Evening star., 1922-05-14

protect their water supply for the
future. He emphasizes that the pro-
lection Of any city's water supply is
nrst civic duty-reminding his COL
leagues that the National Capital
holds the unique distinction of being
entirely at the mercy of Congress
Then he calls attention to the fact
that Great Falls is the finest speci-
men OF nature in this part of the
country. and that 1t has three great
possibilities-(D to supply abundant
power for the city of Washington and
vicinity; (2) to supply abundant wa
ter for the National Capital. no mat
ter how largo the city may grow; and
(3) by creating a great national park
the falls will be protected from pollu-
tfon and devastation. Already quar-
ries are being established and oper-
ated along the palisades of the Poto-
mac. and the beautiful timber is be-
ing converted into lumber and fire
wood. These invasions will in time
destroy natural beauties that cannot
be restored.
Included in this proposed park-de-
signed to be the Niagara Falls Of this
section-would be the finest tourist
camp in the country. where people
from all over tho United States could
spend the summer vacation, seeing
Washington" under most pleasant
conditions.
Parkway Plan Favored
f,v a>~r><.- ~ W.r
The Secretary Of War favors the
extension Of the Capital parkway to
surround Great Falls, the conserva-
tionists are supporting this legisla-
tion. and organizations and individ-
uals all over the country are urging
Congress to put it through.
The resolution was amended in the
Senate at tho instance Of Senator
Norris Of Nebraska. SO as to guard
against any parking enterprise that
might interfere with the water power
development proposed in the Tyler
report. 1t will be remembered that
the main conclusion reached. after pro-
tracted and careful study by the en-
gineers Of the War Department. for
whom Maj. Tyler was spokesman. is
that "a comprehensive development
Of the Potomac river for power pur-
poses by means of power dams in the
main river and storage reservoirs in
certain of the larger tributaries. is
economically feasible. and continuous
power thereby can be guaranteed at
a cost per kilowat hour of approx
mately 50 per cent less than for
power generated by steam (even with
the price OF coal as low as 81 per
ton), II the entire output Of the
hydro-electric plant can be mar
keted."
1t is the confident opinion Of the
engineers, as stated in the report
that the sale of the power at one
half of the rates now paid for electric
current in the District would not only
take care of the expense of operation
and maintenance, but would yield a
return of 6 per cent on the investment
and in thirty years repay the original
outlay. According to the report, the
total production of power. should the
project outlined therein be completely
carried out, would be 675.000,000 kilo-
wat hours per annum. The total con-
sumption of the District in 1920 was
3os, ,ooo, 900 kilowats. of which the fed
eral government used more than 20
per cent. The excess OF 367.0oo,o0o
kilowats would have to find a market
beyond the limits Of the District.
Population Of 2,sOOyO0o
Within Power Radius.
That such q market would be avail
able 10 indicated by the fact that
whereas on January l. 1920, the popu-
lation of tho District was something
moro than $4,000, on the same date.
within a fifty-mile radius OF the Great
Falls, there was population outside
of the District of nearly 100000, and
within a radius of 100 miles a popu-
lation Of nearly 100000.
Representative r. Walton Moore OF
Virginia, whose district stretches
along the Potomac river and one side
of Great Falls. is strongly support
ing the legislation for prompt and
complete protection and development
of this >so-important water resource.
It was due largely to his persistent
work that the new conduit from
Great Falls is to be built. and he has
striven tirelessly to have Congress
authorize the full development pro.
gram. He comes from an old Virginia
family which has looked upon the
Potomac and Great Falls as a birth.
right and heritage.