Evening star., 1922-11-27
Water Power Wasted
Writer Scores ID. C. Failure. to
Harness Great Falls Current.
10 the Editor Of The star:

TO inc EDITOR OF The Star:
Development OF the Great Falls
water power for the purpose of pro-
ducing electricity. to be used in the
District Of Columbia. has been dis
cussed for several years by the SEN
ate.. Its Importance rs a means to
light the city and government build
ings and furnish power for railroads
would save 100000 tons of coal every
year and reduce the cost of light more
tnan 81 per cent by using waterpowe er
That is wasted instead of coal.
we nave since learned from the ex-
perlence OF Canada and some Of our
per ktlowatt hour for our electricity
we could make a good profit at 3
cents. II the old price of 10 cents per
kilowatt hour were continued one
year the profit would reduce greatly
tne cost OF fitting the waterpower to
likely to complain Of an increase Of
taxes II the management were left in
the hands Of our Commissioners.
The cost Of electricity for an aver
.1 age family in Toronto. Canada. is 50
in the USE o9's on BY using great care
ington home the bill averages $3.50
per month. or $4092 excess per wear
over 80 cents. Five thousand homes
IN "inn!peg are lighted for / cent
per kilowatt hour. The Canadian n
commissioners have harnessed Nj
agara Falls to produce electricity.
which is transmitted $50 miles and
Ilghts cities for cents per kilowatt
ihis Is 4O per cent less than cities in
michigan. Just across the Detroit
river, pay. The increased use of
hydro.electricity in the province of
Ontario has cut down the consump-
tion OF coal yearly 100000 tons. The
aggregate production for the year
power.
Statements which I have made are
confirmed in the report made on ali
properly conducted hydro electric
plants operating in the United States
and In other countries.
Washington has one OF the finest
and best located waterfalls in the
country. and yet her citizens are
charged 10 cents per kilowatt hour
for electricity. Why not develop the
waterfall for the production of cleo
tricity" There are too many power
fui interests against it," says the
senator from Nebraska. "Objections
must be removed and they will be
removed" he continued. The writer
has learned the temper of the people.
They are often patient when being
robbed. but there is always a limit.
Water power. which if used would
save the people millions of dollars.
is allowed to go to waste
What would the full power Of the
falls converted into electricity be
worth to the city, First, 1t would give
light to the buildings and streets of
the city and suburbs. 1t would allow
each family to heat part of its home
at very low cost. 1t would drive our
trolley cars and electric motors part
of the year at least. It would sup
ply power for factories and light the
addition lately proposed along the
south side of the river from Great
Falls to Alexandria, even to the
homes of Washington.
II the water power were fully de-
veloped electricity could be fur
nished at a discount of so per cent
and the profits would then pay the
cost of the development without tax
ing the people. This is not a mere
guess 1t has been tried many times
all over the world. The average
home would save 1902 year. and
the city the price of 100000 tons of
coal. understand that private
capital is ready to take the falls at
a fair price, harness 1t and sell the
electricity at a reduced price. But
the city cannot afford to part with II
at any price. The experience OF
other cities would not justify its sale.
so long as we have reliable and COM
petent Commissioners.
WIN. H. II. PHILLIPS. PHI. D.