Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-01

water
Board of Trade Statement.
Francis X. Weller. chairman of the
water supply committee of the Board
of Ira de, read for that organization
a statement in which he expressed the
opinion that the providing of an IN
creased water supply. for Washington
is of much greater Importance than
the development of power at Great
Falls.
Mr.. Weller questioned the economic
feasibility Of spending S44421.0Q0 for
power development. not including the
cost of a distribution system. ana
suggested that consideration be given
to cheaper plan of developing
steam electric power near a coal
mine in western Maryland. where con-
densing water is available. He said:
1t is to be regretted that. due to
the fact that these two projects
water supply and power-have been
tied together for the past ten years,
no definite steps have been taken
toward increasing the water supply
Therefore. / am pleased to ind in MAJ.
Tyler's report a recommendation thas
the two projects should be considered
separately. and that he considers 1T
of primary Importance that second
aqueduct be built from Great Fails
to Dalecarlia reservoir with the nee
eSsary additional works. / trust that
this hearing will result in prompt
steps by Congress to authorize this
work
Investigated Fewer Projects.
In reference to the water power prof.
ect, | have. as consulting engineer. made
a number of Investigations of possible
power projects at Great FATS in the past
fifteen years but have never been able
to find pan that would he econom-
ically feasible. At the present price OF
coal it is possible to develop power IN
large, modern steam-electric power plant
at a cost of about mills, and I under
stand that the average cost at the Ben
nings plant last year was Z y mills, with
considerable higher coal prices than
those prevailing at the present time |,
therefore, can see no economic beneHt
that would result from the development
of the Great Falls water power at d
total estimated cost of s44.421.000.
No doubt al least a part OF the cost
would be assessed against the taxpayers
of the District of Columbia, and ! feel
that any part of the total expenditure
which must be borne by the citizens OF
Washington could be used to better ad-
vantage, at the present time, towards IN
creasing our school faciiities' sewerage
system, streets and highways. parks and
Fairgrounds, and other civic improve
mentS.
THE rerort does not consider the adj
ditional cost of underground dlstrlbu-
ton of the power developed for the Vari-
Gus government institutions. To dupi-
cate the present distribution system, or
to purchase the existing system. would
require an additional expenditure OF
about from 100000 to sS,000,00O.
Suggested Power Sites.
Before any plan for developing
water power at Great Falls is adopt
ed. it would be advisable 10 consider
the possibility of developing steam
electric power in plant located at
the mouth of a coal mine in western
MARYLAND or near Piedmont. w. Va,
where condensing water is ava1lable.
Coal could be delivered directly from
the mine to the plant. even at tne
present day, under SO ton, and the
total generating cost would not ne IN
excess of mills.
INCLUDING all fixed charges cover
ing the cost of the plant. and trans
mission line 10 miles long to WASH
inpton, power from such plant could
he delivered here at cost not IN ex-
cess of Sc mills per kilowatt hour.
There are but few water powers IN
outside of Niagara Falls that could
economically compete with large
steam plants located at the coal mines,
due to the fact that such plants could
be built for about one-third the unit
cost of large water power develop
American Gas and Electric Company
near Wheeling. w. Va, is a notable
example of such a steam-e electric
plant. This plant has sold power as
low as mills per kilowatt hour. l
designed and built, several years ago,
similar plant in the coal helds OF
West Virginia, and the foregoing
statements are based largely on per-
sonal experience with such plants"
X. Walton Moore. representative
from Virginia, asked the commission
to consider SAFE OF power to SUBURBAN
c'stricts l2:sg around the District OF
Colamb ia.
4Should BE Utilized"
George u. Lamar, member OF the
subcommittee on water power vi tie
Chamber Of Commerce. said the cham
her is heartily in favor of utilization
Of Great Falls for water power. At
the same time, Mr.. Lamar sald, the
chamber had expressed no preference
as to use of the falls for water power
or for water supply. What the cham
her wants, Mr.. Lamar said. is to see
The falls used in some practical way.
Whether by private or by public Gap n-
tal the great power of Great Falls
shouid be utilized. he declared.
Matthew Z. O'Brien was the next
witness. He said the cltizens OF tne
district of Columbia always have
basn in favor of both power and
wafer by the use OF Great Fails. He
s.id he represented a great number
of neople who want to see acton on
both the, water supply ana water
mower projects as quickly as posi-
BILE. .. -, ~.
chamber OF Commerce, in a state
menI supplementing that or MT.
I'amar. said the chamber had not
gone on record favoring the Tyler
rsnort. because it has not been ior-
nished with a copy Of the report.
,rhc chamber. however, Mr.. Seymour
said. has realized for many years the
d.nrer Of a water shortage in the
district Of Columbia Il has not
wanted to wait for some serious
evcntuality, but has wanted some
project that would make immediate
Nv available an unquestloned source
or water for the District.
THE two projects proposed In the
Teller report, Mr.. Seymour said,
would Immediately relieve the bust
ness men of the District of Columbia,
because power could De Iurnlsneo
them at a lower rate.
Example to Country.
He said development Of Great Falls
would prove a great stimulus to
mower development all over the
The Chamber of Commerce, Mr..
Seymour said, has plans for the de-
yelopment of power for considerably
| less expenditure than that posed
in the Tyler report He said the
chamber is not in favor Of splitting the
two proposals, but wants them consid-
cred as one.
Washington is far behind the times
| in its development of its own eco.
| nomic possibilities. J. H. lowering OF
| 4 os Anpeues told the commits ion.