The Washington times., 1915-08-19
White House, Army Engineers,
and District Commissioners
All Committed to Plan To Be
Recommended to Congress.
Estimated Cost About $15,000,-
600, and Great Saving
Would ResuItAMunicipaI
Ownership Of Lights and
Car Lines May Follow.

The conversion Of the tremendous
wasted energy Of the Great Falls Of
the Potomac into electricity that will
light tho National Capital. run It's
street cars and supply heat, light, and
power for the Government As we'll as
the private consumer. Is about to be
realized.
A fifteen million dollar project for
the development Of tho power Of the
falls, as we'll as the utilization Of its
waters for drinking purposes. 10 to be
submitted to Congress. It will be
backed by the District Commissioners.
tho Board OF Army Engineers. the War
Department and-most important Of all
by the White House.
Postmaster General Burleson is an
other high official whose aid may be
depended upon when the Great Falls
project Is pushed to the fore. He fav-
ored the scheme when ne was a MEM
ber Of the House Appropriations Com
mittee
Municipal ownership Of the trans
portation and lighting system Of the
National Capital 10 not difficult to
foresee as plans mature for the de-
velopment Of the Niagara Of WASH
ington."
Low Cost Of Power.
When the waters Of the Great Falls
are bridled electricity may be manufac-
tured so cheaply. tho engineers re-
ports say. that the Government will be
| In position not only to supply its own
needs. but to sell current to the private
| consumer The estimated cost of the
power Is far below that now paid by
Uncle Sam and individuals who use
privately manufactured light and power
| With thousands Of kilowatts Of power
available az the Great Falls power
taken for the municipal ownership and
operation OF the street railway com
panies and the electric lighting system
Of the National Capital.
| The Commissioners are practically
committed to municipal ownership under
present conditions: When the great
energy Of the falls is transplanted tc
the heart Of Washington by means OF
electric cables and the cheapness Of
watsrmsde powst, becomes zee; ne reality
1t has ever been in the history Of th>
| Nations Capital.
The Great Falls power plant Is to b
| constructed In substantial accord. 1t Il
| expected, with plans submitted to thu
board OF engineers by Lieut. Col. w. c
/ Langfitt. who was assisted by Clemen!
Herschel. Of New York. and various
Federal and District officials at thu
time OF the survev.
What Plan Calls For.
The general features OF the projec
recommended by Colonel Langfitt. ant
which will be submitted to Congress
with but slight modification are:
Construction Of high dam in the Po
tomac river near the northwest bound
ary line Of the District and about one
third Of a mile above the Chain Bridge.
The generation OF power<by utilizing
the head thus crea ted and the transmits
sion and distribution of the powe
throughout the city.
Increasing the water supply of Wash
ington by pumping to Delecarlia reser
yoir from the lake formed by the dam.
Enlargine the capacity of delivery be
tween Dalecarlia reservoir and the m
tration plant at Mcmillan Park reser
voir.
The investigating engineers say tn
l
lake which will be created by the higl
dam proposed will be lis feet above loy
water OF the Potomac river at Chat
| Bridge.
i It is estimated that the cost of tn
Increased water supply for the Distric
of Columbia. an increase sufficient t
care for the needs of the National CAP
: ital for probably a century. will b
s5l720oo. and the cost of the plant 10
, the development of water power will h
J. So. $40 O00 which includes the cost c
l construction and the acquisition c
4 rights Of way and land.
+ Can Underbid All Others.
Once the plant is constructed. the M
o nual cost Of maintenance will be abo,
s215, 900, and electricity will be manufat
tured at an unusually low rate. Urc
Q Sam can underbid anyone in suprlyin
= electric current for the home or factor!
>, and the engineers say the power plsi
II will pay for itself within a reasonab
n time.
y The report Of the War Department G
9 the Great Falls project Is a mattero
4 fact document with which the eXecuti'
a branch of the Government will attem
a to convince the legislators that it w
Il be good business policy to employ Il
+ waters which have waited unused ut Il
= gates of WASHINGTON for more than
q century. An initial appropriation
\ from 81 10000 to 100000 will be aske
II and the fact that Congress authoriz.
n a survey of the situation by the srn
engineers prcsages at least careful co
n slderation and probably favorable a
In ton at the next session.
i Figures showing what the Nation
e Capital may expect in the way Of wat
supply. electricity. revenues. and 20
II veniences In the event of the constri
d ton of the Great Falls power pant q
8 given as follows in the War Depar
e ment report on Colonel Langfitt'S /
= vestgation:
d Estimates of Power Vary.
d "The estimated total annual cost
d operation and of maintenance, includir
g both power and water supply. is place
Is at s2l5.OOO. The estimated amount
4. electrical energy which can be ssnsrat