Evening star., 1924-12-12
Electric Development Moves
Step Forward by Action
of Group.
MEASURE TAKES TASK
FROM ARMY ENGINEERS
Blanton 0pposed-May File Mi
nority Report-Moore Ex-
plains Measure.

Proposed hydro-electric development
of the Great Falls on the Potomac River
as provided for in the report of Maj
M. c. Tyler. at an estimated cost OF
more than $4,000. 900, moved a step
forward today when the special sub
committee of the House District COM
mittee ordered a favorable report to
the full committee.
The subcommittee acted upon the
Norris bill, which has already passed
! the Senate with amendments as recon-
mended by Maj. Gen. Harry Taylor.
chief of Engineers. These amendments
would safeguard the right of condemna
tion of all land needed to carry out this
project, and would delay construction
work until the market for the power
generated was assured.
On the insistence Of Representative
Oscar f. Keller of Minnesota and Rep
resentative William c. Hammer of
North Carolina, these amendments will
specifically provide that all authority in
carrying out the legislation will be in
trusted to the Federal Power Commits
sion rather than the Army Engineer
Corps.
Blanton Opposed.
Representative Thomas L. Blanton,
Democrat, of Texas, went on record
before the committee as opposed to
this legislation, but made no effort
today to delay action. He served no
tice. however, that he will explain his
position to the full committee and if
it also acts favorably he reserves
the right TO make a minority report
to the House.
The members of the subcommittee
acting on this legislation are: Rep
resentative Fred n. Zihlman of Mary
land, Oscar Z. Keller, of Minnesota.
Ernest Gibson of Vermont, Thomas
L. Blanton of Texas, William c. Ham
mer of North Carolina.
Representative r. Walton Moore.
Democrat, of Virginia, who was CO
author with Representative Zihlran
in presentation of resolution in the
House providing for development of
water power at and near Great Falls,
appeared before the committee ex-
planning a legal point, so that the
! legislation will carry explicitly all
necessary right fer condemnation as
covered by the general statues made
applicable to this particular case.
Clarence E. Martin, an attorney of
Martinsburg, W. Va, representing E.
H Rowlins & Sons of New York,
.,
lease of the project when completed,
laid a written statement before the
committee and also when called as
witness by Representative Blanton, sug-
gested that amortization of the project
should be based on a 100-year period
even if the lease is only for so years.
Cites Ends Sought.
Mr.. Martin emphasized that there
in,
velopment should be made: first the
conservation of coal through substi-
tuition of water generated current.
Mai Tyler finds that 675.o00,00o kilo-
watt hours of primary electrical cur
rent can be generated under the plan
proposed by him. On a basis Of one
and one-half pounds of coal per-
kilowat hour this would require ap-
proximately a consumption of 100000
tons of coal a year in a steam-electric
plant The importance of this con-
seryation of coal needs no elaboration
he said.
Second, a definite lessening in the
cost of the electric current to the
Government, to the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the surrounding
territory.
Mr. Martin, after discussing the
testimony of Maj. Tyler and William
F. Ham, president of the Potomac
Electric Power Co., and Gen. Black,
argued that unless there is saving
in the price of current sufficient to
attract the general public that the
conservation of the national resources
may be considered at this time of
secondary Importance. He empha-
sized that to lessen the cost of pro-
duction two things are necessary
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