Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-22
FORMER OFFICIALS
BACK GREAT FALLS
POWER PROPOSAL

BACK GREAT FALLS
POWER PROPOSAL
Continued from First Page.)
Dam. Great Falls will focus the atten-
ton OF Congress and the entire coun-
try upon waterpower Development
Muscle Shoals being Southern propo-
stlon, Boulder Dam Western propo-
sition and Great Falls an Eastern
proposition. 1t was included in the
famous Murray report Of some years
ago as one Of the most important units
in a great power zone from Washing
ton to Boston.
1t is hoped by those who are best
Informed on water-power development
and the power needs of the country
that Congress will be forced to show
its hand. SO long as no one else was
after the Great Falls opportunity Con-
gress has felt it could take its time
and discuss the question accidentally
whenever it had nothing else of spe-
Cial interest. But now the drive Is to
be started just as soon as Congress
meets, and with powerful political
forces already at work.
or first consideration IL the de-
STABILITY Of having this project de-
veloped for the benefit of Washington
and vicinity, and those who are IN
the best position to pass Judgment
say that there is more probability
that the project will be developed
properly If licensed by the Federal
Power Commission than If 1t Is al
e. tn act
And yet It is not likely that the com
mission will issue the license, being a
cabinet commission and guided large
ly by the wishes Of the President.
Reasons Pointed Out.
The reason, 1t is said. that private
enterprise would probably better
achieve the end Of supplying cheaper
service to the Government workshop
and residents in Washington and
vicinity is this: In order for the prof.
ect to be feasible and to get the
energy at a reasonable cost, 1t Is nee
essary to develop on a large scale, to
put in big storage reservoirs, so as to
raise the To-, flow of the river up to
the point where a considerable amount
Of power can be developed from the
head that is available, and nearly all
the head available is adjacent to the
District of Columbia.
This project, for which a license
has been formally asked, is even more
comprehensive and extensive than was
recommended under the famous Tyler
report of four years ago. 1t proposes
additional reservoir sites. an addition
al power development in the vicinity
I'd nm
much more energy than was contem-
plated in the Tyler report.
Now the situation is just this: The
City of Washington, or the District
of Columbia, can use only fractional
part of the total energy to be develop
ed, either under the Tyler recommen-
dation or this new proposal by private
capital and industry. If the project
is built by the United States Govern
ment, either of two things must be
done: The United States Government
must license the plant for operation
after it has been built by the United
States, or some agent of the United
States must operate it.
If the Government attempts to oper-
ate the plant it must go into the
power business not only in Washing
ton, but in Maryland and Virginia,
and no one knows how far beyond
for it must sell from the very begin
ming, as there will be more power
than the District can absorb, in order
to make the project pay it's way.
1t is hardly to be supposed that the
of the United States.
even if it operated the plant, would
go into the general public utilities
business and furnish power to con-
sumers in Maryland and Virginia. In
fact, it couldn't find a market if it
served new customers, and would
have to enter into competition with
existing public utilities companies.
Means Political Storm.
It Is easy to imagine what a politi-
cal storm would be aroused.
The Governments only hope would
Ne to wholesale to some existing pub
ic utility.
Presumably, the corporation that
came in and made the development
would acquire existing utilities in the
territory adjacent to the power de-
,elopment and be in better position
o make sale of power or interchange
" power with existing companies in
Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia or
than the Government
would be, since the Government must
sit back and only have something to
sell and wait for the companies to
1uild transmission lines to take it.
Again, no one knows whether Con-
sress would be willing to appropriate
enough to put the project in
operation. The Tyler study estimated
he cost at about $42 900 900. The ex-
nn1hI for vxyI1inh 10 tny
asked would run the cost to upward
If SEQ. OOO,O00
With the Government it would be
aking money out of the Federal
Treasury to engage in the power bust
ness to satisfy some political theorists,
according to those who have studied
he subject most carefully, rather
han because there is any necessity
,Or the expenditure in order to get the
benefits of the development for Uncle
Sans workshops here and for the resi-
tents of the District of Columbia.
The feverish situation on Capitol
Hill with regard TO Great Falls power
development is expected to result
from activities of the
Public Ownership group. The Norris
resolution has passed the Senate sew
aral times, more as matter of
anu BECAUSE 1t WAS pretty
generally understood that the House
would not act. so the gesture i'm the
Senate would not mean much any
way.
90 Senator's Fearful.
This public ownership group of
bout 20 Senators who oppose pri.
ate development con principle" are
earful that the license to develop
treat Falls may be given by the
federal Power Commission to a pri-
-ate concern. 1t will raise an impor-
ant political discussion. OF course, the
administration is pretty we'll com.
nitted to private initiative, but it is
ecalled that it got off the reserva-
ion" on Boulder Dam because of the