The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-28
POR ON.
POWER
MADE
Hydroelectric Needs Of NORTH
western United States
Are Cited

Inc immaculate correspondent %
the full water ower Of the Poto-
mac river, aggregating 10000
horsepower, as q link in a giant
electric superpower chain cover
ing the northeastern portion Of
the country, is recommended in a
report made public today by Sec
rotary Of Commerce Hoover.
Development Of the superpower
system will result in an annual
saving Of 100000 tons Of coal,
furnish cheaper power for the
most pOpulous section Of the na,
ton and make possible extension
Of electricity to the farms in .
score Of Eastern States, Secretary
Hoover declares.
The report covers months of in
vestigation by they engineer. sub
committee Of the Northeastern
Superpower Committee. Of which
the Secretary Of Commerce Is chair
man.
The northeastern section. com
prising fourteen States from Maine
south and westward to and includ
ing West Virginia, Virginia, the
District of Columbia and Maryland
includes 40 per cent of the entire
population Of the nation and con
sumes SO per cent Of the kilowatt
hour electrical production and 81
per cent Of the primary power Of
the United States, the report shows
Secretary Hoover predicts that in
time the proposed Great Falls hydro
electric plant will be constructed al
an integral part Of great inter
connected electric power system
covering the northeastern section
Of the nation in one great network
Of power lines.
Progress u Made.
The fight for development Of
Great Falls has taken great strides
forward during the past year. Elk.
tensive hearings have been given
the, supporters and opponents OF
the plan by a special committee Of
the House OF Representatives dur.
ing the past session. These hear.
'tngs win be resumed during the
coming session and there IL an ex.
cellent prospect that a bill will be
passed authorizing the beginning Of
"a ten-yeAr construction program.
Such q bill already has passed the
Senate.
The chief drawback to the euper.
power system, the report indicates,
is the narrow vision ia certain sec.
tons of the northeast and conflict.
ing State laws.
In an effort to remedy these con.
ditions Secretary Hoover called a
conference Of representatives Of the
public utilities commissions OF elev.
en- OF the States most affected and
State and Federal engineers. Com.
mittees were appointed to study the
legal and engineering phases Of the
proposed system. The report AZ
the Secretary Of Commerce covers
the work Of the engineering com.
mittee only. The legal commitfee.
due to the complicated problems Il
must solve, probably win be unable
to make a report until some time
In October.
The plan advocated by Secretary
Hoover does not mean the creation
Of q great monopoly or trust
control the power throughout the
northeast area, the report states,
The existing power companies would
not be disturbed but would mereIv
be bound together through inter.
connection.
Forms Of Conservation.
The plan would result in the fol.
lowing forms of conservation. Score.
tary Hoover reports;
Reduction Of the amount OF neces.
Bary reserve equipment.
A better average load factor AZ
the result OF pooling Of daily and
seasonal load variation and .vide
oiverstfication OF use throLrh ~.
creased industrial consumption.
More security in power s,innlv
against interruption by strikes.
storms and failure OF transporta.
ton and equipment.
More advantageous application Of
available waterpower In this araa
to carry base or peak loads as local
conditions may require.
Bringing into use larger utiai,.
tity Of waterpower than wouId
otherwise be possible through inter.
connection. making possible the use
Of secondary waterpower arising
from the seasonal flow of streams.
Making power more quickly avail.
able to meet growing demands.
These aims are to be realized