Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-26
NORRIS WILL PRESS
BILL FOR FUNDS TO
HARNESSPOTOMAC
Investigation Proves Feast
biIity of Great Falls Plan,
Senator Declares.

Senator Norris of Nebraska, father
OF the provision in the water power act
calling for a report to Congress on
the advisability of the development
of the water power at Great Falls
Potomac river. last night declared it
his intention to ask Congress to make
an appropriation for carrying out this
project as soon as the full report of
the engineers is available.
Il never had any doubt that fair
investigation would show the FEAST
bility and the advisabilfty of making
this development of the. Great Falls
water power" said Senator Norris.
discussing the preliminary report
submitted by. Secretary Baker of the
War Department to Speaker Gillett
Friday. which said that Maj. Tyler,
United States engineers. had reached
the conclusion that such power de-
velopment' is possible.
viii Seek Appropriation.
Il have opposed delay in carrying
out this project. and at the last ses-
sion the Senate inserted in the water
power bill an authorization for the
expenditure of $2s.o0o,0oo to develop
Great Falls water power at my suR-
gestion. In conference this was
changed to $4,000 to make an in
vestigation. Exhaustive investigations
had been made in the past and showed
the advisability of carrying out this
project. And now the latest investi-
cation bears out the former testimony
of Army engineers. 1t is time that the
development be undertaken. It would
mean a great saving to the govern
ment and to the private users of
power a0d electric light in Washing
ton.
when the full report on the project
has been submitted along with an esti-
mate of the cost. shall seek again to
have an appropriation made"
Senator Norris said that it was IAN
economic SIM. not to develop the Great
Falls water power for the use of the
capital city,. He expressed the opinion
that the engineers had found wisely
also in recommending that the Potomac
river project for increasing the water
supply of the District be adopted in
stead of the Patuxent project. It is
possible, he said, to combine the in
crease Of the water supply with the
power development at Great. Falls and
to do SO economically.
There is vital need for increasing the
water supply OF the District" continued
Senator Norris, 'for an emergency may
arise almost at any time when the Dis
trict will find itself badly. in need of
more water. For that reason, if for no
other. this combined project on the Po-
tomac should be put through with as
little delay as possible"
Senator Norris said that while there
may be opposition among members Of
Congress to government ownership, he
saw no reason why there should be OBJ
lection to the governments owning nd
operating a power plant on the Poto-
mac river when the government will
itself use very large share Of the
power and the lighting developed. He
said he saw no reason why the gov
ernment should not sell power to the
street car companies in the District. In
this connection. he declared himself in
favor Of merger of the two street car
companies in Washington.
''Such a merger should be made COM
pulsory by Congress il it cannot be OBJ
tanned in any other way" said Sena-
tor Norris. "One company makes money
at lower rates of fare and the other
loses money. The public is made to pay
the higher rate on both lines for the
benefit Of the weaker company 1t is not
fair to the public. There is every eco
nomic reason for the consolidation Of
the two companies 1t would result in
saving of time to passengers and money
to the companies A passenger would be
carried over the most direct route to
his place of destination, instead of be-
ing hauled all around Robin Hoods
barn, as is the case today. since the
tracks are not owned commonly