Evening star., 1924-02-11
Potomac Power Project.

The subcommittee to which was re-
ferred the Zihlman. Moore bill for de-
veloping hydro-electric power on the
upper Potomac has visited the Great
Falls region and expressed itself as ia
vorably impressed. Maj. James A.
O'Connor. Corps of Engineers, ex-
planned the plans prepared under di-
rection of Maj. NJ. c. Tyler approved
by the federal power commission three
years ago. With dam above Great
Falls and one al Little Falls the river
would give constant flow of 5000
cubic feet per second, which would de-
velop $4,000 horsepower and might
permit the sale Of electricity in the
District at / cent per kilowatt hour.
Progress is being made on project
that has been long under considera-
ton. BY authority Of an act Of Con-
gress of June 10, 1920, a commission
was appointed and directed Ito report
to Congress the cost and in detail the
economic value Of developing power
in the Potomac river" In connection
with its survey the commission was
to submit plans and estimates for in
creasing Washington's water supply.
That was the warrant for the Tyler
survey and report which was sent to
Congress February IA, 1921, with the
approval of the water power commits
sion, and Secretary Baker, as chair
man Of that commission and as Secre-
tary Of War, urged on Congress the
need for favorable action on the re-
port. In the Tyler report, and in that
Of the water power commission, It
was said that there was no advantage
in treating plans for increasing Wash
ington's water supply as a part Of the
power development project. The prof.
ect for increasing the water supply is
under way. Work on the second con-
duit proceeds, and work on the new
reservoirs and filtration plant will
soon begin.
In some Of the early projects the
water supply and the power projects
were linked. On February ID, 1913,
Henry l.. Stimson, Secretary Of War.
transmitted to Congress report by
Lieut.. Col. W. C. Langfitt, Corps Of
Engineers. on the water supply of the
District, and the availability Of the
water power at Great Falls for supply
ing light and power in the District.
That report was made in compliance
with the District appropriation bill for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1918.
In that report it was prophesied that
the Districts water supply would
reach the danger point within eight
years. The report of Maj. Jay J. Nor
row, Corps Of Engineers. sent to Con-
gress in the summer Of 1909, dealt
only with studies and plans for in
creasing the water supply.
Plans for utilizing the flow of the
Potomac near Washington for gen.
Grating electric power have been dis
cussed since the '90s. Clemens
Herschel, consulting engineer in the
LanSfitt survey, in. letter to Col.
Langfitt in 1918 said that during ''the
past twenty years many plans have
been devised for creating a hydro
eleClr1c power SIdliou u uIulZe lIe
flow of the Potomac at Great Falls and
downstream from Aqueduct dam, and
it may be proper to remark that in
1902 had the honor to advise a syndi-
cate Of New York bankers upon just
such a proposition, making me fairly
we'll informed on the subject before
receiving the appointment of consult
ing engineer at your hand in the pres
ent investigation"
With the large number Of surveys,
ceding government action on any inn
portant proposal, it would now seem
that the time is at hand when Con-
gress will direct that work be begun
on the Potomac power project