Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-08
JADW|N'S REPORT
ON FALLS POWER
PLAN SUBMITTED
Maj. Edgerton WithhoIds
Publicity Pending 0pportu-
nifty for Detailed Study.
COMMISSION ALSO GET
S0MERVELL'S FINDINGS
Both Understood to Favor Develop
ment, Retaining Essential
Beauty, However.

The long awaited report on the pro-
posal to develop power at Great Falls
on the Potomac River was transmitted
late yesterday to the Federal Power
Commission by Maj. Gen. Edgar Jadwin,
chief of Army Engineers. who retired
from the service upon reaching the age
limit of "a years, yesterday. Accom-
panying the report of Gen. Jadwin in
his capacity as chairman of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
was the report made previously to MIN
to Maj. Brehon Somervell: district engi-
neer for the War Department for the
Washington area.
Mai Glen E. Edgerton, chief engineer
of the Federal Power Commission, ex-
planned today that he has not had
an opportunity to study the report in
detail and desires to do so before 1T Is
given publicity.
Army Engineers, Maj. Edgerton and
Mai. Somervell declined to discuss the
report, it was learned from other
sources that both Gen. Jadwin and
Mai Somervell favor the power devel-
opment of the Potomac River Valley,
from Chain Bridge to and above Great
Falls, taking issue with the majority
of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, which advocated the
retention of the area in more or less
of Its present state to preserve the
natural beauty of the place. While the
SomerVell and JadWin reports are I'M
derStood to favor power development at
Great Falls. they are represented as not
excluding the possibility OF park de-
velopment, at the same time. The es-
sential beauty of the falls is said to
devotion.
ment program.
May Be Revealed Saturday.
Mai. Edgerton said that it may be
decided to await the return to the city
about the middle of the month OF the
new executive secretary of the power
commission, F. E. Bonner, before re-
leasing the report to the public. Maj.
Edgerton explained that he was presl-
dent and that the reports Or a resume
of them will not be revealed today or
tomorrow, but that there is a posi-
bility they may be made public on Sat-
urday. after opportunity has been Civ
en- to make a thorough preliminary
study of them. A conference with Sec
rotary Good on the subject was indi-
Gated.
There now are three applications for
preliminary permitS-which would give
of power possibilities at Great Falls
pending before the power commission.
The first was filed by w. H. H. Slime
man and Alfred NJ. Quick, of Baltimore,
Md, and was laid before the commits
sion on December 8, 1920. The second
was filed by the South Branch Power
Co. of Philadelphia, one being made on
September 81. 1926, and an amended
application for preliminary permit,
for ,roliy limo o
on November %, 1927. The third appli-
cation for preliminary permit, which
has been considered the most important,
was filed on May 10. 1927, by the Poto-
mac River Corporation of Wilmington,
Del
The whole question of power develop
ment at Great Falls has been held up
by Congress. which has passed legisla-
ton requiring that the Federal Power
Commission join with the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission in
submitting a report to Congress on the
power-development situation at Great
Falls. No permits may be granted be-
fore this is done. It is anticipated that
this report will go forward to Congress
at the December session.
Maj. Edgerton to Leave.
The Federal Power Commission con-
sists of the Secretaries of War, Agricul-
t,re and Interior, so that Secretaries
Good, Hyde and Wilbur will be called
upon to take a hand in deciding the
power-development question at Great
Falls.
Maj. Edgerton is scheduled to leave
Washington about August % for West
Point, where he will become an instruc-
tor in engineering at the Military
Academy. He will be relieved early
next month by Col. Max C. Tyler, who
is coming back to the United States
from duty in the Philippine Islands.
Col. Tyler, who will be the next chief
engineer of the Federal Power Commits
sion, will play an important part in the
Great Falls question. A few years ago
he was district engineer for the Wash
ington area, the post now held by Maj.
Somervell. Col. Tyler at that time SUBJ
mitted a report on Great Falls favoring
power development at Great Falls. The
lyle report is said to be the basis for
the application of the Potomac River
Corporation.