Evening star., 1921-02-19
100000 IS ASKED
T0START WORK ON
TYLER WATER PLAN
Secretary Baker Writes Con-
uress Immediate Approprla-
ton Is Urgent.
REQUEST LIKELY TO GO
TO HOUSE COMMITTEE
Representative Zihlman to Appear
n-r M..Lore ~, Cunpnrf
Representative Zihlman to Appear
Before Members in Support
of Request.

Secretary of War Baker today rec
commended TO Congress an immediate
approximation of 100000 with which
to start work on the Tyler plan for
increasing the Districts water supply.
The situation is SO serious, the
Secr etary states in letter to the
President of the Senate and the
Speaker Of the House. that he feels
Obliged to urge, even at this late
date" that provision be made at this
session for commencing work.
Included in his recommendation IS
an item authorizing the proposed
initial appropriation, which he re-
quests be inserted it any appro-
pirate bill. The total cost of carry
ing out the Tyler project is estimated
at about S9.0G0.000.
The Secretary's letter was prepared
after conference with Maj. Gen.
Beach, chief of engineers of the Army,
tion by Maj. Tyler of the Corps of En-
gineers of the Army. as to the possi-
bilities of developing water supply
and power at Great Falls was made.
VIII Go to Committee.
Coming on the heels of the favor
able report on the Tyler plan sub
mitted to Congress this week by the
Mr.. Baker is chairman, his letter to-
day transmitted to Congress in his
capacity as Secretary of War gave
emphasis to the stress already laid by
Army engineers upon the danger of
further delay in initiating steps to
increase the capitals water supply.
1t was indicated at the Capitol that
the SecretaryS request for an immedi-
ate appropriation would be presented
to the House appropriations commit
eral deficiency bill.
Representative Frederick n. Zihl-
man of Maryland plans to appear be-
fore the committee in support of the
request.
The Secretary's letter follows:
The act Of Congress approved June
10. 1920. creating the federal power
commission. authorized and directed
that commission on or before the 1st
day of January, 1921. to report to
Congress the cost and in detail the
economic value of developing power
in the Potomac river. The federal
power commission was directed, in
connection with the study. to submit
plans and estimates of cost necessary
to secure an increased and adequate
water supply for the District of Co
lumbia.
THE duty OF making the engineer
ing study and investigation required
by this direction was assigned to
Maj. NJ. c. Tyler. district engineer. un-
der supervision of the chief o. en-
gineers. United States Army. Maj
Tyler submitted his report on the 10th
day of January, 1921. The report was
acted upon and forwarded to Con-
sress by the federal power commits
sion on February IA, 1921.
Is Unanimous Opinion.
The Federal Power Commission. in
submitting its report, stated that it is
the unanimous opinion of all who have
investigated the subject that there will
be no advantage in treating the subject
or increased water supply for the Dis
.rict OF Columbia as a part Of the project
10 develop power from the Potomac The
Federal Power Commission also calls at
tention to the urgency of the need for
additional water supply for the District
OF Columbia and recommends that the
project described in detail in Mai.
Tyler's report under the heading Poto-
mac Project e be adopted, and that
steps be taken, as early as practicable,
to commence its construction.
Potomac Project e. is estimated to
cost about s9,000.000. 1t is by far the
lowest first cost of all practicable plans
for increased water supply. and will care
for the increasing needs of the District
Of Columbia for at least sixty years
The question of providing addi-
tional water supply for the District
of Columbia has been under consid
Grafton for the past fifteen years and
the danger of further delay in making
provision for supplemenring the pres
ent water supply has become so great
that feel Obliged to call the attention
of Congress to it. by urging, even al
this late date. that provision be made
al this session for commencing work
To this end it is recommended that
the following item be inserted in any
appropriate bill:
For the preparation of plans. the
initiation of work. including the EN-
ployment or all necessary engineering
technical, clerical and other seryicas
and for any and every purpose CON
nected Herewith. for an Increased
water supply for the District of CO.
lumbia, in accordance with Potomac
project e, described in the report
submitted January 10. 1921 by Ma;
NJ c. Tyler. Corps of Engineers. 5000 :
600. to be Immediately available and
to remain available until expended y