Evening star., 1924-04-10
GREAT FALLS BILL
PASSES IN SENATE
WITHOUT DISSENT
Secretary of War Is Directed
to Construct Huge Water
Power Project.
MEANS LOWER CHARGE
FOR ELECTRICITY IN D. C.
Measure Now Goes to House for
Consideration-Norris Author
of Legislation.

The Norris bill for the development
Of waterpower at Great Falls to sup
ply the District of Columbia with
power and light was passed by the
Senate this afternoon without a dis
senting vote.
Under the terms Of the bill the Sec
retary of War is directed to construct
all the dams and other necessary work
for the development of hydro-electric
power at Great Falls in accordance
with the recommendation made by
Maj NJ. c. Tyler United States Army
Engineer Corps. who made survey
of the entire project and a report
three years ago.
Mny Make Changes.
The Federal Water Power Commits
sion is authorized to make any modi-
fications or changes in the plan Of
Mai. Tyler that may be necessary to
increase the maximum amount OF
hydroelectric energy that can be de-
veloped therefrom, and if any such
changes or notifications are made,
the Secretary of War is directed to
modify the plans accordingly, and to
proceed with the construction of the
works
Senator Norris of Nebraska. author
OF the bill. who for years has led the
fight for development of Great Falls
electric power in. the Capital, ad-
dressed the Senate in support of his
bill, discussing the history of the
movement for the development OF
Great Falls water power He point
ed out that several surveys had been
made by Army engineers and tina
they had all recommended the de-
vcIopTnent of the project by the gov
eminent He pointed out further
that a bill similar to the one passed
today has been acted upon favorably
In the Senate several times before.
The biil now goes to The House lby
consideration and action
Want Immediate start
The Federal Power Commission had
recommended to Congress that il
authorize an inm mediate start in the
development of power in accordance
with the Tyler report. The commission
declared that a study of the situation
indicated that all the power. SO devel-
oped would find a ready market in
the District and adjacent territory.
The development just recommended
was summarized as follows
A dam and power generating sta
tion at the District of Columbia line.
Chaln prldse, estimated 10 cost slS,-
500: a dam and power generating
station at Great HFalls, s1S,616,OOo;
three storage reservoirs at the fol fol,
river, West Virginia. near its mouth,
$2,340,0 900; North fork of the Shenan-
doah river, at Brooks Gap, near
Broadway. Va, s3.615,000. and South
branch of the Potomac river. about
one-half mile upstream from its
mouth, near Green Springs. W. Va,
$6,250,000. making total cost of
$44.421, 900.
The board of District Commissioners
also reported in favor of the develop
ment as proposed. and said that its
completion would be of great belwfit
to the District of Columbia The Com
missioners suggested that there should
also be legislation authorizing the Pub
lie Utilities Commission to require any
public utility using electricity in any
form in its operation as a public utility
to purchase electricity from the plant
at Great Falls. when in the judgment
of the Public Utilities Commission such
purchase would result in a more eco
nonical management than procurement
of electricity from another source.