Evening star., 1921-01-29
Report by Tyler
Proposes Dam at
Chain Bridge.
FILTRATION PLAN
ALSO SUGGESTED
Puts Cost of Water
Supply Remedy at
$9,523,OOO.

O1OS>SOSOs
Proposing a total expenditure of
So3,9A.000, the Tyler report for the
development of Great Falls. sub
mitted through Gen. Beach, chief
OF engineers of the Army, to the
federal power commission, was
made public today.
Bearing out an exclusive forecast
in The Star, that the plan would
far exceed that proposed in the
Langhtt and other studies made by
engineers for harnessing Great
Falls, the report proposes:
Construction OF two dams. one at
Chain bridge and the other at
Great Falls.
Three supply reservoirs.
A new filtration plant.
/ A new conduit from Great Falls.
ter supply phase Of the proposed de-
velopment be taken up first. He es-
Inmates the cost Of this at $9.523.000.
The cost of proposed power devel-
opment is given at $44.421,000.
Market Must Be Provided.
Tho Army engineer recommends
that the water supply and power de-
velopment features be handled sep
arately and states that Great Falls
can be harnessed economically for
power purposes. provided only the
entire amount of power generated is
marketed. To undertake this devel-
opment with the view of selling pow
er only to the federal and District
governments would not be econom-
ically feasible. he concludes.
The report, in short. contemplates
the federal government going into the
power business in Washington to
no market for private concerns fur
nishing power. II the Great Fails
scheme is to be handled economically.
The report takes up the power de-
1t is proposed. to build first q dam at
Chain bridge. At the same time il
would be necessary to construct three
supply reservoirs. 1t is estimated
that the Chain bridge development
alone would pEsause 49, ees,oss . anmsd x,,Ts
be delivered to the main sakstation in
Washington at cost OF 0s mills,
which ID about mills undSk the pres
ent cost to the Potomac Electric Power
Company Of developing power for dis
However. the Tyler report does not
take up the cost of distribution,
which would materially increase the
total cost of the project.
Could BE Raised to 67s,eeo.ooo.
The present total electrical output
Of the District is 30S, 100000 kilowatt
hours annually. 1t is potnted out.
therefore, that the Chain bridge dam
alone would provide enough current
to meet present needs.
constructing a second dam at Great
Falls the output of kilowatt hours
could be increased to 675.000.000. The
power generated from the completed
development. comprising both the
Chain bridge and Great Falls dam.
could be delivered to the main sub
station in Washington at a cost OF
6.75 mills. it is stated.
The cost Of the Chain bridge de-
velopment is estimated at $4,000. 900.
and to provide the Great Falls dam
would increase the total to S44.421.oo0.
The Langfitt plan for Harvesting
Great Falls, submitted in 1915. called
for a total expenditure OF only $15.-
0(0. 900 for both the power develop
ment and water supply projects.
If the Tyler scheme is carried out in
its entirety, it will necessitate re-
moving a large section Of the Cabin
John car line and will put the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal out of business
almost to the Monocacy river. However.
il is stated that the canal will be
able to operate by stacking" into the
river.
The report submitted today is by
far the most exhaustive study ever
presented in connection with the
ione.talked-of project of utilizing the
latent power possibilities. OF Great
Falls.
Recommendations Up Tuesday.
It's recommendations will be consid-
cred tuesday at a hearing before the
Interior Department building, at
which Secretary of War Baker will
preside. lt,
District civic organizations. which
en- Immediately to increase the capi-
tails water supply. will be cheered
by the Recommendation OF MAJ.
Tyler that there is no economy to be
derived from combining this feature
this connection the report says:
Additional facilities for supplying
water to the District OF Columbia are
am imperative necessity as insurance
against interruption Of service; The
quantity of water now carried by the
existing supply system is so large
that proper maintenance work on
conduits and tunnels cannot be done
until new supply line is put in
operation. If new construction Is de-
ferred it should be with full knowl-
edge of the risks involved"
Conduit Big Item.
In explaining the plan for increas-
ing the city's water supply the re-
port says that a new conduit from
Great Falls to Dalecarlia reservoir.
and a new filtration plant on the
Dalecarlia reservation with proper
10 the first. second and
third high areas Of the distribution
system can be much more speedily
than any other satisfactory
project.
at requires the purchase Of no ad-
ditional land" says. the report "It is
by far the cheapest and first cost. It
will furnish water more economically
for many years to come than can any
other project. For these reasons 1t Is
recommended for adoption and prompt
completion"
OF the $s.s25.0oo estimated cost of
water supply development, the, prin-
cipal items are: $2.370.000 for con-
struction of the conduit; $1.S21.000 for
of new filtration plant.
and $1,300,o00 for distribution piping
and tunnel connecting city mains and
District distribution reservoir.