Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-10
A VAST POWER PROJECT.

as an impor ant unit IN a gigantic SUI
per-power chain linking in all the ex-
isting and potential hydro-electric and
steam-electric resources in the entire
northeastern part of the United States
for providing maximum power al mini
mum cost to this most crowded work
shop of the country" is recommended
in a report sent 10 President Harding
by Secretary Fall of the Interior De-
partment last Saturday.
The survey OF this Super-power zone,
commonly referred to as washing
ton 10 Boston," was completed July
lst last, under a resolution of Congress
The plan proposes the electrfication
of 10000 miles out of $4,000 mics OF
railroad in this area and the electri-
fication of more than $4,000 industrial
Establishments already existing.
Besides the power site at Great
Falls. near Washington City, the report
also includes recommendations cover
ing ihe development Of the Potomac
river for a power site at Chain bridge,
and reservoir sites at South Branch,
Great Cacapon, the Shenandoah river,
the North fork of the Shenandoah
river and at Great Falls.
This report sets up a gigantic scheme
for consolidating the generation ana
distribution of electric power through
out this great industrial region. Be-
sides showing a practical system o!
maximum efficiency at minimum cost,
it is expected to appeal TO the public
generally through saving coal and in
creasing the productivity of labor.
Looking ahead TO 1890, the report
finds that with the increased demand
for power that can then be reasonably
expected the total coal saved annually
under the unified system will be 50,-
100000 tons. Under motor operation
the industries could save Sl90,000,-
600 annually in their power bill and
could make greater output of product
The territory covered by the super
power survey extends from the coast
embraces parts of the States of Maine
New Hampshire, New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware, Maryland and the Viz
ginias, and all of the States of Mass
achusets, Rhode Island, Connecticut
and New Jersey. Within this zone is
concentrated one-fourth of the popula-
ton of the United States, and within
it are operated, most of them independ-
emily, 3l5 electric utilities, 18 rail-
roads and 10000 industrial plants.
The nations business demands great
er and cheaper production and better
and cheaper transportation, the report
points out, and the electrificatiou of in
dustries ans railroads is the answer to
that demandr>. TO connect all the large
generating plants, both steam and water
power, in one great system means more
and cheaper electric current. because
each ton of coal will be used to the
best advantage and our idle rivers will
be made to turn wheels, especially in
the regions farthest removed from tie
coal fields.
The ordinary citizen ought to profit
directly by the super-power system,
the report says, because it promises a
reduction of one cent a kilpwatt hour
in the first cost Of the current as put
on the transmission lines. Cheaper
elec rictiy and more of it will bring
comfort to the home as we'll as effl-
cheney to the workshop, even though
the reader may search the engineer
ing report in vain for any basis what
ever for the pleasant vision of cleo
trio heated homes throughout our
land. Super-poWer does not stand for
the impossible, but only for the wider
appncation of practical engineering
and sound economies.
The estimated power available from
proposed hydro-elcctrcal development
Of the Potomac river for the year 1925
is: Total power, average year, 634,-
OCNNN ~ ic'y1-t hCJrS: r'.rrI' m year
48O O00,000 klowa,t hours The esti-
mated power avaliabe from propose
ny rc-electrical development OF the
Potomac river for the year 1890
is: total power, average year, 950,0G0,.
600 kilowatt hours; minimum year
I25,OOO,0OO kiiowait hours.
Regarding the Potomac river, the re-
port says that it rises in the moanta n
Of West Virginia and flows into the
Chesapeake Bay. 1t is not regulated
to any appreciable extent, and the
flow at Great Falls ranges from 65J
to 248,0OO second-feet and average
1900 second feet. The drainage ares
Is 500 square miles and the annua
rainfall is between IS and 40 inches
The fall from Point of Rocks, Md, tc
tldewater near the boundary line o.
the District Of Columbia is 204 feet
OF which ISL feet is below the aque
duct dam at Great Falls, los miles
above the District line.
There are sites available for storage
reservoirs on Great Cacapon river. {
tributary s'ream, where the capacity
is 4S bi lion cubic feet; and on the
South Branch of the Potomac near its
junction with the main river, where
the capacity is 202 billion cubic feet
Furthermore, the dam at Great Falls
VIII provide combined storage reser
voir and foreby with a capacity oi
ISL billion cubic feet, making tota
storage canacity of 65 billion cubic feet
The most favorable locations foI
power DEVELOPMENT are at Great Fall: