Evening star., 1937-02-04
MILLIONS INVOLVED.
IND. c. AREAP[ANS.
Resources Committee Re-.
port Revives Great Falls
Power Development.
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.
Expenditures involving millions OF
dollars on a long range plan OF public
works In the Potomac River and Chesa-
peake Bay drainage basins. many OF
them vitally affecting Washington, are
recommended "for immediate investi-
CATION or construction" in the report
of the National Resources Committee
which the President has submitted to
Congress.
Major projects in Washington and
its immediate vicinity include plans
to expend $5S7,00O for flood protec-
ton, $1,345. 900 for control of pollu-
ton and items totaling $2,291 900 to
extend the water supply systems Of
Washington suburbs. Other flood
control items in the Potomac basin
call for expenditures Of $887.000 at
Cumberland, Nd: $l69,000 at Har-
pers Ferry, w. Va, and $4,000 at
Moorefeld, w. Va.
The report also revives the long
proposed plans for the development of
hydroelectric power at Great Falls,
above Washington. 1t contains no spe-
cific recommendation with respect to
the possibility of developing 10000
kilowatts at Great Falls beyond the
suggestion that the harnessing Of the
Potomac waters be studied further in
connection with power developments
on other streams in the whole Middle
Atlantic district. A similar recon-
mendation was made by National
Resources Subcommittee about year
ago.
Canal Project Mentioned.
Special interest centers also in
S9.100,0o0 scheme to restore the old
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal as q recre-
ational project in connection with the
development Of the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway. Congress
already has authorized this novel plan
in part.
also for a $l.650,0o improvement pro-
gram on the Potomac River water
front at Washington and another in
volving Sl73,000 for deepening harbor
channels to "a feet. The United
States Engineers ONCE has completed
a survey for the waterfront improve
ments and Congress has authorized
the work. No funds, however, have
been made available.
Projects in the Potomac and Chesa-
peake Bay basins included in the re-
port, were based largely on recommen-
dations made by the Maryland and
Virginia State Planning Commissions
and Board Of Health. as well az local
Federal agencies, such as the United
States Engineers Ofice, the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion and the P. w. A.
AS indicated In President Roose-
Velt's letter Of transmission. the rec
concentrations cover long time policy
OF construction planning against future
depressions. Congress in many cases
has passed on the plans involved and
as the President suggests. it may act
In Its own discretion in providing
funds for immediate Investigation or
construction.
Millions For Drainage Basins.
The Potomac and Chesapeake drain
age basins are included in the section
OF the national resources report deal
ing with the Middle Atlantic basin
IN which water supply and sewage
disposal improvements constitute the
immediate steps in water conservation
from the Potomac River southwark to
the Edisto River in Georgia. Millions
OF dollars are involved in the projects
for the Chesapeake Bay basin, alone.
Some Of these projects affect COM
munities near Washington.
With respect to water-power de-
velopment on the Potomac and other
major streams in the Middle Atlantic
basin, the report declares that large
undeveloped power resources remain
in the Carolinas, the Virginia and
Maryland section Of the Piedmont.
and the Shenandoah Valley" It adds:
Additional installations Of 800, 900
kilowatts on the upper Santee River,
235,000 kilowatts on the Yadkin-
Peedee system and 1890, 900 kilowatts
on the Potomac River have been in
vestigated, together with possible in
stallations on the Roanoke, Meherrin,
James and minor streams.
Doubt has been cast on the feasi-
bility Of these programs because the
possible market for the power to be
generated may be absorbed by other
projects under construction or pro-
posed. A comprehensive survey
should precede construction Of new
power plants"
A comprehensive study Of potential
power development at Great Falls has
been made by Army engineers and
last year Senator George w. Norris
of Nebraska. It's principal sponsor. re-
vived the question in the last Con-
eress.
Pollution Surveys Asked.
Initiation Of pollution control prof.
ects, the report states, should, If
practicable, await completion of BASIN
wide surveys for the entire region.
Such projects in the Chesapeake Bay
have long been studied to benefit the
oyster industry.
The $l,345,000 pollution program
for Washington and vicinity Is recon-
mended in relation to the new $7,ooO,-
600 sewage disposal plant in this city,
20 as to bring about uniform control
Of polluted waters emptying into the
Potomac above and below Washing
ton. Without this cooperation on
the part of Maryland and Virginia
communities there can be no salts
factory solution of the problem.
There is a proposed $250,000 plan
<ufWu M