Evening star., 1921-03-06

direction of the chief of engineers,
L. $. A, and which plan has been ap-
proved by the Federal Power Comuiis-
sion. That commission was created
act approved June 10. 1920. which di
! fected it ito report to Congress the
cost and in detail the economic value
OF developing power in the Potomac
river. The commission was directed,
in connection with that survey and
study. to submit plans and estimates
of cost necessary to secure an in
creased and adequate water supply
for the District of Columbia.
The report of Maj. Tyler was sent
to Congress. with the approval of the
water power commission. February
II. 1921. and Secretary Baker, in his
capa acity as chairman of that COM
! mission and as Secretary of War,
| urged upon Congress the need for
favorable action on the report by
Congress. In a letter to Congress,
Saturday. February 10. he urged an
appropriation of 100000 with which
to start work on the Tyler plan for
increasing the Districts water sup
ply. In his letter to the President of
the Senate and TO the Speaker of the
House of Representatives. Secretary
Baker said that ths water supply sit
uation was so serious that even at
this late date provision should be
made at this session of Congress for
commencing work" He quoted from
the report of the eI'deral Power Com
mission that it is the opinion of all
who have investigated the subject
that there will be no advantage in
treating plans for increased water
supply as d part of the project to de-
velop power from the Potomac river
There is relationship between
plans for increasing the water supply
of Washington and damming the Po-
ff.r Ia, n
for the production Of electric power,
but the relationship is not so inti-
mate but that they may be conSid-
cred as separate propositions. Az
irmativc action on the plan to in-.
crease the water supply is urgent.
while that Of harnessing the Po-
tomac for power purposes is not. Fa-
Vorable action on the water supply
project will probably cause indeti-
mite postponement Of the power prof.
ect, but that can wait. and it may
be some years-perhaps good many
years-beforc the Potomac river. by
the erection of high dam at Little
Falls, becomes d lake from the lower.
falls to the foot Of the upper falls.
and before the gorges Of Deep run,
, Dead run. SCOTS run. Prospect run,
Difficult run and the wales of many
little streams become deep and pic
turesnue arms of that lake.
RCT destiny seems to point that the
Potomac river will be harnessed.
White coal is growing in demand;
hydroelectric science progresses:
water currents are every day being
forced to light towns and run ma
chimes and a mighty river such as
! the Potomac will not be allowed for
all time to waste its power. What
We now look on as scenic splendors
will be blotted out or drowned out
by the backing-up of the waters. but
other scenic effects will be brought
into being. while the siver works
day and night for man.
on February il, 1913, Henry l..
Stimson. Secretary of War. trans
mitted TO Congress report from
Lieut.. Col. w. c. Langiitt, Corps of
Engineers. dated February I. 1913
on the water supply of the District
of Columbia and the availability of
the water power at Great Falls for
supplying light and power for uses
of the United States and of the gov
ernment OF the District of Columbia.
That report was made in compliance
with a provision contained in the
District appropriation bill for the
fiscal wear ending June 80. 1913. In
that report it was prophesied that
the water situation in the District
would be at the danger point within
eight years. The chief of engineers
of the Army. in Il letter accompa NY
ing Col. I.angiitt's report. and revie W
ing tn. daily consumption of water,
said:
The ma xnum daily draft Of, water already
exceeds a safe amount for the present storage
and pumping capacity. and II is probable thai
in less than eight years the average daily con
sumption will also exceed the present safe
amount. Col. I.angfitt states that to provide
for delays in construction and Unforeseen con
tingenc;es II is evident that final decision as
I..i - IT,. i.init.Il ~ in. Sit:. ti.