Evening star., 1914-01-31
PLANS HEAT, LIGHT
AND POWER PLANT
Government to Expend Over
One Million Dollars in Its
Construction.
SITE ON WATER FRONT
FACING POTOMAC PARK
Consulting Engineer Of New York to
Assist Supervising Architect in
Preparing Specifications.

| Preliminary study looking to the build
! ing of a great central plant here to sup
! ply large number of puhlic buildings
| with heat. light and power has besI
started \ 5 the first step in this drec-
| ton. J.. y. StlIwell consulting ensinee,
Of New York, has been employed as an
| expert 10 work with the engineering fore.
in the Office of the supervising architec,
Of the Treasury Department
The appointment and preliminary study
does not involve the preparation of actual
final plans, and no contracts will be lei
| on the basis of this study of the require
| ments, Announcement of Mr.. Stillwell's
appointment was made. by Hyron II. New
| ton. assistant secretary of the Treasury
Department. The bill providing for the
| building of the big plant was passed last
June.
The central heating and power plant
is To be located on the river front facing
Potomac Park. at 3NNater street between
18th and 1::,z streets southwest. The
sundry civil bill appropriates not m"re
than 81. f4. Hot The Secretary of tn.
contracts to the full limit of the cost as
fixed by the law.
To Serve Public Departments.
Heat. light and power are to he provided
to buildings of the government. old and
new, west of the Peace Monument
There buildings are: The bureau of en-
craving and printing the buildings OF
the Department of Agriculture. the
Treasury building. the White House and
buildings on the White House grounds,
the State. War and Navy building, the
Winder and the Mills buildings the
Court of Claims building, the National
Museum, the smithsonian Institution the
Army Medical Museum. the fish commits
sion. the Washington Monument. the Dis
trict buiffling and the Post Office Depart
ment, and the buildings, when construct
ed on the sites acquired. for each of the
departments of State. Justice and Com
Inerce and Labor.
The appropriation of 81 ,494, ,1O4 is to be
the total limit of cost for the entire cen
trail plant. All necessary buildings, boil
ers, engines. generators. pumps. machin-
cry appliances and equipment, tunnels,
ducts and SO forth, are to be paid for
from this sum.
The law contemplates cross connec-
ton between this central plant and the
Capitol power plant. This is to provide
that either plant may supply TO the other
electrical energy in case of breakdown
or other emergency. This connection is
to be. equipped with necessary meters SO
that reimbursement may be made for
the amount of current actually supplied
by either plant to the other
Lease Terminated by Law.
A five-year lease to John Miller of
wharfing property on the site selected
for the power plant, made April s. 1905,
was terminated without compensation
by the law. under clause in the lease.
and other government-owned land ad-
joining was also set aside as part of the
site The plant is not to occupy the
whole tract. Space is to be reserved as
site for an asphalt plant for the Dis
trict of Columbia
The law appropriates $4,000 for the
commencement of the work of construct
ing the power plant. The Secretary of
the Treasury was authorized and en-
powered to employ. without reference to
the civil service laws and regulations, on
a salary basis in the Office Of the super
vising architect, such technical service as
he may deem necessary in connection
with the plans, specifications and con-
struction. 1t is under this authority that
Mr.. Stillwell was employed. The services
are to be paid for out Of the appropria-
ton.
Not 10 exceed $4,000 is available for
such technical services as the bill author
and independent of authorizations and
| appropriations for personal services in
the office of the supervising architect.