The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-26

a surrey of the project, is a civu
and hydraulic engineer of eminent
standing IN his profession.
BY GEORGE VIM. LUCAS.
ARTICLE NO. 5.
Estimates of costs of the con-
struction of two stages of the Great
Falls Development, based on con-
sentative unit values and present
day prices of labor and material,
have been made carefully by those
interested in this enterprise. The
estimates invite the conclusion
that the undertaking can be real
lied at a cost we'll within the
limites of commercial economy.
Considered in the light of the
general economic factors, which
prevails in nearly all Federal
undertakings, this project looms
up most favorably.
"VuHu DC 4ICOAAOIAA1CAIs
For a unit cost of less than $3.50
per kilowatt, the usual test Of
value applied by engineers and
economists and the chief factor in
determining the advisability of un-
dertaking an hydroelectric enter
prise, this entire project could be
carried through to it's planned
stage Of completion most economi-
cally and cheaply. The total cost
compares very favorably with that
OF any like commercial operation of
equal capacity.
II the peculiar conditions did not
exist which make it necessary that
: only the Federal government can
handle the undertaking, private in.
terests long ago would have seized
upon the situation and brought it
to a successful outcome. 1t is a
conclusive fact, with those who are
unbiased. that the Great Falls
waterpower is worthy and
economical undertaking and that its
need is being felt more and more
each year.
In the CRANBERRY proposal for con-
structing Great Falls power pro-
ject, submitted to the Secretary Of
War in 1917, and following in sub
stantiaI form the lines proposed ly
the Tyler plan, the unit cost for
making development was consider
ably less than in the present. This
was OccaSioned, no doubt, by the
fact that the contracting firm rep
resented by CRANBERRY was fully
organized and thoroughly equipped
to make the venture. Usually the
Governments engineers are more
conservative in their estimates than
private engineering concerns. In
this case the probabilities are that
the project can actually be COM
pleted for much less than the Gov
ernment's engineers estimates, that
Is, that the unit cost Of $3.50 per
kilowatt, referred to above, can be
pared to a lower figure.
Distribution Not Included.
A great portion of the undertake
ing could readily be done by day Ia
Dor direct, as in great part, much
of the work is of type to be car
ried through by common labor
only. In the more important classes
of work responsible private firms,
after the submission of proposals
on a competitive basis could sub
NIT BIDS.
The undertaking on which the
estimates are based .Soes not con.
slider any portion of the city distri-
button systems for the power,
owned at present in great part by
private companies. The limits of
distribution in the estimates are
fixed at the present distributing
SW1tchboards of the local power and
Sfrnof railNxyoHy
In delivering the current on the
distribution switchboards of the
local power and utilities companies
the present maximum elements of
nigh cost of generating current
from steam sources are done away
with. These elements are the chief
cause of the present high rates for
power, delivered to the consumers.
Supervision by Army.
Undoubtedly. when the Potomac
river projects are in operation. the
supervision of same will fall to the
lot of the executives of the corps of
engineers Of the army. This fact
Is of itself guarantee Of efficiency,
and that which otherwise under pri.
vate control might be a considerable
element OF overhead cost, chargeable
to production, is out of the reckon.
ing.
Any comparison made as between
the present and the proposed sys.
TENS of power production and costs
to the consumers must be confined
to the consideration Of all the ele.
ments beyond the distributing
switchboards.
Construction Cost Low.
The distributing systems and the
methods of distribution are in a
sphere of their own and separate
elements in themselves. They con-
stitute separate and distinct type
of problem from that which is of
greater and more vital Importance,
although it is sometimes made to
appear that distribution is bound
up in the question and should not
be viewed separately.
For sum not to exceed in the