Evening star., 1921-01-27
COL. KUTz TO URGE
GREATER WATER
SUPPLY FOR D. c.
Commissioners Favor More
Power Also. But Will Stress
Former Need.
GARLAND TO PRESENT
DATA CONCERNING CITY
Great Falls Project Discussion Be-
fore Commission May Develop
Opposition.

District Engineer Commissioner
Charles w. kutz will attend the fed
eral power commission hearing on the
Great Falls project next Tuesday, pre-
pared to urge that steps be taken at
the earliest possible time to increase
Washingtons water supply. regard
less OF what decision may be reached
as TO power development
The Commissioners want both water
and power. but water more. They
wlil favor a combined water and pow
er development program. if the
scheme is shown to be economically
feasible. But water must be had at
any cost.
1t is the intention of Us Garland.
superintendent OF the District water
department, TO accompany the Com
missioner to the hearing and TO pre-
Sent data, If called upon to go INTO
TINS phase of the situation. showing
consumption OF water in the District
to be periiously near the danger line
Opposition Is Expected.
1t is assured the Tyler Great Falls
report. now in the hands of Gen.
Beach. chief of engineers of the
Army, Will meet with some opposition
"a the hearing. The question of
whether Great Falls can tie econoni-
icaily harnessed for power purposes
IS moot one among engineers. and
both advocates and opponents of the
plan are expected to enIiVen the hear
ing. which will be presided over by
Secretary of War Baker
ihoSe who are Charged with the re-
sponsibility of maintaining an ade-
quate water supply Tor the capital
have expressed concern over the re-
hat H.. T,-1
pendous as TO necessitate an enormous
expenditure not dreamed of in the
Lansf1tt and other studies made for
developing Great Falls.
If the large appropriation required
should be considered likely to delay
early action by Congress at a time
when effort is being made to hold
down government expenses. the Com
missioners. it is believed, will ask
that the water needs of the capital
be taken up as a separate matter, Yhe
local municipal authorities, in fact
have not subscribed to the theory that
economy would be effected in COM
bining the water and power develop
ment features. They are inclined to
regard them as separate and distinct
problems.
Surprise Ix Occnsioned.
Surprise has been occasioned by
failure of the War Department thus
L. III
District Commissioners, public utili-
ties commissions of the District.
Maryland and Virginia. public utili-
ties corporations and the public gen.
orally have been invited to the hear
ing. which will be held in the Interior
Department building. Should the War
Department not lift it's ban Of silence
the hearing will open without the
pubic having had an opportunity to
study the Tyler report or formulate
reconlme ndationS for submission to
the commission.
kepils .tdtives of the Board OF
Trade. Chamber of Commerce, Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton, City Club, citizens associations
and other civic organizations in the
District also will attend the hearing.
Francis r. Weller. chairman of the
water supply committee of the Board
of Trade. said today the importance
of increasing the Districts water
supply could not be. emphasized too
strongly at the hearing.
Conservation of Water.
pending an increased supply We
must have the strictest conservation
of water" said Mr.. Weller. who added
that a bill would be introduced IN
Congress to charge the federal and
District governments for the water
they use
"WaShingtonians" he said ''use only
40 per cent of the water consumed in
the District. but pay the entire cost.
The federal and District governments
use the balance and pay nothing for
it. The federal departments waste
100000 gallons of water daily for
steam condensation purposes. This
supply would care for an additional
100000 residents. When the govern
ment is forced to pay for water it will
stop wasting it,