The Washington times., 1924-03-28

what with the numerous other ele.
ments entering into the question of
basic costs all tending toward an
upward drift, increased rates for
power to the consumer must be
logically looked for, If the Benning
plant is to be the source Of energy.
Present Station Economical.
For many years, and UP Until
1902, the Potomac COmpany's cen.
trail plant was in operation at Four
teenth and B streets northwest.
This station in it's day and with.
in the limits of it's capacity was
in a. general sense economical
Fuel costs were low, and wages
for labor were cheap, and in pro
portion other necessary expenses
were not prohibitively high. In
consequence. the output of the
plant was sold at fair rates, netting
good return on the investment.
This was in the days when the
Potomac Electric Power Company
existed by itself and was in no
way involved as it is at present as
part OF a larger corporation.
Its earnings were then reckoned
on the basis of its own capital in.
vestment and it is matter of his.
tory that 1t offered an attractive
repository for invested funds.
AS with all projects of it's type,
the local power company's plant
had to offer an expanding increase
to keep step with the growing de
mand for output. Machinery and
equipment of the highest possible
efficiency were installed from time
to time until the limits of the full
area of the property were reached.
Beyond this the demand kept
growing when it was resolved to
establish station that could be
made to expand in keeping with
future demand and on a site offer
ing such an opportunity. Thus the
Bennings plant came into being.
Ready For Break Downs.
Between the date of opening the
Bennings plant and the entrance
Of the United States into the war
in 1917, the old city plant was
maintained and held in reserve for
emergencies whenever the machin-
cry at Bennings, for one reason or
another, got out OF order. Service
from this plant was gotten on
numerous occasions when break.
downs In part Of the machinery at
the main plant occurred.
With the entry of our country
into the World War a sudden and
increased demand for electric cur
rent followed the establishment Of
numerous emergency war bureaus
in Washington.
1t was found that the Bennings
plant was unequal to the situation,
the demand was far beyond its
capacity. Recourse was then had
to the old city plant to help out
The passing years had made it's
equipment obsolete. and economy
was out of the question, If contin-
uOus operation was to be the order
of things.
To produce current at this plant
with it's obsolete equipment and in
the face Of high cost nof labor and
of fuel, which had to be transported
by the costly mode of motor trucks,
II was apparent to the power COM
pany that ii would come out on the
short end Of the horn. But the re-
sourceful management was equal to
the situation.
Nearby in the Mall section. the
Government was erecting numer-
Gus emergency structures to serve
as offices for the thousands of war
workers.
These structures were planned to
have their own individual boiler
plants to furnish heat. Here an OPP.
portunity was offered to drag the
power company out Of the hole.
Becomes Steam Plant.
As a representation Of patriotic
sacrifice the company would render
a service to the country in it's hour
Of need. 1t would, by giving up
it's exhaust steam. of course at
price. make it unnecessary for Uncle
Sam to operate his several boiler
plants, if the Government would in
stall the required connecting piping
and maintain same.
And so it followed and the plant
at Fourteenth and B streets be.
came a steam generating station
with an electrical by.product. with
a handsome profit return to the
power company. considering the