Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-20
Directs Executive Officer to
Oppose Project Before
Power Commission.
ACTION is TAKEN FOR
FEDERAL GOVERNME
Development Would Destroy Beau.
tiful Scenery in Area, Off,
cials Point Out.

Definite steps to defeat the plan to
harness Great Falls for the develop
ment of electric power, which would
wipe out the beautiful scenery in this
area, were taken on the part of the
Federal Government today, when the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission directed its executive Of
ficer to present to the Federal Power
Commission a protest against the
project, together with reasons for its
conclusion.
The commission, following its per.
sonal survey of the gorge yesterday
with members of the Maryland and
Virginia planning commissions, spent
the entire morning in discussing the
project and reaching conclusions as
to what stand should be taken, con-
sidering the entire regional develop
ment of this area for park purposes.
Whereas the Potomac River power
project presented for the considera-
ton of the commission" the resolution
adopted by the commission read,
would destroy the chief scenic values
of the Great Falls and gorge of the
Potomac River;
"WhereaS the commission believes
that the Great Falls and gorge OF the
Potomac are the outstanding fea-
lures of the Washington region.
Voted: That the commission, after
careful consideration of the subject
and visits to the area, adopts as
major park project for the regional
plan, the creation of a park under in
terstate or Federal control to preserve
the gorge and Great Falls in a natural
state.
Voted: That the executive Office of
the commission present to the Fed
eral Power Commission the inconsist-
ency of the power project with the
park project and the reasons that have
led to these conclusions.
Will Prepare Protest.
Lieut. Col. L. s. Grand. Sd, execu-
tive officer of the commission, will pre-
pare the formal protest and will in.
clude in the letter a summary of the
reasons which were advanced by the
members of the commission at the
meeting today. 1t was said that it
would take about 10 days to prepare
this letter and it was said that it
would be presented to the power COM
mission, which has set July 20 as the
date when all protests must be in.
Following it's action this morning,
the commission this afternoon is con-
ferring at luncheon at the Cosmos
Club with members of the Maryland
and Virginia Park and Planning Com
missions, out of which conference is
expected to grow protests from these
bodies against the allowance of the
permit for the power project.
Visit River Scenery.
Wiping out of the beautiful natural
scenery which will furnish the nu-
cleus for a great national park on
the upper stretches of the Potomac
River by the proposed harnessing of
Great Falls for the production of elec-
trio current for the surrounding coun-
try was brought vividly to the atten-
ton of the Maryland and Virginia
park and planning commissioners
yesterday by the National Commits
sion when pilgrimages were made to
various sites along the river from
Chain Bridge to the Falls. and on
both sides of the river. The three
commissions spent the entire day
travelling along the two fronts and
penetrating almost inaccessible places
on foot, SO that the members of the
party could see the natural scenery
not even yet accessible by automobile.
When members of the Maryland
and Virginia commissions were taken
to the various sites and it was eX-
planned to them how the proposed
great dams would leave this area en-
tire.y under water, they indicated
that they would strongly oppose the
issuance of permit for the project,
desiring that the area be preserved
as the basis for great national
park.
Would Wipe Out Gorge.
It was explained to them, for In
stance, that the first dam near Chain
Bridge would wipe out the gorge
below the Falls entirely and that the.
water would come to the level Of the
top, backing up as far as Great Falls,
carrying the level to the top of Great
Falls Park. At this point another
dam, 235 feet high, is proposed at
Great Falls, which would place that
natural waterfall GO feet below the
level of the lake. and would form a
great lake as far as Brunswick, Md,
or nearly to Harpers Ferry, w. Va.
The trip of the three commissions
yesterday was expected to cuminate
today in the preparation Of a formal
protest to the Federal Power Commits
sion against the project.
The members of the commissions
visited the canal at various points,
and saw the quaint old locks, which
would be from 25 to 80 feet under
water, and as they proceeded along
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