Evening star., 1928-03-18

With all parties interested in the
development OF the upper Potomac
River between the District Line and q
point above Great Falls working to-
gether, there appears to be probabil-
ity that plans may be worked out
which will permit saving Of this area
for park purposes and at the same time
put to use the potential millions OF
horsepower which annually fiow sea-
ward. The diverging views--one that
the area should be saved for park pur-
poses because of its virgin state, and
the other that it should be used only
for power purposes, which would cover
up the Falls by gigantic lake-now
appear to be converging so that plans
may be worked out which will permit
Of its use for both purposes.
Saving Of the Great Falls from OBJ
livion was one Of the strong arguments
used by those favoring the park de-
velopment. But Robert B. Morse, en-
gincer who made an investigation for
the Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. has now
come forward with a plan which under
takes to wipe aside many of the argu-
ments against the use of the waters for
power. He believes that both park and
power development can be combined
Zoning Protection.
Fears Of factory. development in the
metropolitan areas adjacent to the
Capital and OF the high capital cost
Of the project are put aside by the
Maryland engineer. He meets the ar
eument that once the supply of cur
rent is available from the proposed
power project 1t will be available in
such volume that, in order to make the
plant profitable. patronage will have
to be built up TO take it. by pointing
out that this should not affect the areas
proposed for greater Washington. as
these areas now are either zoned or in
course of being zoned. With such a
condition, large factory areas could
not be established without permission of
the constituted authorities OF course,
there would be nothing to prevent fac
tories desiring cheap electric current
to establish themselves outside of the
zoned areas either along the upper
Potomac in country now unavailable
for any other purpose or in the agri-
cultural sections further away from the
river banks.
The Maryland engineer points out
that this extension would increase the
county wealth and income. because
property would increase In value and
the tax income would be greater than
1t Is on land that Is now practically
useless.
There seems to be some flisunder-
standing as to Just what Is the mean
ing OF the application OF the Potomac
River Corporation for preliminary
permit to be issued by the Federal
Power Commission. 1t does not mean
that the issuance Of permit at this
time is a license to proceed with any
power development that may be found
feasible and profitable. The applica-
ton which is being sought and fought
merely requests the power commission
to issue a preliminary permit.
Plans Thorough Survey.
The company wants to make a
thorough investigation Of the water
power possibilities in this vicinity. OBJ
viously, this is quite an expensive task
and will cover period OF time. Unless
there is some gamble that the company
might realize on this vast expenditure
OF funds, no one would expend them.
But the applicants. for there are three
now, get. by the permit In addition
10 the right to make the survey. the
prierity; right to an authorization to
build in the event that the Federal
Power Commission decides 10 give away
rights at all II this were not so,
company seeking the rights might ex-
pend large amounts Of money in deter
mining that a power project was feas-
ibie. and then might lose IL by having
some other corporations coming on the
ground at the opportune time and ous:-
ing 1t from a favored position.
So at the end Of three years should
Ii be determined by the organization
getting the priority that a project is
feasible. II could not do a thing until
the power commission gave 1t the right
10 use the power and this the COM
mission could refuse. II. after hearing
OF all parties concerned, 1t decided that
it was not to the public interest TO
grant such permit so close to the
Capital
But on the other hand should the
commission determine that power
rights should be granted, then the COM
pany which had spent the money IN