The Washington times., 1916-02-08

feet above the city datum. It might
be well to call your attention also to
the fact that the helghth of the stacks
as contracted for will be 175 feet above
city datum, or practically 80 feet higher
than the room of the new Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing, and 90 feet
higher than the roof of the old Bureau
of Engraving and Printing.
81 transmit also O large map of the
city of Washington, on which are shown
buildings having independent plans,
buildings served by the above and the
location of the new power plaEt. From
ing the tunnel az the old Postoffice
building 1,5O0 feet II will be possible to
connect to the central plant now serv-
ing the Interior Department ana ITS at
tendant group of buildings, and THIS
shut down that plant; II will also be
possible by a tunnel 1.Tt0 feet long TO
connect the Naval Hospital ana Hy-
gienic Laboratory to the Central plant,
is ideal to sarve the entire number of
present and future executive buildings.
The selection Of this particular site
for the new power-house was dictated
by the A B Cs OF mechanlcal ana elec-
"Cil II is so placed as to be readily
and che1ply served with coal both
by rail and water.
"2) The ashes Zone of the most en-
barrassIng features connected with q
central planD can be cheaply and
readily removed by rail- water or
carts.
"tSJ condensing water in large val
umes IL available within a few feet,
and can be handled with minimum
expense for pumping.
"H) The plant is fairly within the
center of gravity OF the road. II Is
within 500 feet OF the buildings that
will take so per cent OF all the steam
generated and nearly 40 per cent OF
all the electricity generated The
greater portion of the buildings to
be served are relatively small con-
sumers.
On Commercial Front.
90 The central plant is located on
the commercial water front instead or
on the Mall. on property owned by the
place in the city OF Washington for such
a project and its construction will be a
great step toward beautifying that sec
ton of the city, The building Will be
almost entirely hidden from view by the
high railroad embankment at this point
and the buildings of the new Bureau of
Engraving and Printing. The location
satisfies the esthetic feelings OF all rea-
sonable men.
''C61 When the power plant is in op-
Grafton II will permit the removal of
the present stacks OF the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing and of the De-
partment of Agriculture.
an annual saving to the Government
considering existing buildings only as
named in the act of $4,000. If Con-
gress permits the addition of the Of
flee building for the Interior Depart
ment, the Red Cross building, the
Johnson-Walker building (known as
the Navy. Annex, and the Lincoln
Memorial. further saving of $40, 900
per annum will be effected. When
the three great departmental build
ings named in the act are completed
and occupied, a further saving of
! $4,000 will be effected. In other
words. the greater the load, both cleo
! trio and steam, that is added to the
plant, the greater will be the saving,
| owing to the lower cost OF production
per unit of steam and electricity.
"(8) The plant has been designed
so that with little expense IL may
form the necessary steam auxiliary to
the hyro-electric plant. it is safe to
say, will be built to harness the
Great Falls OF the Potomac.
"C9) The plant will eliminate from
the city of Washington II smoke
stacks now existing on Federal build
: ings. which discharge smoke and
| gases from their individual plants"