The Washington herald., 1916-10-09
The Great Falls Power Project.


shoulder the burden of large debt, the projec:
calling for the expenditure should be well sifted
and all the facts weighed Especially is this so
when there is even reasonable chance of the
Ultimate cost mounting steadily higher, without
a corresponding increase in usefulness. Appar-
entity the boosters for the Great Falls power pro-
ject have not given this phase of the matter as
much thought it demands. 1t was not to be
expected that the Federal engineers would go
particularly deep into the ultimate cost, being
more concerned with the engineering possibili-
ties of the proposition; but the District Commis-
sioners and the various civic bodies who have
lined up behind the Langftt report owe duty
to every citizen of Washington, no less than to
the nation at large, to move carefully before
advocating the expenditure of money, of which
100000 (the initial appropriation asked), would
be only the beginning
Careful analysis of the facts develops that
omissions in estimates for (minorO details would
make the total greater by more than 100000
than figured In the report. And as these omis-
sions can be picked by laynan. before the pro-
jeet has been started, it is safe to assume that
once the work Is under way, the engineers may
meet with unforeseen emergencies which still fur
ther will increase the total.
To begin with, the Langftt report contains
no estimate for installation Of street lighting
system to utilize the hydroelectric power. This
item would amount to about SI,2soyooo judging
from the cost in other cities. Then, the available
horsepower given in the government report is
not the available horsepower that can be de-
veloped and used, but the shaft horsepower de-
veloped by the water turbines and before any
deduction has been made for losses In generating,
transmission and transformation of hydroeleetric
energy. About per cent would be lost in
conversion alone, that is in changing the alter
mating current into direct current such is used
by the government at present. Either this or
change the fixtures, which for sthe electric fans
now in use alone, would amount to $4,000.
OF the 5000 acres it is contemplated using
for reservoir, about one-half would have to be
cleared of timber Estimating this cost at $16o
an acre (given by another government engineer),
this item would total $4,000 The Lang6tt
report does not contain such item. Another
$4,000 might be added for rock borings and
test work-not included in the Langftt report
The report estimates that $I,soo,ooo will cover
the cost of the necessary land and water rights
but past experience teaches the lesson that I'm
proved property cannot be obtained very cheapy
and the holdings Of two individuals could
not be purchased at present for that sum. No
allowance has been made for interest during the
construction period, which allowing three years
at IS per cent would add $so2,o62 to the bill
Taking into consideration these omitted items
amounting to more than $4,000, ,ooo it is estimated
the cost per horsepower (peak load) developed
would be about $4382o for the partial develop
ment. The average unit cost per horsepower
developed by large waterpower projects in this
country is slightly in excess of $Ioo per horse
power.
Then again account is taken in the Lang
fit report Of the cost of land for substations
for the distribution of power. This item might
easily total 100000 more. A steam auxiliary
plant for use when the water at the falls is low
is mentioned in the report, but no estimate of
cost is made. Such a plant likely would cost
about 100000.
In figuring out the saving to be effected for
the government, the Langftt report mentions
load factor of 81 per cent which does not in
clude commercial lighting or power for the street
railway systems or suburban roads In 1913 the
local power company, supplying all these de-
mands, had load factor of only IS per cent
Were the figuring done on a basis of As per cent
load factor anything near that the saving
mentioned in the government report would
dwindle into such an insignificant total as could
not by any stretch of the imagination justify the
expenditure Of the millions the government is
asked to spend.
1t would that there is a chance here for
a little further inquiry before the power plan
receives the Endorsement of official and civic
representatives of the District