The Washington times., 1921-02-01

POWERPlANS
Engineer offers to Effect Saving
of 20 Million on Project Before
US. Commission.

The dam proposed In the Tyler
report urging a power and water
project at Great Falls, does not
Ipossess the maximum amount OF
lstrength, according to James IL.
Leyering, a California engineer who
Mis- morning appeared before the
bwer commission. The hearing was
eld In the office OF the Secretary
the Interior, and was attended by
elegations from the trade and civic
Sdies of the city and officers OF the
ility companies.
1000 900 SAVING.
yevering presented a plan which he
would provide both adequate
her and power facilities for an APP
ximate cost of s25,00O,0 900. The
ject recommended by Major Tyler.
army engineer. is estimated to
1t $53.944.000.
Not only would his plan be cheaper
4 Il would be more secure. Lever
told the committee. The water
Washington, IL obtained by Lew
)ng's project. would be Of greater
6rity, and power could be sold to
Consumers in Washington at a price
|slightly in excess OF three mills per
kilowatt hour.
Under the plan proposed by Lever
3ng, the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
probably would be closed. This
kould not work a hardship. he said.
ecause the canal is closed all winter
Just at time when 1t Is needed to
bring coal to Washington. He rec
commended that in place of the canal,
q railroad could be built that would
take care OF any business that Moved
in that direction.
Mr.. lowering promised to file a
technical report showing the COM
mission the weakness of the dams
proposed in the Tyler report.
Matthew L. O'Brien appeared be-
fore the commission as resident. of
the District and taxpayer, and said
that the fundamental idea in the
minds of Washingtonians is for speedy
action on both the water and power
projects.
BUSINESS URGES PROJECT.
A. Seymour, secretary of the Cham
Der of Commerce. voiced the views OF
the business men of the city, he said.
in asking that the water project es-
peciaily be gone ahead with at once
instead of waiting until a breakdown
in the water system OF the city forced
action.
Francis II. Weller, representing the
Board of Trade, was the first speaker
before the commission and read
brief statement in which he praised
the plans of Major Tyler. but said'
that, as the District of Columbia
would not be the only community to,
benefit by the proposed power and
water project, some assurance should
|be given the residents of the Capital
that they would not have to bear the
usual 40 or so per cent of the cost OF
building the plant. In this argument
he was backed up by Congressman
Moore of Virginia, who said that
Washington should not be asked to
bear any part of the expense, as the
hearty Maryland towns would be also
benefited.
| Secretary of War Baker, chairman
pr the commission, assured them that
here was no intention Of saddling
liz debt on the District to carry
through the project. He said that
The war had shown the need of
Greater power facilities in this sec
ltion of the country. especially from
philadelphia to Raleigh, N. c.. and
that it was his personal opinion that
water power should be developed not
enly in this section, but in others as
kell, SO that coal could be preserved
Is an economic measure.