Evening star., 1921-11-05
SUPER-POWERPLAN
WITH GREAT FALLS
ASL|NK PROPOSED
Secretary Fall Recommends
Stupendous Project in Re-
port to President Harding.
TO INCLUDE RESOURCES
IN THE NORTHEAST U. S.
Electrifcation of 10000 Miles of
Railroad 0utlined-Power for
$4,000 Factories.

$4,000 Factories.
Development of Great Falls, as one
of the most important units in a gi-
gantic super-power chain linking In
all the existing and potential hydro
electric and steam electric resources
United States for providing maxi
mum power at minimum cost to this
most crowded workshop Of the coun-
try" is recommended in a report sent
to President Harding by Secretary
Fall of the Interior Department to-
day.
The survey Of this super-power zone,
commonly referred TO as Washing
ton to Boston" was completed July /
last, under resolution of Congress.
The plan proposes the electrihcation
of $4,000 miles out of $4,000 miles OF
railroad in this area and the electri-
fication of more than $4,000 industrial
establishments already existing.
Chain Bridge Project
Besides the power site at Great
Falls the report also includes recon-
mendations covering the development
of the Potomac river for a power site
at Chain bridge, and reservoir sites at
South Branch, Great Cacapon, Shen-
andoah river, the North fork Of the
Shenandoah river and at Great Falls.
This report sets up gigantic
scheme for consolidating the genera
tion and distribution of electric pow
er throughout this great Industrial
region. Besides showing a practical
system of maximum efficiency at
minimum cost. it is expected to ap-
peal to the public generally through
saving coal and increasing the pro.
ductivity of labor.
Looking ahead to 1880, the report
finds that with the increased demand
for power that can then be reason
ably expected the total coal saved an
nuaily uhuer the unified system viii
alton the industries could save $780,.
100000. annually in their power bill
and could make greater output OF
product.
Vast Area Included
The territory covered by the super
power survey extends from the coast
approximately e150 miles inland. 1t
embraces parts OF the states of Maine.
New Hampshire. New York. Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware and Maryland. and
all of the states of Massachusetts.
Rhode Island, Connecticut and New
Jersey. Within this zone is concen-
trated one-fourth Of the population
operated, most of them independently.
BIS electric utilities. Is railroads and
$4,000 industrial plants.
The nations business demands
greater and cheaper production and
better and cheaper transportation. the
report points out, and the electrifca-
ton of industries and railroads is the
answer to that demand. To connect
all the large generating plants, both
steam and water power. in one great
system means more and cheaper eiec.
trio current, because each ton OF coal
will be used to the best advantage
ard our idle rivers will be made to
turn wheels, especially in the regions
farthest removed from the coal fields
Cheaper Electricity.
The ordinary citizen ought to profit
directly by the superr-poxer system
the report says, because it promises d
reduction of one cent a kilowatt hour
in the first cost of the current as put
on the transmission lines. Cheaper
electricity and more Of 1t Will bring
comfort to the home as well as eff
! 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 elec-
lric heated homes throughout on!
land. Super-power does not stand for
the impos. BILE, but only for the wider
application of practical engineering
and sound economies. -
The estimated power available from
proposed hydroelectrical development
of the Potomac river for the year 1926
is: Total power, average year, 633,-
600, 900 kilowatt hours: minimum year.
4S0, 600, 900 kilowatt hours. The esti-
mated power available from proposed
hydroelectrical development of the
Potomac river for the year 1880 Is:
total power. average year, 950.000.00r
kilowatt hours: minimum year, 49,
900, 600 kilowatt hours.
Possibilities OF Potomac.
Regarding the Potomac river the re
port says that it rises in the noun
tains of West Virginia and flows inte
Chesapeake Bay. 1t is not regulated
flow at Great Falls ranges from IS:
to 24S,000 second-feet and averages
IL, 900 second-feet. The drainage area
is 1850 square miles. and the annual
rainfall is between 80 and 40 inches.
The fall from Point of Rocks. Md, to
the DistNct of Columbia is 204 feet.
of which Isl feet is below the aQue-
duct dam at Great Falls, 10.5 miles
above the District line. -,
There are sites available for storage
reservoirs on Great Cacapon river, q
tributary stream. where the capacity
is 4.S billion cubic feet; and on the
South Branch of the Potomac near Its
junction with the main river. where
the capacity is 20.2 billion cubic feet
Furthermore, the dam at Great Falls
will provide a combined storage reser-
voir and foreby with a capacity Of
1871 billion cubic feet, making q tot2
storage capacity of 65 billion cubic
feet.
Would Construct Two Dams.
The most favorable locations for
power development are at Great Falls
and Chain bridge, where. by the con-
struction of two dams, a head OF 2l5
feet may be utilized. A table is cap-
ultimate development of reservoir
capacity on the Potomac will be 6&.9s
billion cubic feet, with an operating
head of 205 feet The installed gen
orator capacity by 1925. is put At
l25.o00 kilowatts, which it is pro.
posed. will be increased to 100000 in
1880 and ultimately to 100000. The
investment cost by 1926 lis placed nj
s1b,000,OOO, and by 1890, S22.000.000,
and ultimately $60,000,O0O. The an
nual prod%etion cost by By is2s is so pSs pSs
and ultimately $S,790.0o0. The gen.
eral expense by 1925 is estimated at
$4,000 and by 1880 at $4,000 and
ultimately $4,000 So that the
total cost by 1925 would be $2.240. zoo
and by 1880 $3,300,000 and eventual
|ly $9,100,000. -s-@.. 80 -
George Otis Smith Director. /"
The survey was made under an ap-
preparation. from Congress. and under
the direction OF George Otis Smith, di-
rector of the geological survey with
the hearty cooperation OF the engineee.
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