The Washington times., 1923-11-17
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TW)HYDR()
PLANS ARE
READY
Norris, Who Favors Tyler
Scheme, May Compromise on
Longtime Development.
BY PHILIP A. ORME.

While it viii be the Tyler plan
for establishment of great
hydro-electric plant in the region
Of Great Falls that will come up.
for Congressional action at the
session opening next month,
there is a possibility that one
Of several alternative proposals
viii be submitted, if objections
20 the necessary outlay for the
major project are too much in
evidence.
Norris FaVOrs Tyler Plan.
Senator George w. Norris, Of Ne
braslxa, leader in the movement to
harness the Potomac and furnish
washington and other communities
with light and power at one-halfI
present cost. favors the Tyler plan.
It is thought, however, that he
would not be averse to backing a
DEVELOPMENT stretching over a num-
Der of years instead of insisting on
immediate authe 4 zation OF 50, 420,
coo for which the Tyler structural
estimates call. His action along this
line probably viii be governed by
the attitude of Congress, particularly
In the House of Representatives.
where the Great Falls scheme is not
60 widely understood as among the
Senators.
Some years since, a Widely-known
newspaper man of Washington, in
a&aaS a<wff r-w@
hydraulic engineer, came very near
putting across" plan for a pub
lcily-owned hydro-electric develop
ment at the doors of the Capital.
There was strong opposition from
private interests, just as there Is
sure to be when Senator Norris takes
up the cudgels at this meeting Of
the legislators. It was not over de-
tails of the plan from a technical
viewpoint that the dispute arose,
however. It was a case of the peo-
pie versus monopolistic corporate in
terests, and, as has been so often
the case, the people got licked.
Plan Still Stands.
= This plan still stands, as a FEAST
Bile and relatively inexpensive propo-
sition, and 1t may be laid before the
two Houses If that Of Major NJ. c.
Tyler, former engineer Officer for
the District Of Washington, is
9rowned upon.
1t would call for appropriations
Of about SIG, 100000 for a 100000
horsepower system of turbine units,
and would be SO constructed that
extra units could be installed as
demand for current grew.
The Tyler plan contemplates two
great dams, one at Great Falls, the
other a little above Chain Bridge,
and three storage reservoirs on the
upper Potomac and the Shenandoah
from which water could be drawn
in the slack period of the annual
now.
The plan evolved by the n.y.
6raulic engineer, George w. Lucas,
provides for two dams, but without
reservoirs. Instead Of utilizing aux
Hilary water, Lucas would proceed
to build the central light. heat and
power plant at the foot of Four
teenth street northwest. The Fine
Arts Commission entered vigorous
opposition to this proposal, saying
It would break up the Mcmillan
plan for development Of the Mall.
The first of the two dams would
be reared a good distance above
Great Falls. OF towering height,
u WOuiu 1IHpOuuQ the waters OF the
Potomac for distance Of thirty
four miles. The water would rush
through a conduit extending severcl
miles below the falls and there re-
turn to the river after passing
through turbines. The second dam
would stand about opposite the
DaIecarIia reservoir into which
water for District consumption ie
now brought by a superannuated
conduit which army engineers are
replacing. The balance Of needed
power and light would come from
the central station In Washington
Alternate Plans Of Tyler.
One Of Major Tyler's alternative
projects called for such an auxiliary
steam plant, to be built near one OF
the dams. Lucas points out thai
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars al
ready have been expended for trans
mission tunnels and conduits from
the site Of the proposed central plant
and that, with renovation. thes,
could be used. A saving OF none,
would result. he declares, over cree
ton Of an auxiliary steam plant a
one, OF the dams.
When the Norris bill comes up AM
IL referred to a committee, there viii
undoubtedly be hearings at which ex
pert9 viii have an opportunity {.
pat forward notifications. of tn
Tyler plan az they see tit. The mali
thing IL TO secure Congressional an
proya1 Of project that would be /