Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-09
Large Private Interests Fail
in Effort to Erect Plants
in Vicinity.
PARKWAY NOW PROPOSED
CONFLICTS WITH PROJECT
Civic Groups Working to Preserve
Scenic Beauty Acclaim Official
Decision.

Guided by recent congressional action
safeguarding Federal park plans for the
Potomac River to Great Falls, the Fed
eral Power Commission has rejected the
application of private interests fol-
preliminary permits looking to hydro
electric development of the Potomac
gorge.
The rejected applicants are the Byl-
lesby Corporation of Chicago, the South
Branch Power Co. and Albert M. Quick
and w. H. H. Stineman. The action
was taken without prejudice to the
filing of new applications not in con-
met with the parkway or for a project
Tor which congressional authority can
be shown"
Inc commission predicated its move
on the provisions of the recently enact
ed Capper- Cramton bill, authorizing a
magnificent George Washington Memo
rial Parkway on both shores of the
Potomac from the home of Washington,
al Mount Vernon, and Fort Washing
ton on the opposite shore to the rocky
palisades of Great Falls.
Decision Wins Approval.
News of the commissions action was
hailed with qualification TODAY in local
CIVIC circles, where long and vigorous
tight had been waged against recurring
proposals Tor commercialization of one
OF Americas leading scenic delights.
Leading In the campaign of oppo-
sition to the power program was the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, which had mapped out a
pretentIous plan for preserving the
natural beauty of the Potomac River.
One of the high lights in this fight
was the interchange between Lieut.. Col.
y S Grant, Sd. executive officer of
the commission, and Maj. Brehon SOM
erVeH, District engineer, who strongly
favored JOINT park-power development.
Much Spent on Survey.
Rejection of the power plans comes
as blow to the Byllesby Corporation.
which had spent thousands of dollars in
preliminary surveys and estimates, I'M
der the direction of Gen. Charles Keller.
formerly Engineer Commissioner of the
District. An investment of approx
mately $50 100000 was contemplated by
the corporation.
In letter to the applicants, F.. E.
Bonner, executive secretary OF the COM
mission, said: las the project for the
parkway will occupy in part the area
included in the project covered by your
application for a preliminary permit,
your application is rejected without
prejudice. ="
conner SAID today the commission
felt it was obligated to reject the appli-
cations, in view of the clause in the
Capper-Cramton act precluding power
development of the Falls unless specific
ally authorized by Congress The new
lew, the Commissioners agreed gave to
Congress the sole power of acting on
power projects within the park area
designated in the act.
Further Delay Opposed.
THE commission thought it was I'M
fair to delay further any action on the
permits in the light of the legislative
developments" Bonner said.
The application of the Byllesby Cor
poration has been pending for about
three years. The plans called for cree
ton of great impounding dams in the
gorge below the Falls, which would Gre
ate enormous reservoirs and inundate
many acres of wooded and rocky land
in the virgin territory along the upper
reaches of the river. This wiping out of
prospective park land was termed by OPP
ponentS desecration of nature that
was unnecessary and that left no aSsur-
ance that citizens in this vicinity would
derive material benefits from cheaper
power.
The corporation, on the other hand,
contended the development could be SO
correlated with the park program as not
to impair 1t. and held forth inducement
of cheap electric power for consumers.