Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-01
FEDERATION FIGHTS
RIVER POWER PLAN
Special Meeting Decides
Great Falls Development
Would Mar Scenic Beauty.


tomac for the development of hydro
J electric power was vigorously opposed
: by the Federation of Citizens Asso
Citations at a special meeting las
night in the boardroom OF the DIS
= trict Building.
The federation based it's action or
: the recommendations of two OF us
committees, the public utilities ano
citv planning, which had mace
comprehensive and Independent STUDY
Of the contemplated project ana cams
IN the conclusion that any power oe
veloument on the Potomac would DE
: strov the natural scenic beauty OF
. Great Falls as a cataract ana ophl'
+. crate the rapids of the river.
+. VIII Protest Permit.
+. nehate on the reports of the com,
! nnittees was animated. however anu
. hafore the final approval was gwen
thew were combined into one. ouc.
cinctIy, the adoption OF the repot -
3 puts the federation on record as N,
vorinp the National Capital Park ana
pIanninr Commissions proposal to
!, preserve the esthetic appearance OF
:, the upper Potomac by the creation
: of n greater Potomac Park in lieu OF
! a hvdro-electric power development
and authorized the appearance OF
"nroner" committee before the Feo-
eraI water Power Commission TO pro-
= test against the granting OF q permit
sor that purpose to the Potomac River
!. THE arguments conferred chiefly on
the reports submitted by Claytoil
Emig. acting chairman of the puollc
. utilities committee, whlch recon-
{. mended that the federation oppose the
= granting of a permit to the Potomac
! Diver Corporation unless the applicant
y agreed to accept permit whereby the
CITY of Washington and its residents
an the Immediate vicinity be given first
consideration in the required amount
of current at rates to be fixed by the
public Utilities Commission. and that
fhe mower plant be so located and con-
structed as not to interfere with the
y plans of the National Capital Park ana
Planning Commission to preserve the
+ beauty and scenic features Of the 70
tomac gorge.
u Power Plant Opposed.
p The concensus Of the delegates was
that a power plant. developed either
desired. and on motion of DR.. George
: C, Havenner, a certain portion OF Mr..
Emig's report was omitted and the
= remainder combined with that of the
CITY planning committee, which den-
nitely opposed the development or the
Potomac for power producing pur'
poses.
of its debate to listen to BRIEF tax
by Charles Eliot of the National Capt..
= tai Park and Planning Commission,
j who urged that positive rather than
: q negative stand be taken on the ques-
i ton under consideration, citing as an
example the action Of the park and
planning group in proposing the crea-
u ton of a park along the upper 20
.tomac.
! The principal supporter OF the plan
10 harness the Falls for hydro-electric
= mower generation was c. w. Edwards,
delegate from the Trinidad Citizens
Association, who declared that in his
/. sopinion such a development probably
would result in reduction in taxes
In the District. whereas the crea ton
of a park along the Potomac would
have an opposite effect.
For Residential Use.
= The report Of the city planning
: seDmnittee, submitted by George A.
Kicker, its chairman, pointed out tnat
the land adjacent to the Potomac De-
fween the District and Great Falls Is
! far better suited to residential than to
! any other use. and that for residential
! suse the value Of the land Is much
) greater in the natural state than II
! would be IL power project should be
carried out,
=. "In view of the facts apparently
{ well established that any kind Of
: power development in the Potomac
would absolutely destroy the natural
beauty of Great Falls as a cataract
: and obliterate the rapids of the river
by submersion in storage basins.
the report read, "your committee IL
! OF the opinion that no such power
~ development, either by the Federal
: Government or by private capital,
: should be permitted. and that the
. Great Falls and rapids of the Poto-
mac should be preserved in their
natural state. In our opinion 1t mas
not been made sufficiently plain to
The public that the Harvesting or the
! power Of the falls of the Potomac
would completely eliminate the Great
Fails cataract and that by even the
: most favorable plans that might be
adopted the present site OF Great
Falls would become for many mnoths
of the year nothing but a pile Of dry
rocks.
4 Rate Reduction Favored.
"The National Capital Park and
. Planning Commission is engaged IN
s. the study OF the development OF tne
National Capital and its environs
ana nroposes the creation of park
under interstate of Federal control
that will include the falls and rapids
M the Potomac River suitably framed
IN a mark development with border
roadways that will make 1t accessi.
) hle tn the citizens Of the Distrlc'
and to tourists from all parts or the
world.
"This commission has already pub
: .Yiclv protested the imminent destruc
ton Of the natural beauties or tnt
= falls and rapids and has announced
: that It will oppose any constructor
in the river that will impair the nat
/: ural scenic advantages which nov
exist. Your committee is in nearly
svmpathy with the position taken by
!; tho National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and therefore pro
). tests on the grounds stated agains
HYDRO electric power development II
the Potomac River. and urges thu
Federation of Citizens Association
and all other public and private or
PLANTATIONS to support the PLANNING
Commission in its preservation of thu
natural scenic beauties in this area
and the creation of a greater Pc
tomac Park"
- While on the subject Of electric
power, the federation decided that thu
earnings Of the Potomac Electri'
Power Co. are too high, and went oil
record as favoring reduction in thu
4: present rates. This action also wa
| Z taken on recommendation Of tn
{; public utilities committee.
: The amount of the reduction to b.