Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-22
GREAT FALLS DAM
PROJECT IS URGED
Special Board of Army Engi-
neers Reports FavorabIy on
the Langfitt Plan.
OPPOSED TO A SEPARATE
UNDERTAKING FOR POWER
Dam a Short Distance Above Chain
Bridge Considered the Most
Practical Scheme.

After several months study, a
special board of engineer officers,
composed of Col. H. c. Newcom-
er, Lieut.. Col. C. A. F. Flag1er
and Lieut.. Col. William w.
Harris. today submitted report
to Secretary Baker substantially
indorsing the project of the Lang
fit board of 1913, for the estab-
lishment of a power plant near
the Great Falls of the Potomac
for the dual purpose of increasing
the water supply of the District
and for the development of power
for electric lights and other pur-
poses for the federal and District
governments.
The Langfitt plan contemplated the
construction of a high dam in the river
about a third of mile above the Chain
bridge, increasing the water supply by
pumping to Dalecarlia reservoir from
the lake formed by the dam and gener-
ating power by utilizing the head Gre
ated by the dam, and transmitting and
distributing the power as desired.
Total Cost, $15,o21 800.
The estimated cost of the project was
s5.172,6O0 for the increase Of the water
supply and ss,s4s,0o0 for the power de-
velopment. a total of s15,o21, 500
Although the desirability of the pro-
posed plant was observation-disclosures
ally in the interests Of a more econom-
ica1 administration of federal and mu-
nicipal affairs in the District the great
expenditure of money involved so far
has stood in the way of favorable ac-
ton by Congress. Reports from local
army engineers in recent months salts
fed the authorities Of the War Depart
existing system will be amply sufficient
for several years to come.
Thinking that plant for supplying
electric power for public uses might
Great Falls at much less expense il the
idea of increasing the watef supply
were eliminated. Secretary Baker
created the Newcomer board last May
| lHdI DOdTu was specially instructed TO
investigate 'the practicability of an
improvement of the Potomac river in
the vicinity of Great Falls for power
development alone"
Had to Use Existing Data.
It developed that there were no funds
available to enable the board to make
an entirely independent investigation
and the members were obliged to re-
strict themselves to study of the data
compiled by the Langf1tt board and
other persons who had previously gone
over the field
The report of the Newcomer board
submitted to Secretary Baker today
says in substance that after a thorough
study of all the data available the con-
cIusion was reached that The Langf1tt
project was the most advanta geous one
from all standpoints and that a power
plant ADEQUATE for the purposes desired
without reference to an increased water
supply could not be constructed for
much less than the estimate made by
the Langfltt board, about $3.50, 900.
The report has not been made public
but ii is known that it makes strong
plea for the preservation of the scenic
beauty of Great Falls proper in the
execution of any plan that may be
adopted for utilizing the water power
of the Potomac in this vicinity.
A copy of the report will be sent to
the District Commissioners, who. it is
said, suggested the idea of a fresh
study of the power plant question.