Evening star., 1921-06-10
NEW WATER Tunnel
VITAL NEED Of D. c.
Gen. Beach to Begin Work
"Ten Minutes" After Con-
qress Grants Authority.

I'VE will start work on a new con-
duit within ten minutes after we are
given the necessary authority" Gen
Lansing H. Beach, chief of engi-
neers Of the United States Army. de-
clared today in a statement giving
emphasis to fear which engineers
have expressed repeatedly during the
last few months-that unless the pres
ent conduit is relieved at the earliest
time possible Washington may be con-
fronted without warning with a water
famine. ..--
Gen. Beach said a vast amount of
preliminary work has been done in
anticipation of Congress providing
this most vital Of all District needs
bill take up the item Of 100000 ap-
propriated by the Senate for start
ing the conduit they will find the
project has been urged by the Secre-
tary of War, the Federal Power COM
mission. the chief of engineers of the
Army. Mai. NJ. G. Tyler, author of the
Great Falls water supply and power
development plan, upon which the
Senate's action is based; the poaro
of engineers for rivers and harpors'
the District Commissioners and others
who have made expert studies or the
Land Owned BY Government.
Fortunately for Washingtonians,
who are depending upon an obsolete
water supply line that may go out OF
commission at any time. the govern
ment now owns practically all the
land that will be required in connec,
ton with the laying of the proposed
new conduit, SO that no time will be
lost through condemnation proceed
ings, the Army engineers pointed out
today.
With an initial appropriation Of
5000, 900 the engineers say it will be
possible during the next twelve
months to complete plans and sur
veys, clear the right-of-way for the
conduit, do the necessary grading 1or
the filtration plant, which is to be
site. and. in short. to lay the general
foundation for the project upon which
a considerable portion of the super
structure can be built during the sec
ond year. 1t is believed the third
year will see the completion OF the
work.
1t is assumed. in the event Congress
authorizes the improvement engineers
have characterized as imperative"
If life and property in the District are
to be protected, that Maj. Tyler will
be selected to direct the work. At
gineer officer He is directing the con-
struction of the Key bridge.
| District citizens also are hopeful of
the House concurring in the Senate's 8
Great Falls power development item,
which is an amendment to the Army
bill 1t is the belief of many that
since the Great Falls project is de-
! signed to pay for itself in thirty
years and will promote great econ
omy the House may approve it on that
score.
Cost Of Power Project.
Advocates Of power legislation
totai polaies cost o Of the Great Falls develop
ment will be $32.216.oo0 it will re-
auire only $13,600,0Oo to carry out
| a portion Of the project-the con-
struction Of the Chain bridge dam
! to meet Washington's light and pow
er needs for many years
when the demand for current ap-
proaches the capacity of the Chain
bridge plant. which, 1t is estimated,
to it's full conception through the
building of dam at Great Falls.
which will cost $1S.616.O0O. making
the total cost $32,216.000.
Great Falls stations in operation. the
total generating capacity will be
SSaS4o' 900 kilowatt hours annually.
Mai. Tyler's report shows that
either the proposed Chain bridge sta
tion'. operated to meet present needs.
or both the Chain bridge and Great
Falls plants. operated jointly when
| market has been established for
all the power that can be generated.
ui,l nroduce substantial savings for
the benefit of the government and
Washington users Of electricity.
| Joint Use Is Proposed.
| II Ia proposed to use the. Chain
hr;dee development in conjunction
with existing steam plants which
1 Generate power. According to the
Tvier report, current could be pro-
dyced at this station at cost of
70 mills per kilowatt hour, whereas
the cost Of producing power in the
sfeam plants is / cent per kilowatt
ho,Ir. with coal figured at $3.50 ton.
Assuming that all the power which
could be developed at both the Chain
| Srjixe and Great Falls dam sites
couId be sold, the cost of delivering
| The energy to the substations. it is
| estimated would be 6.75 mills per
| kilowatt hour.
It is in this connection that power
advocates say the proposition has a
direct relation to the question of merg-
inK the public utilities Of the District.