Evening star., 1924-07-28
UNFA|L|NG SUPPLY
Of POWER ASSURED
Hoover's SuperpoWer CON-
mittee Submits Plan to
Harness Streams.
UTILIZE GREAT FALLS
Scheme Would Provide Saving of
100000 Tons of Coal An
nually, Committee Says.

Uncle Sans workshop-the biggest
industrial establishment in all the
world-and other consumers OF cleo
trio energy in the National Capital
will be assured OF an unfailing max
| imum supply for all requirements by
tapping a vast reservoir of electrical
power when the recommendations by
special committee of engineers
headed by Secretary Hoover are car
ried out
The principles for creating this
great lake of energy through tho In
terconnecton of existing stream and
water-powcr plants with huge gen
Grating stations strategically placed
and supplemented by development or
the power resources of the northeast
ern section of the United States,
where the population and industry arc
most congested, are laid down in a re-
port made public today.
The recommendations made by Sec
retary Hoover's committee of engi-
neers contemplate the inclusion OF
Great Falls power in this proposed
reservoir and the construction and
development of steam and hydroelec-
trio resources in the New England
and Middle Atlantic area on a basis
of probable requirements in 1890,
when it is estimated this part of the
country Will need $4,000, ,O0O. 900 kilo-
watt hours, as compared with the
1922 production of 21,200,o0o 600 kiIo-
watt hours.
Big Coal Conservation.
Although maximum water power
development in the section can pro-
duce only 25 per cent of the neces-
sary' energy says the report, estab
lishment of the system proposed
would reduce coal consumption by
50,000,000 tons q year. Other advan-
tages held out are greater economy
in production, stabilization of sup
plies and creation OF larger reserves
of power, increased efficiency in
transportation through clcctrifica
ton OF facilities. extension of power
to farms, and tightening Of labor re-
quirements upon men.
The Northeastern Superpow Com
mittee, to which the report was sub
mitted, was organized here last Octo-
Der after an informal conference OF
State utilities comm ssion chairmen
from eleven States assembled by Sec
retary Hoover, and the subcommittee.
comprising representatives Of these
commissions, the United States Geo
logical Survey. the Federal Power
Commission and the War Department.
was appointed to work out a method
for State and Federal cooperation in
promoting power development.
The subcommittee considered the
resources and needs of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massac chusetts.
Rhode Island, Connecticut New York
New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Delaware.
Maryland and the District of Column
bia. and devoted some attention also
to those in Ohio. Virginia and West
Virginia. Only s per cent of the ex-
listing power plants in the area arc
interconneCted at present, it found.
and immediate steps to extend this
principle throughout the region are
urged, together with the building of
large centralized steam plants at
strategic points and the development
of water resources on large scale.
Dependent on Coal.
Generation of electric power from
coal, the subcommittee report says.
must be the principal dependence of
the Northeastern area, because the
maximum development of the water
power will supply only % per cent of
the needs of that section. To bring
about efficiency in production and dis
tribution, it recommends d practical
interconnection OF. all the power cen
ters, thus creating Il vast electric
power reservoir from which consump-
tion centerS might draw their exact
needs, permitting any surplus to be
used elsewhere.
Summarizing its conclusions. the
report recommends that the economi-
cal and adequate power supplies for
the northeastern area requires ex-
tension of interconnection between
large centralized steam electric
plants located at strategic points.
and the development of the large
hydro electric projects.
The economic generation and dis
tribution of power, the report con
tends. demands that ii be produced
| IN large plants of from 100000 to
100000 kilowatts, using generators OF
not less than 10000 kilowatts each,
Because such plants require a vast
quantity of water their location, the
committee asserts, would be re
stricted to the seaboard. the Great
Lakes, the Ohio River and its tribu-
taries and the Susquehanna River.
Going into waterpower develop
ment, the report says that the pres
ent great demand for cheaper power
makes immediate development and
expansion of water power projects
| urgent. The greatest possibilities
| for this source of power have been
| found at the st. Lawrence, the Mag
ara, Delaware and SusQuehanna
| rivers, the tributaries of the upper
Ohio, rivers of the Adirondacks, the
Potomac River and the rivers Of
Maine.