Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-24
URGE DEVELOPMENT
. Of POWER Project
At GREAT FALLS
Representatives of Civic
Bodies and D. c. Commits
sioners Appear at Hearing.

The proposed water power develop
ment at Great Falls and the various
plans for increasing the water supply
of the District of Columbia were the
subject of a hearing before the water
power commission at the Interior
Department building today.
The act creating the commission
also provided $4,000 to be used by
the commission in making a survey
of the power project and water sup
ply problems of the District, and
called for an early report to Con-
greSs.
To Work ON Report.
The commission concluded it's hear
ings on the subject today. and will
now get down to work on it's report.
Gen. Beach and Maj. Tyler of the
United States Engineer Corps. will
aid the commission in the investiga-
ton.
Representatives of trade and civic
organiza tions and of the District
Commissioners advocated the power
project. and particularly some meas
ure to increase the present water
supply of the District.
On the other hand, representatives
of the Potomac Electric Power Com-
pany frankly opposed the project.
while urging the need of increasing
the water supply.
Purpose Explained by Mr.. Baker.
Before the hearing began Secretary
Baker stated it's purpose was to give
persons and corporations interested
in the development of the Great Falls
project an opportunity to state their
views.
The first witness was A. E. Seymour.
secretary OF the Washington Chamber
of Commerce. He told the commits
sion that the chamber has been in
favor of the water power develop
ment of Great Falls for number of
years. although it had never made
an independent scientific investiga-
tion of the proposed project.
I'VE have passed upon reports made
by the Army engineers" he said.
VIII Call for Large Outlay.
FL Weller. chairman of the water
supply committee of the Board of
Trade. said the board had been SYM
pathetic to the development of the
proposed Great Falls water project,
provided it can be economically
ticularly Interested, he said. in OBJ
tanning an adequate water supply for
the District of Columbia He said
that the use of water here has now
practically reached the safe daily ca
pacity of the present water supply.
The Patuxent project for increasing
the Districts water supply, he added.
had been given serious consideration
by the board.
Representative MoOre's Statement.
Representative ]. Walton Moore of
Virginia, while expressing the belief
and hope that the Great Falls power
would be developed eventually, i'm
pressed upon the commission the need
of acting quickly to increase the water
supply of the District. He said:
$50 far as the water supply is con-
cerned, it should be increased suffi-
GENTLY to take care not only of the
needs of the District of Columbia but
the needs of the Virginia and Mary
land suburbs. This would not involve
Improbable outlay because the water
used by the suburbs would be paid for
1t would be in no way to the disad-
vantage of the District, but, on the
contrary, to it's advantage. since sani-
tary and business conditions in the
suburbs have direct bearing upon
the welfare of the District. 1t would
be manifestly to the advantage of the
suburbs, where otherwise very
heavy capital expenditure would be
required to provide an independent
water supply. Already, believe, there
is in effect a statute that authorizes
a water main to be laid across the
bridge between Arlington county,
which is the Virginia suburban coun-
ty, and Washington city.
'It is, of course, realized that any
plan of developing the water power of
the Potomac will call for a large ex-
penditure 1t is reasonable to assume
that as there will be a large plant of
a permanent character. the maximum
production of power, instead of a
production of less than the maximum,
would, even If the cost were some
thing more in the beginning, prove to
be in the long run in the Interest of
economy Such a measure of produce
ton would furnish the power needed
in the District of Columbia. and an ex-
cess power for which a market could
be found in Virginia and Maryland
not only for transportation and light
ing and heating purposes, but for
manufacturing purposes. Should the
excess be beyond the requirements of
the nearby suburbs. there would be
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