Evening star., 1927-09-30
Thinks Dams Improve
Scenery of Streams

10 the EQltOr OF Inc star:
1 read with interest in The Eve
ming Star, September 10, 1927, that the
National Park and Planning Com
mission and the Potomac River Cor
poration had held meeting in re-
gard to Potomac River projects
park and power developments-now
under consideration.
/ have been interested in water
power projects for more than 80
years, and I hardly see how it would
be possible for any one to have a
more profound appreciation of the
scenic beauties of our great rivers
than I have, but I truly think that
dams and bridges constructed in ac-
cordance with modern engineering
skill and good taste, instead Of mar
ring the scenic beauties of our
streams, add to their attractiveness.
For more than 10 years 1 have
been sending out reading matter
in which / have advocated that the
Potomac River be included, in a way,
from Mount Vernon to Great Falls,
and that the Great Falls water power
be developed by the United States and
the District of Columbia, for operating
a permanent exposition for Govern
ment and municipal requirements, and
for general use in and around Wash
ington, on a fair and equitable basis"
Considerable improvements, such as
bridges, walls and the like, have been
and are being made in and along that
stretch of the Potomac River. above
mentioned, in which utility and scenic
beauty are combined, each a compile
ment Of the other. What would the
Potomac River look like, where it
passes through Washington, the Ma.
tion's Capital City. without the i'm
prOvements which have been and are
being made? And that stretch of the
Potomac River above tidewater up to
and including Great Falls should be
improved, combining utility with
scenic beauty in whatever improve
ments are made. I feel that a dam at
Chain Bridge with a bridge over all
could be made attractive, indeed, and
useful as well, and the same idea might
apply at or near Great Falls. I gen.
timely believe that whatever is under
taken in the way of developments and
improvements along the Potomac
River from Mount Vernon up to and
including Great Falls, is a Government
job On the other hand if the United
States-the District of Columbia
Maryland and Virginia cooperating
will not make the improvements
called for, including the development
Of the immense water power going to
waste, then I think way should be
provided for private interests to de-
velOp the water power.
But / fail to see the need Of hurry
ing to a conclusion in this important
matter, which concerns not only
Washington and vicinity, but the en-
tire nation. Washington and the
towns and communities along the Po-
tcmac River are being served with
electric current already by companies
and corporations established in the
field and which are gradually improv-
Ing and extending that service. An i'm
portant water-power development near
Harpers Ferry is being actively pro-
NOTED right nOw-options for the
riparian rights have been taken, sur
veys have been made and the prelim-
mary work is being done.
1 think the Potomac River Cor
poration has the cart before the horse.
If 1t has one foot Of riparian rights,
bought or optioned, on the Potomac
River, have failed to hear about it.
And l feel that preliminary permit
granted to any company or corpora
ton without the assurance that it is
In position to go ahead with it's
projects would be unfair, to say the
least. G. w. KERNODLE, M. D.