Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-17
|senator Norris Sees Chance to Utilize Water Power.
LIGHT UP CAPITAL.
IRy Spending $l5,OO0,0OO and Dam. ming Stream 100000 H0rse-P0w- or Gould Be Secured to
 Generate Electricity.
Ry JONATHAN WINFIELD.

Washington, May l6.-LlShtlng up 1 all buildings occupied by the na- l tional government in the District Of 1 Columbia is the task the Potomac river must perform if Senator Norris has his way. There's cost of $13,- 100000 to be considered before the development of this river power is made by Uncle Sam, but appropria- tions of that size are mere trifle to a congress that losses out bil- lion and more with every two years of work. Senator Norris is trying to get this item which would result ill big saving to the federal treasury in few years, attached to the river and harbor appropriation bill. The chances are, however, that it will be put into one of the other budget bills instead.
 Army engineers have been look ing with ambitious eyes at the rapids in the Potomac, just above the city, ever since George Washington se- lected this site for the capital. Times after time the power has been in- yestigated and the engineers have been chagrined to witness the indif- ference of the senate and house to of the cost of development has been prepared, and Norris has made it his special business to see that the pro feet is brought to a definite issue and vote.
 Plans Dam 1l5 High.
 Under the new plan there will be built a dam 115 feet in height, To- cated near the old Chain bridge above Georgetown. This will form a lake that will extend nine miles upstream, to. the foot of the Great Falls of the Potomac. The scenic beauty of the falls will be left un- touched but from the 100000 horse power now running to waste in, the stream within the nine miles to be covered by the improvement the pow CT plant will be able to conserve two-thirds.
 Uncle Sam is not using anywhere near 100000 horsepower of electri- cal energy in his buildings in Wash lnston at present, but he will soon need great deal more than is now available. h the 92 buildings and groups of buildings which he uses here the average daily requirement IS lo,12S ,rsepower and the peak or greate,t use between and $ D m' in winter when all of the offices use their electric lights is 14,751 horsepower. The engineers estimate that by the year 1887 the peak requirement will be 34,S66 horsepow- CT. Just what growth in government al activities they were able to figure on lA order to arrive at an estimate or the needs 23 years hence is not cltar. However, they are agreed that the city must have new means o1 hghtlng for government buildings ana that the Potomac rapids offer m ,ne biggest bargain in power tha les undeveloped near any importan city in the country.
 Big Saving Possible.
 Just how cheap this electrical ligh ana power will be is illustrated b! the estimate on lighting The govern ment now pays 2.011 cents per kilo watt hour for the "juice." The pro posed plant with all overhead e'harges counted in, would furnish Il at S7 per kilowatt hour.
 The list of buildings to which thu government furnishes light at pres eh' IS interesting. There are all thu experimental offices, the capitol wh'te house, senate and house of