Evening star., 1921-07-15
URGED T0ABAND0N
POWER PLANT PLAN
Mr.. Mellon Asks Congress to
Act and Suggests Two
Other Moves.

Abandonment of the central power
plant project for supplying light, heat
and power to government establish
ments, on the ground that to proceed
with this project and complete 1t at
this time would cost s4,000.O00. or
$3,10O,O00 in excess of the available
balance. is recommended by Secre-
tary Mellon Of the Treasury in a
letter received today by Speaker
Gillett.
In the event that Congress should
not want to abandon the power
project, the Secretary sa.nr suDmrts n1an1 t~1
which he asks the lawmakers to con-
slider. These plans follow:
secretary's Plans.
Erection on a suitable site near the
bureau of engraving and printing OF a
powerhouse of sufficient size and
equipment to serve with heat, ight
and power, the following buildings
only: Liberty loan building. bureau
of engraving and printing. auditors
building. Municipal building, foss
new National Museum buildings. Agri-
cultural Department, Freer Art build
ing, Smithsonian building and Treas
ury buildings. 1t is also proposed to
serve the following buildings with
electricity only for power and light:
State. War and Navy building, White
House, Civil Service building, Wlnder
building, Johnson-Walker building.
Red Cross building. pan-American
building, Interior Department OFFICES,
Army Medical Museum, fish commits
sion and Washington Monument.
Secretary Melons letter explains
that this would utilize all the tunnels
and ducts now in place without the
necessity of any further extension.
thus avoiding the incidental tearing
up of streets.
Cost Would BE S3.4OO.OOO.
He explains that the cost would be
approximately $3,4O0.O00 and the an
ticipated savings would pay only q
isavinx 1ars net nnethine ie for Or depreciation and
obsolescent charges. II the above
outlined scheme is adopted, Secre-
tary Mellon says, legislation to per.
NIT all park lights In the vicinity OF
from would be desirable 50 as to
All up the deep valley which would
occur in the light load Of the plant
by reason Of the activities Of the
buildings s;bt sebveS Sours nein IN daSlieht
2. The use Of the balance, $Ss7,S02. OF.
of the appropriation for the central
heating, lighting and power plant. to
construct the much-needed power
plant for the bureau Of engraving
and printing and the auditors build
ing adjoining same.
Favors Latter Project.
Secretary Mellon says that the
Treasury Department considers that
this project Is probably the best in
the circumstances. If Congress sees
fit to authorize it. the suggestion is
offered that the legislation should
include permission to sell such ma
terial now stored on the site as can
not be used in the bureau plant and
to use the proceeds to augment the
balance above referred to. The es-
timated value is 100000.
To keep within this estimate only
q small parcel of land would be pur-
chased and the power house building
would be extremely simple in design.
This plant would contain four 800
horsepower boilers with stokers, etc,
and. two 2.000-kilowatt turbo-gen-
orators. with condensers. with
pumping plant for the same, located
on the river front of the power plant
site.
If the available balance could be
augmented by an additional appro-
priation Of 100000 it would provide
power plant building. etc. of dig
views Of the Fine Arts Commission.
and containing sufficient space to
make 1T possible to serve all the pub
lie buildings adjacent to the bureau
when their isolated plants become
obsolete and require renewal.
If Congress Abandons.
If Congress decides to abandon the
entire project for the present Secre-
tary Mellon recommends that authori-
cation either to sell in whole or in
part the materials forming part Of the
project now stored on the site of
the power plant building. or to turn
over the same or any part thereof to
any other department or branch of
the government service which may be
in need Of such apparatus. Although
the major portion of this material is
of special design. it is believed that
the price paid could be realized by ad-
vertisement and sale. provided it is not
long deferred.
already constructed win not deterio-
rate. Secretary Mellon said, and will
undoubtedly be found useful in some
other project. such as the proposed
hydro-electric development of the Po-
tomac river or the suggested enlarge
ment of the power plant in the navy
yard to serve all federal buildings
Secretary Mellon calls attention to
the fact that the Fine Arts Commission
has opposed the power house site Sc
lected by Congress. In order to meet
the objections of the Fine Arts Com
mission to the use of tall smoke
stacks. Secretary Mellon also points
out that it would be necessary to sac
rifice economy of operation to a GER
tain extent and use economizers. in
cluding draft stands and short steel