The Washington herald., 1921-02-16
Power Commission Urges
Immediate Start in
Development.
POTOMAC'S WATER
SUPPLY APPROVED
Levering Scheme Dis
missed After Close
Study by Experts.
By FLOYD MONTGOMERY.


The Federal Power Commission.
4Composed OF Secretary 81 War Ba-
ker. chairman; Secretary OF Interior
Payne and Secretary of Agriculture
Meredith. late yesterday nIed its re-
port to Congress recommending ,n-
Tyler plan for the development Of
Great Falls water power and the
immediate consideration Of steps to
supplement the water supply Of the
District
The commission suggested that
tee two projects hg separated. be
cause an immcdiato addition 20 the
District water supply is imperative
and because the separation WouIa
involve no substantial loss Of either
time or money.
FaVors Potomac.
The commission is convinced. the
report stated. that the Totomar
rather than the PatuNcnt water sup
ply should be developed and "IL
earnestly recommends to ConErcss
the urgency Of tho nerd Or tho Die
trict that this project be at ono"
undertaken"
= II lIAIlltillc Nf NAdTl w NlF Nf.hf."
opment Of power in accordance with
the Tyler report is urged. our study
Of the situation" the report said.
satisfies US that all the power so
developed will find a ready market
in the District and the circuun jsCent
territory 10 which IL can be trans
mitted without disprOportionate line
loss or transmission system cost"
nr,E.., nU.zE.x
The commission dismissed tn
project Of H. LeverinE, civil on
Eineer. inclosinE report from
nine engineers OF the technical forC"
Of the Interior department. which
recommended that Nj LeverinEs
scheme should be given no further
This report declared that Il Lever
inE's project was adopted. a highly
experimental stTUctur- of probe
maticaI safety would be placed
where IL would endanEer the lives
, and property of the people Of Wash
inEtOn." Another objection was
/ that the plan would destroy rh'
scenic beauty Of CTCat Falls.
Text Of Report.
Tho report or the Federal Pow
Commission follows:
Tho Federal Power COmmissiu..
created by the act Of June 10. 1890.
was authorized and directed 10 sub
init plans and estimates OF cos
necessary To- secure an increased
and adequate water supply for the
District OF Columbia For the fore
going purpose the sum Of S25,0oe
. sas specifically appropriated.
The duty Of making the engi-
neering studies and investigation
required by this direction was com
mltteI to the office OF the chief on
Ciuner of the United States army.
so far as the public hesrin=s
are concerned there was at all
times unan NOUS concurrence on
, the part oC those present. repre-
,sentfnE alike the Commissioners ~
the District Of Columbia and the
business and private interests or
= the District. on the urgent need
of immediate steps To supplement
the water supply Of the District
, No serious objection was disclosed
, E" tho development NJ power from
r the Potomac.
Course Of Discussion.
The discussion at the car.l--
a meeting rcvolved largely around
, AIlB lfild No economy OF inc NIhU
= tiOn Of hydroeIeCtriC power by Va
n riOus suggested plans. tho Possth'.
= losses which would follow to i'm
> vcstors Interested i'm existing steam
4 plants. and the length Of time o.
- would take 10 develop a marke' for
= tho power produced with load
~ factor sufficient 10 justify the it,
-, vostment and establish a rate whlcn
: would make the power a real an
y .ditiou 10 the resources OF the com
: mUnity.
u The Federal Power Commission
" thinks the question Of supplement
- ary water supply for the District o.
= Columbia should he separated from
that Of power production, beCausr
an immediate addition TO the water
supply is imnerativeIy dema ndcd
- and because tho separation Of the
i two projects involves no substantial
= loss Of either time or money. II the
= Congress should determine to carry
e out both suggestions.
= Asks Action Now.
e For the reasons given by Ma
n Tyler. the Federal Power Commits
e sion is clear that the Potomac rather
n than the PatuNcnt water supply
should be developed, and n earnest
ly recommends to the Congress tho
urgency Of tho need Of the District
that this project be at once under
~ taken.
-e The plan for the development, Of
I. hydro-electric power from the 70
~ tomas has these great advantage.
1t cOntemplates a serial develop
ment. OF which the several elements
. can be separately and consecutively
y undertaken, with the result that tn
power resources Of the District viii
be augmented from time to time as
the capacity Of the District for tho
absorption OF the power developed
u increases.
The suggested conservation oi
use Of existing steam installation
V for the production Of power make a
" highly improba bic that any sub,
= stautisl loss will accrue TO thoss
who have invested in steam power
plants.
The serial development Of vHteI
- power will render unnecessary eN,
" tensive and costly additional stesrr
4 power plant installations, which
p would be necessary unless eHistirE