The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-26
POWER
PROJECT
URGED
Fight Is Begun for Early Pas
sage of Great Falls Bill
in Congress

Renewal of the fight for con-
struction of a great hydro-electric
plant to harness the power OF the
Potomac river at Great Falls and
to provide the District and sur
rounding country with a tremen-
dous supply of cheap electricity
will be one of the outstanding
measures of local interest before
the coming Congress.
A determined fight will be made
this session to obtain House ac-
ton on the bill. The measure
has been passed twice by the SEN
ate in past Congresses.
Quick Action Planned
A member of the new House Dis
trict Committee will be designated
by Chairman Frederick N. Zihlman
of Maryland, to take charge OF the
measure. The bill will be intro
duced Immediately after Congress
convenes., Advantage will be taken
Of the prolonged hearings given the
bill in the last two years by the
House District Committee to press
it to final action
The Federal Power Commission
will aid in the fight for the bill.
The commission will be supported
by the chief Of army engineers. The
attitude Of the new Secretary of
War toward the bill Is expected to
be the same as that of Secretary
Weeks. who strongly advocated its
Ipassage.
The local fight for water-power
development will be strengthened
by recent developments in Virginia,
where a $12,0O0,0 project linking
the water power OF the James and
| Appomatox rivers at Petersburg
and water power at Roanoke Rap
/, ids, N. c., was launched this sum-
| mer.
Moore to Aid Fight
Congressman r. Walton Moore
! of Virginia, co-author with Con-
gresham Zihlman Of last years bill,
again will join the fight for Con-
| gressional action. He is expected
to present figures concerning the
Virginia and North Carolina de-
velopments in support of the claims
for the Great Falls project
The Virginia development is IN
the hands OF Stone and Webster
who recently gained control Of the
| Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany. The power system when
completed will provide TRANSMISSION
lines from Richmond to the Nortl.
Carolina line.
The organiZation~now is compiCt-
ing its study Of available water
| power sites OH the James and
| Appomatox rivers and at Roanoke
rapids. A force OF hydraulic
engineering experts has been
Iorganized 20 handle the details Of
the project.
Recent studies OF the Federal
Water Power Commission and the
| army engineer staff will be pre-.
that further hearings will be un-
necessary.
1t is estimated by army engineers
that continuous power can be de-
ivered in Washington from the
Great Falls plant at a cost per
kilowatt hour Of at least so per
cent less than by the most modern
and efficient type Of steam plant.
I Proposed plants at Great Falls
and at Chain Bridge, with three
reservoirs in the upper Potomac
river, would produce SIS, 900, 900
kilowatt hours at the central power
Lhouse in the District Of Columbia,
according to estimates
There has been an average an
nual increase in consumption of
1913 per cent in the District since
1913, and, unless the hydro-electric
plant is developed, construction of
great steam plants will be necessary
within a few years to meet the in
creased demand, 1t is stated.
The engineers estimate that the
entire investment of $44, 421 900 will
be returned in thirty years.
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
To PEPEAT EECrUAI