The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-04

ington, stands the diiapldated
ruin of what was once a mill.
II Is regarded by tourists as an object
of much interest, and not without rea-
son. inasmuch az it was built orig
inally by George Washington to EN-
ploy the water power for grinding corn.
Washington himself was a strong
advocate Of a project for constructing
a lam and supplying the national
capital with water power from Great
Falls. Ever since then the idea has
hung fire. The people OF Washington
are now trying 10 get an Appropriation
OF SO. 600. 900 from Congress with which
: 10 start the work.
II undertaken by the Federal Gov
m the engineers Of the army
Will have charge OF it. The job in tina,
case falls within the purview Of the
Secretary OF War, and the prospect of
obtaining the requisite money from
Congress depends first Of all upon his
favorable recommendation 10 that leg
is.at!ye body. The business men of
the city through the Washington
Chamber OF Commerce have appealed
to him on the subject and he has de-
clared himself favorable TO Il. but he
questions the eXpediency Of starting
the undertaking just Al present lest
the Treasury be embarrassed.
The people OF Washington. however,
are not willing that the project should
he further postponed. Acting in Their
interest, the Chamber Of Commerce is
now urging the local government to
assume responsibility for the under
taking. IN which event the project
would 30 carried out under the d;roc-
ton Of the Engineer Commissioner OF
the District OF Columbia, who Is an
army officer.
The advocates Of the project assert
that the present situation IL in a way
rather absurd. With mt water
power near at hand n readily avail
able for use the city Is wholly depend
ent for !ts supply Of electricity upo
the burning of coal. The Government
, produces by this means nearly all or
the electricity it uses locally for light
Ing the public buildings, but citizens
are obliged TO buy electricity from n
corporation. which charges them for Il
!, at the rate OF 10 cents a kilowatt hour.
Engineers have estimated that the
Great Falls plant. once established
could produce electricity at a cost OF
less than one-third of a cent per kfo-
watt hour. This would save the Gov
eminent a lot OF money. for It now
paws two cents and a fraction. In
terest on the money invested, with
sinking fund charges. would run the
cost up TO five-siyths of a cent, but
a price OF two cents 70 the citize,
: consumer would. even at this rate
I yield n large profit.
Naturally the citizens would be glad
to see their bills for electricity cut
' down to one-ffth Of their present size
II might ne supposed that the street
{ car lines, all OF which are run by this
: kind OF power. would likewise welcome
I the suggested change. But here Is 6
; curious paradox: they do not want !
{ and all the influence they possess il
; cxerted against the Great Falls prot
: cct. The reason why IL very simple
: under present circumstance they Sc
all the electricity they use for moth
ing.
e This fact has only recently CON
out. Between the street car owner
ship and the corporation that make
and sells electricity there is a clos
II relation. For years past the electri'
- ''tlNNI u, NNNlhS ulu'A
agreement" has made a free gift 4
the street car company OF AL tn
y current required by the latter. In
c deed, the street car company gets s.
much Of 1t gratis that It has a sur
X plus left over, which II sells on It
own ccoun for something like $50,
600 Il year.
J. OF course, all OF this has to com
- 800 " ..-.lol-,. -A-l,., T. 10 ~
4 private consumer OF electricity VII
pays. The nickel he gives the con
" ductor for carfare does not settle h!
n bill for local transportation: he mus
IL make an additional contribution
~ through the electric power compan,
:. for running tbs cars. II costs = lo
OF money to run the street cars G
Washington. No wonder. then. ths
ie the price OF electricity Is high.
70 1t IL reckoned that h total COZ
of the great Falls project will b
TO a little over SIS, 1000, 900. One suggcs
y ton made is that Congress shall civ
II half the money and The District tn
" balance. Another In that the Feders
n Government shall construct the plar
II and bring the electricity twelve mile
'r to the District boundary line. tn
District government then assumin
te responsibility for the distribution
IL current.
ne The estimated horsepower avail
80 able at the falls IL from $500 to %
m 500, according to the stage OF tho rive
Washington's present requirement
"a II 900 kilowatts, representing All
ID horsepower BY 1887, 1t Ia though
ne the demand Will have risen to 81, 81
e. horsepower delivered In tho cit,
&c Inasmuch as the loss Of power
I'd transmission over the wires will
ny something like 20 per cent, It IL al
he vious that at periods in dry years Il
ne supply OF electricity from Great Fal
viii have TO he supplemented ny steal
as plants.
n The Government owns several sue
ns plants. the most important Of whic
Ire and one OF the best equipped In Il