Evening star., 1945-03-23
Robertson Seeking Reasons
For Change in Dam Plans
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.

.F0rCh0nge IN L
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.
Representative Robertson, Demo-
crat, of Virginia is trying to dis
cover what brought about a change
in the Army engineers plans for
the Potomac River basin from
flood control to "98 per cent power
development"
Mr.. Robertson told The Star today
that Il have tried, but SO far with
out avail, to ascertain who induced
the Army engineers to expend thou
sands Of dollars In the study of power
development on the Potomac River
when only a decade ago it had made
similar study and reached the very
definite and positive conclusion that
no work should be done by the Fed
eral Government on the Potomac in
connection with power development "
In a report on Potomac basin
flood control measures submitted by
Maj. Gen. Lytle Brown, chief of
engineers, to Congress in 1888. Mr.
Robertson said, the following recon-
mendations were made:
Il. That no work be done by the
Federal Government on the Potomac
River in connection with power de-
velopment or irrigation.
%. That the navigation project on
the Potomac River remain for the
present as now adopted.
IS. That no works for flood pro-
lection on the Potomac River be
undertaken by the Federal Govern
ment except the suitable grading Of
the low area between the Lincoln
Memorial and the Washington Mon
ument, on plans to be prepared by
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
That provision be made for the
reconstruction OF temporary works for
| the protection of important areas in
1.-THE District Of Columbia when
Threatened by flood, at an estimated
cost Of $50. 600 for each food"
Recommended Power Plant.
The engineers report also included
plans for a hydro-electric plant at
Lock IT," at Chain Bridge, but rec
commended that a power plant be
constructed at this site only If "it
becomes necessary for the Federal
Government to produce Its own
power" =.
The report further stated that
water-pOwer facilities of the Po-
tomac basin. are undeveloped, and
added that greatest water power po-
tential existed In the lower Potomac,
below Harpers Ferry.
Mr.. Robertson, in a letter to Gov.
Darden Of Virginia setting forth his
objections to the Potomac River
power project, expressed surprise
that the Army engineers had made
this their major proposal in respond
ing to an act of Congress calling for
a flood-control survey. He said his
letter. however. had overlooked a re-
port by the Agriculture Department
citing the recommendations of Gen
Brown.
Asserting that he has been unable
to account for the engineers change
in policy, Mr.. Robertson said that
certainly the suggestion for the
power development did not come
from Interior Secretary Ickes, who
stated in his annual report to the
President for 1914 that the job OF
converting the departments hydro
electric output from war to peace
time use would be herculean."
In his report, Mr.. Ickes disclosed
that the department had already
developed hydro-electricity roughly
three times the entire developed ca.
pacity of South America in 1885
and had generated 1874, 900 ,00(
kilowatt-hours of electricity during
the last fiscal year.
mo one has yet explained to me,
Mr.. Robertson said, why we should
add to Secretary Ickes' 'herculear
job of selling the Government power
we are already producing"
Meanwhile, Col. John M. johnson
District Army engineer, explained
that since the main monetary benefit
accruing from the project would be
the development OF water power
this was necessary in order to make
possible the realization of the full
benefits enumerated under the other
items of higher priority in pref
erence, but which alone are not
economically feasible"
Cites Principal Beneficiaries.
In letter to Mrs. Belinda Boyd
one of two Jefferson County (W. Va.)
women who declined to sign petit
tion against the proposed dam at
Millville, one of the IA included in
the project, Col. johnson said that
while these fiood-control studies are
primarily devoted to the particular
basin under investigation, some nat-
ural resources matters are national
in scope and must be considered or
such basis.
"The principal local communities
that would receive direct benefits
from the comprehensive plan Of the
development proposed for the Poto-
mac River aud its tributaries" Col
johnson explained, @are Waynes-
boro, Va; Cumberland, Md, anc
Washington, where local 1ood-con.
ltrol works are proposed, and other
communities along the river between
Harpers Ferry and Washington
where lowered flood crests might be
expected.
"Other direct benefits would bt
expected to accrue to the communi.
ties throughout the basin and more
especially to the industrial upper
part of the basin from the assurance
Iof adequate and dependable electri.