Ii would. save vast amount of money, and
free this town from the monopolistc grip that now
controls its electric business.
Why not? Congress finds time to converse vast
volumes about caring for water powers in remote ma
tional forests where there isn't chance of practi
cal utilization for many years. 1t dilates with oro-
tund profundity about safeguarding the public inter
est in grants of water powers to private corporations
The War Department and the Interior Department
are constantly negotiating with reference to
ing these public rights in things that for the most
part are of no particular present value.
But look at Great Falls, that is wasting every
day power enough to illuminate Washington, at the
very lowest! Nobody moves toward harnessing it,
setting it at work. and saving some money Our
conservation views seem to be reserved for con-
versational uses alone. Why not give demonstra-
tion of what the thing is all about?
There is not a power in America aside from
Niagara, that offers more assuring opportunity for
development. The power is there, the right condi-
tons are there, the market is right here in the Capt.
tai City 1t would be splendid object lesson to the
whole nation. 1t would teach to other cities, and
to the States, the lesson of their potential wealth in
water resources.
Is if possible that we can't have Great Falls
harnessed in this fashion, because the private inter-
ests that would thereby lose their tol-gathering
privilege are too powerful with Congress? Is it to
be assumed that Great Falls flows on to waste and
day by day, year by year, for the
very same reasons that a public utilities bill lies
cobwebgr grown in committees pigeonhole at the
Capitol?
That is precisely the way il looks to the Law mind .
and the appearance is far from creditable to Con-
gress.
A little less complaint about the expense of rum
ming Washington, and trfle more attention to the
problem of giving Washington practical, workable,
modern, efficient economical government, would be-
come our Congressional overlords exceeding we'll.