Evening star., 1927-08-26
The Potomac Power Hearings.

Preliminary hearings have been held
on the question of granting permits to
corporation for damminG the Poto-
mac above Washington for the produc'
ton of power. AT Harpers Ferry and
in this city representatives of various
interests, local and national, have ap-
peared before an engineer officer at
tached to the Federal Power Commls-
sion and have given voice to their
views for and against the project.
That officer will consider these pleas
and protests. and will report to the
commission for consideration by it OF
the application now pending.
In the main two grounds are ad-
vanced against the granting Of the
petition for a permit. One is that
there is no public necessity for the use
of the Potomac power, and the other
that its development would entail the
destruction of the scenic value OF a
great area of exceptional beauty lying
close to the National Capital and
ideally constituted for an unrivaled
park. The proponents of the plan deny
both pleas, by asserting that the de-
yelopment of power will give the Capt.
tai service that is much needed, and
that the project will not cause the de-
struction of the potential park.
On the score of the public need it
la Sbn
obtained from the Potomac waters will
be of actual service to the community
and the Government through its lower
cost of production and distribution.
Statistics on that point are lacking.
Only generalities have been employed
in the argument for the project, and
the public is yet to be persuaded that
there win be any material advantage
to it In turning over exclusive water
power rights to private corporation
in virtual monopoly IL, as is claimed
broadly, the current-produced power
will be cheaper than that yielded from
fuel-operated generation.
Denial of the destructive effect OF
the creation Of high dams and extern
sive lakes in the Potomac gorge above
WASHINGTON is not convincing. 1t
stands to reason that the erection OF
an immense barrier at Little Falls
backing up the waters to Great Falls
will food several thousand acres and
drown out scenic features that could
never be replaced or reproduced If
the power project is practicable from
the engineering point of view, it fol-
lows that the Potomac gorge between
the CAPITAL and Great Falls must be
filled. The issue on the esthetic side
of the question is between lake and
a rugged valley Of unusual attractive
ness that can with a comparatively
small expenditure be made into per-
haps the most attractive park In the
world.
This matter is not being rushed to
premature decision. The officer who
presided at the hearing just held will
make his report to the Federal Power
Commission, which will then take the
application under advisement. Mean
while there is developing an unmis-
takabIy strong public sentiment
throughout the country adverse to the
commercial exploitation OF the Poto-
mac above washington. While tne
matter lies within the jurisdiction Oh
the Federal Power Commission, 1t is
quite likely that an expression of con-
gressional sentiment will be had at the
next session relative to the matter on
the strength of the protest of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Gem
mission, created by Congress to formu'
late and execute plans for the develop
ment of the Federal City.