The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-01-09
GOVERNMENT GRANTS PER-
MISSION FOR BIG DAM
Will Be Erected On susque-
hanna just Below Penn
sylvania Line In
u Maryland

y Maryland
The Philadelphia press on Sunday
reported with the appreciation of the
Federal Power Commission at Wash
ington, granting permission for the
erection of a gigantic dam and
power plant on the Susquehanna
| River, Immediately below the Penn
sylvania border, the first step has
Deen accomplished in the movement
TO develop the natural resources Of
che Commonwealth to their highest
possible point of efficiency. The
proposed plans for the erection Of
che new plant call for an output of
approximately $52,O0O,000, the. bur-
den of which is to be shouldered by
che. Philadelphia Electric Company,
20 which the power generated at the
new plant will be sold.
The. new project will completely
Sevolutionize the electrical industry
IN Eastern Pennsylvania. 1t will
rank as third in the power-produc-
ing stations of the nation, coming
behind Niagara Falls and the Muscle
Shoals scheme According to its
sponsors, it will greatly reduce
power rates in the urban centres
now being served and open an
avenue to the greater use of electric
power in rural sections now de-
prived of it's service.
| In all probability the plant will
supply the Pennsylvania and Read
Ing railroad systems with power to
operate the additional lines in the
services they intend to electrify
soon.
/ Construction work of the dam and
plant will be started just as soon as
the project receives the Endorsement
of the Public Service Commissions Of
pennsylvania and Maryland. The
pronouncement of the Federal Com
mission anticipated favorable action
being taken by these boards. It is
thought that the entire work can be
accomplished in three years, pro-
vlded the necessary licenses are is
sued Immediately by the commits
sions of both States.
The plans call for the erection Of
La dam with a crest elevation 103
feet above sea level, producing the
necessary slack water for distance
Of 10 miles to the tail race of the
existing HOLLYWOOD plant. The dam
will be near Octoraro. Transmits
sion lines will run through Cecil
and Hartford counties, Maryland, and
York, Lancaster, Chester, Delaware
and Montgomery counties in Penn
sylvania. The current will be con-
Quoted by way of Coatesville to
Norristown, where direct connection
will be made through a subsidiary of
the Philadelphia Electric Company
with the company conduits in
Philadelphia.
A total Of 2S0,000 horsepower will
be the primary capacity Of the in
tended project with the capability of
an ultimate installation of 100000
horsepower. When developed to its
capacity point the proposed plant
Will be in a position to produce more
power than all the steam plants Of
the Philadelphia Electric Company
IN Philadelphia. A further adyan-
ktage lies in the fact that when coal
shortage or other trouble threatens.
the industries can use the plant as
an emergency supply station.
At the present session of the
Legislature, Morris L. Cooke, direc-
tor OF the giant power survey order
ed by Governor Pinchot, will render
the hndlngs of that body relative to
their bearing upon the contemplated
scheme. Mr.. Cooke, in a statement,
mas declared that the plans of the
Electric Company were in accord
with the ideas of the Governor for
utilizing, to their full advantage, the
natural resources with view to pro-
vide cheaper and more general SER
vice for the public.
The dam will be $500, feet long
and the work will be greatly
Facilitated by the rocky bed of the
river which supplies a fine primary
foundation for the concrete work.
An immense amount of preliminary
work will be necessitated before
actuaf construction can be in
augurated. The roadbed of the
Columbia and Port Deposit Rail-
road. branch of the Pennsylvania,
Will be raised for distance of 20
miles, 1t is believed the expense of
this undertaking will be borne by
the Susquehanna Power Company.
All other construction work will de-
volve uponcthe Philadelphia Electric
Company. ;
| In the report to be rendered to the
Legislature at Harrisburg there is
the significant intimation that the
present project, with its gigantic
transmission of electric power on the
Iscale planned, may bring about the
/ transfer of industrial centres both
within and outside the State.
With the coming report of. the sur
vey board at Harrisburg, and the