Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-01
Power Development, Avia-
ton, irrigation and Flood
Control Data Sought.
PROTECTION OF CAPITAL
WILL BE INQUIRED INTO
Great Falls Area to Get Attention.
Work Probably Will Be Started
on Shenandoah River.

Mai. Brehan Somervell, District en-
eineer of the War Department for the
washington area, announced today that
Mai. Gen. Edgar Jadwin, chief of Army
engineers, has allocated $3.50 900 addi-
tional for a further study of the
Potomac River basin. This action fol-
lows preliminary report recently sub
nitted by Maj. Somervell
A more extensive and detailed survey
will be made with regard to power
DEVELOPMENT. aviation, irrigation and
food control. This investigation will be
started immediately. as soon as survey
ing parties can be placed in the field,
Mai. Somervel said. The whole in
yestigatiorl will take from one to two
years, he said.
Embraced in this important inquiry
will be flood studies to be made for the
protection of the City of Washington,
when the Potomac River goes on a
rampage. The study will have par
ticular reference to the prevention of
danger to Washington's water front and
the backing up of the water into the
city.
Protection of Washington.
E, j. Merrick, jr, associate engi-
neer of the United States engineers Of
fee, explained that the program will be
organized, as a result of the study, so
that on short notice, levees can be
thrown up and emergency work done
hurriedly to protect Washington COM
pletely.
The Great Falls area will be studied
as part of the whole general plan, nut
as this has already been gone into
ezhaustively in conjunction with the
application of the power companies for
preliminary permits requested OF the
Federal Power Commission, it will not
be necessary to deal in detailed way
with this phase of the subject. MAJ.
Son1ervell's report on the Great Falls
area, with reference to the applications
for preliminary permits for the ulti-
mate development Of hydro-electrlc
power there, is now before Gen. Jad-
win. Later, it is expected that it will
be transmitted to the Secretary OF War,
and the Federal Power Commission.
In the survey of the Potomac River
basin about to be undertaken, from
1000 miles of main river and trlbu-
taries above Washington, extending
back into the mountains of West Viz
GINA, VirRinin pennsylvania and Mary
land, viii be investigated with the four
fold program In nind-navigation ir-
riration. power DEVELOPMENT and flood
control. The survey will be mainly con-
centrated on the head waters OF the.
Potomac.
Work in Shenandoah Valley.
The first work probably viii be done
In the Shenandoah Valley on the Shen-
andoah River, stretching for $50 miles
from Harpers Ferry, w. Va, To Waynes-
boro, Va. Tfig viii begin just as soon
as the surveying parties can be assem-
bled on the job.
one of the objects sought in the
survey is the preservation Of the natural
resources Of this area, as Tar as hydro
electric development is concerned, SO
that the dams will not be placed at
points so as to impair ultimate deVei-
opment of the streams.
Mai. Somervell presented prellm-
mary report on the Potomac River
Basin to Gen Jadwin in January and
upon the basis of this report the chief
Of Army engineers has decided to au-
thorize an expenditure of $4,000 for
a more detailed investigation OF the
whole problem
Report on Rappahannock.
The report on the Rappahannock
River has about been completed. Maj.
SomervelI explained. He plans to go
tn that area next week to aid in whip
ping the report into shape for presenta-
tion to the chief Of Army engineers.
investigations of the Patuxent River in
Maryland and the York River in Viz
GINA are part of the first programs OF
Mai. Somervell'S of1ce. 80
The Potomac River survey and the
preliminary surveys being conducted on
the rivers in the Washington area are
a part of nationwide study authorized
under House document 408. This con-
templates a comprehensive study OF all
waterways in the United States, from
the angles of flood control, navigation,
irrigation and hydroelectric develop