Evening star., 1927-10-16
..C|TY HEADS OPPOSE
|. RIVER POWER PLAN
Disadvantages Outweigh Any
Benefits, Commissioners
Tell Army Engineer.

: Lell AitIly EHYiIlGGi.
! believing the disadvantages would
outweigh any benefits to be gained
from the project, the District Com
srissioners yesterday went on record
against the application of the Poto,
mac River Corporation to the Fedora
Power Commission for preliminary
permit for an extensive water power
develonment on the upper Potomac
River. They made public the text of
the letter they are sending 10 MAY.
Rrehon Somervell. Army engineer Tor
this district. who is making the IN
Vcstigation on which the War Depart
ment will base its report to the red
eraI Power Commission. The war De
-partment survey Of the application is
a preliminary step to consideration OF
the question by the power conmls'
sisn. ,.,,o
The commissioners say that While
they realize the pending application
calls for a preliminary permit anu anu
nor a final license, 'it is apparent
even now. that the essential features
of the hydro-electric development pro
Oosed must conflict with the full ue-
velopment OF the park plan.
In the opinion of the Commissioners
}he likelihood of the applicant com
nanv being able to present a nnai pian
shat would be acceptable lis so reinote
yiat the issue of n preliminary permit
Tor the project as presented could LEAD
10 no useful result.
Park Boards Stand IndOrsed.
= In taking this position, the heads OF
the municipal government nave IN
=tiorsed in a general way the s1ahu
taken by the National CapltaI farh
and Planning Commission, ana u?
number of national and local organlza'
Hons that are opposing the power
project on the ground that 1t would
DESTROY for park purposes the natural
Ecenerv of Great Falls and the upper
Potomac region.
In addition to it's effect on the park
mans. the Commissioners In tneH
letter discuss the question or Wnethei
I1here is need for the water power, ana
lis relation TO the city's water supply
IThe Commissioners letter follows, In
part: :ou.,
4 THE Commissioners are especially
interested in the effect that thls OF
ANY similar project might have upon
ithe preservation of the water supply
;of Washington. the preservation and
utilization of park areas for the Ma
Iional Capital, and the general develop
.naent of the city and its environs.
!: with regard to the first or these
.,natters. il is vital that any project
FOR the development OF water power
.st Great Falls should give adequate
sn~otection to the rights of the District
sGf Columbia and of the United states
jof America to draw from the river, at
.nr above Great Falls, supply or water
ADEQUATE not only for the present neeos
,of the city of Washington ana the DIS
.trict of Columbia, but also for the
needs of the ultimate population OF the
sDistrict. In this connection, the fact
that Congress has already authorized
"a certain quantity of water to be de-
1livered to Arlington County, Va,
and may authorize additional deliveries
iof this sort, should be borne in mind.
!. Should Protect Park Sites.
!; "With regard to the second point,
5the possibility of the utilization or the
Potomac Gorge, Great Falls and the
sxhores above Great Falls as national
mark, connected with the park system
within the District of Columbia, Tor
the use and enjoyment of the people
of the District and OF the nelgnoor-
ing States, should be fully protected.
while practically all Of the territory
Involved in this project is outside the
limits of the District, and therefore
bevond the control of the District Com
hnissioners, the plans of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion for the utilization Of this area Tor
mark purposes are in their general
features Endorsed by the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia.
with regard to the third point, 1t
Is the opinion of the Commissioners
that the development Of additional
electric power might operate to the
advantage of the District OF Columbia,
provided that power not in excess or
the needs Of the city should be de-
veloped and delivered to the local con-
sumers at prices lower than it can be
procured from other sources. The de.
Selopment Of additional power in suf-
iicient amount and at a sufficiently
low cost to induce the electrification
Of the railroads entering Washington
would also be benefit to the city.
ANY excess power over and above
these needs is not regarded by the
commissioners as especially beneficial
10 the District, since the tendency
might be to foster the establishment
of industrial enterprises in or near
Washington. a development not in
harmony with the character of Wash
ington as the National Capital. 1t is
understood that the applicant for this
preliminary permit contemplates the
sale of power largely in other markets
than Washington. Power thus dis
posed of would neither benefit nor in
jure the District Of Columbia.
Conditions Held Changed.
"ITnder date of January 16, 1924, the
Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia expressed approval OF the
provisions Of H. r. 1879, Sixty-sighth
Congress, first session, which provided
for the development of water power
at Great Falls by the Federal Gov
ernment in accordance with the Tyler
plan. The project now under con-
sideration follows the general features
Of the Tyler plan, with modifica tons
not directly affecting any interests of
the District of Columbia.
Conditions now are, however. some
what different from those obtaining at
that time. Then the development was
a Federal project with full control
over distribution contemplated; now,
we are considering development by
a private corporation which may sell
its power where and as it chooses.
Since that time the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission has
been created with power 10 purchase
lands outside the District of Columbia
for park purposes and to devote them
10 the use and benefit of the public.
additions to the generating equipment
Of the local power company, and i'm
provements in the efficiency of gen.
Grating power from steam have pro.
Vided an increased supply of power for
nse in the District Of Columbia at re-
duced rates, thus reducing the benefits
10 the District that might be expected
from a hvdro-electric development at
Great Falls.
Probable Disadvantages Cited.
.E-n,. these rea sons the Com N N.