The Washington times., 1916-02-06

tne Saving Inhl WOulu uluHtCGy pS
made in the personnel and operation by
having one large plant instead Of sundry
plants scattered all over the city. The
plant would absorb the load which Is
now carried by seventeen small individ-
ual plants.
"It appears from the testimony before
the Appropriations Committee, which
authorized the building that the plant
will effect a saving of fl77,0O0 per year
and when certain additional buildings
already under construction are added to
II the saving Will be increased by fO,OOO.
When the three buildings projected for
the state, Justice, and Commerce De-
partments are added another $4,000 will
be saved. This saving Is in the cost of
furnishing these three requisites and
does not include the saving that will be
made by saving the outlay for plants
In these buildings
"The saving to the United States Gov
ernment through building such a plant
will run into the millions in a few
years. 1t was largely this factor that
led to the inspiration and working out
of the central heating. lighting and
power plant for washington. This
great saving will be further increased
when the Congress authorizes Nthe har-
Messing Of the Great Falls for power
purposes This present plant will be
the necessary steam auxiliary which
will be required for this great project
which will be of such great assistance
bination OF these plants will further
erect an enormous saving.
AS to SmOkestacks.
"A great deal has been said about
the esthetic view and it is suggested by
citizens associations after five minutes
consideration of the matter that the
placing of this plant at the present To-
cation will be blot upon the beauty
of the Mall.
with respect to objection to the
smokestacks on the ground that they
would interfere with the vista of the
WASHINGTON Monument. It is we'll to note
in this connection that there Is at pres
ent a plant and a stack on the old
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
building that is far higher than the
stacks contemplated for the power plant
and has not their beauty of design. This
stack is located much closer to the
Washington Monument. and interferes
with the vista of the Monument from
the Capitol, plaza. from downtown
Washington. or from any viewpoint
where the Mopument can be seen.
This stack measures 200 feet from the
ground level. and this ground level is
that Of the Monument base. The power
plant stacks have been measured by the
directors not from the ground. which is
=
but from the later level at mean low
tide. They measure the stacks at 1876
feet above mean low water level. With
the same basis OF measurement the Blu
reau Of Engraving and Printing stack.
to which no objection has ever been
made. on esthetic grounds is well over
225 feet. The erection Of the central
power plant further from the Monu-
ment and on a lower site would permit
the removal Of the bureau smokestack
"EnFthRFmnTR fhnFa q fxyn NJ
the plant of the Potomac Electric Power
Company. at Fourteenth and B streets
adjoining the Mall and one block from
the Monument grounds. that are taller
power plant. They are in the heart OF
the city and old and smutted and have
an unsightly aerial stretched between
them.
Other Stacks Here.
There are many other similar stacks
I'm Washington notably those on the
CAPITAL Traction power plant. on X
street northwest. and those Of the Capt.
tol power plant. a Government plant. ia
which no objection was made on the
score Of smokestacks at the time OF
| erection.
THE site Of the power plant els fur
ther removed from the monumental
group of Government structures than
| any suggested site. 1t is one of the
| lowest and most inconsplcuous that can
be found in the city. because it is on
| the water front and near the water
| level, and Is almost entirely ObsclIred
| by the high railroad embankment rum
ming directly north of IT. and by the
4 natural rise OF ground between this
point and Pennsylvania avenue. 1t Is
| directly in line with the Bureau OF
| Engraving and Printing and Its stacks
would be altogether obscured by the
bureau from the White House.
1T thus arpesrs that the construc-
| ton OF this plant would justify the re-
moval of the present stack of the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing. 1t will
do a great deal more than this. There
| are seventeen buildings now In exist
| ence. four building, and three In con-
this plant. In some of the present
structures the heating plant is largely
obsolete. and It Is a difficult. II not im-
possible. matter to prevent them from
sending up at times large clouds OF
| dense smoke
! "In fact the concentration of these
4 twenty-four separate plants in one plant
will mean the elimination of smoke and
gases from the center of the city. 1t Is
| impossible in these twentY-four isolated
plants without enormous cost to entirely
| consume the smoke. In single plant II
| Is not only possible but economical TO
consume the smoke before 1t leaves the
/ stack.
Would Do Away With EyesOre.
THE building of the plant at this
point and the construction of an asphalt
plant adjoining it will wipe out an eye
sore in the lower section of tho city,
This site was covered by a lot OF ram
shackle, unsightly structures. rented
out for wharfage to lumber men and
fish dealers It is separated from the
Mall by the elevated railroad tracks
and terminal freight yard and a Goa
yard that separate IT from the Mall
| hn Incnrntinri Of tn